Humboldt County approves Safe Streets grant application with Kimley & Horn

Humboldt County supervisors voted to authorize an agreement with consultant Kimley & Horn to prepare a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application that would include a roughly one-mile safety upgrade on Nevada Avenue.

County staff said the application would request funding to widen shoulders by about 2 feet, add a safety edge and rumble strips, and install other safety treatments on three locations: a segment of Nevada Avenue from Volberding Hill north to Highway 3, the intersection of Thor Blacktop and Eagle Blacktop, and several curves on County K.

If the application is successful, the county would be responsible for a 20% local match. County staff and supervisors noted the application deadline required a quick turnaround and that other neighboring counties were preparing their own applications as part of a multi-county effort.

“...we'd be on the hook for 20% of the cost,” one county staff member said during the presentation.

Supervisors moved and seconded a motion to accept the agreement with Kimley & Horn and submit the SS4A application; the motion passed by voice vote.

The county did not provide an overall project cost estimate during the presentation, and staff said the grant program’s selection timeline was not known at the meeting. If awarded, the county will follow its standard procurement process for hiring contractors and would amend the five-year program or budget as needed.

The board did not identify a precise award date or funding amount at the meeting; staff said those details would be confirmed by the grant program if Humboldt County's application is selected.