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Mission Viejo approves $700,000 Safe Streets for All grant plan and consultant contract
Summary
The council accepted a federal $700,000 Safe Streets for All grant to develop pedestrian and bicycle circulation plans for all 19 Mission Viejo K–12 schools and unanimously awarded the implementation contract to Chen Ryan Associates (contract cited at $559,000). The plan will take 18–24 months and lead to infrastructure grant requests.
Mission Viejo’s City Council unanimously approved a federal Safe Streets for All non‑infrastructure grant and awarded a consultant contract to prepare school‑specific pedestrian and bicycle circulation plans.
Transportation engineer Mario Gutierrez told the council the city received a $700,000 grant (approximately 80% funded through the Federal Highway Administration) to create detailed Safe Routes to School Action Plans for all 19 K–12 campuses in the city. Gutierrez said the project will include data collection, walk audits during drop‑off and pickup, coordination with school principals and crossing guards, and an online survey for community feedback. He said the plans are expected to be complete in 18 to 24 months and that staff will pursue additional infrastructure grants to implement prioritized improvements.
Council members pressed staff on outreach and the consultant selection process. Gutierrez said the consultant and city staff will identify stakeholders including school administrators, crossing guards, police and sheriff representatives, parents, and bicycle‑advocacy groups. When Council Member Kelly thanked Gutierrez for securing the grant, she commended staff coordination with principals and crossing‑guard analyses.
On questions about the recommended contract award, staff said they ran a competitive RFP with eight firms invited and five responses; after interviews they recommended Chen Ryan Associates as the highest‑rated proposer. Mayor Pro Tem Goodell noted the public should understand the award means the contract will be executed as part of this action; during the discussion a council member referenced a contract figure of $559,000 for the study.
The council unanimously approved the grant, the contract award to Chen Ryan Associates, and the associated staff recommendations. Staff will return with implementation steps and seek infrastructure funding to carry out prioritized physical improvements.
The item concluded with staff commitments to include principals, crossing guards and neighborhood outreach in the study and to report back as milestones are completed.
