TITLE:
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BRISTOL STREET TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT
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DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: RAJA SETHURAMAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
CONTACT INFORMATION: PAUL MARTIN, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES MANAGER, (714) 754-5343
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the Cooperative Agreement between the cities of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Newport Beach for the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization Project; and
2. Authorize the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute the Cooperative Agreement (Attachment 1) and any future amendments to the agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
In November 1990, Orange County voters approved Measure “M”, a 20-year, half-cent local sales tax to fund transportation improvements countywide. All major transportation improvement projects and programs included in the original Measure “M” have been completed. The City of Costa Mesa successfully secured approximately $80 million in revenues under the Measure “M” Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program (CTFP).
In November 2006, Orange County voters passed the Renewed Measure “M” Program (M2), extending the half-cent sales tax for the next 30 years, beginning in the year 2011. Revenues from this extended sales tax are proposed to fund a wide range of improvements in Orange County, including freeway, arterial, and transit systems. In September 2011, the OCTA Board of Directors approved guidelines for the CTFP and subsequently authorized the annual “Call for Projects” under the “M2” Program. The “2025 Call for Projects” was issued for the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (RTSSP) or Project “P” in 2024. The Cities of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Newport Beach identified Bristol Street as a potential project. Due to the number of intersections and length of the corridor, the City of Santa Ana took the lead in applying for the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization Project and will administer the project. On November 19, 2024, the City Council adopted a resolution approving the submittal of the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (Attachment 2).
In April 2025, OCTA approved the grant funding request for the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization Project totaling $1,144,277 for engineering and implementation of traffic signal equipment and signal communications improvements on the Bristol Street corridor in the City of Costa Mesa. The City of Costa Mesa’s local match requirement is $286,069, for a total project cost for Costa Mesa’s jurisdiction of $1,430,346.
ANALYSIS:
The Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization project will result in traffic signal equipment upgrades within the cities of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Newport Beach on the Bristol Street Corridor. The City of Costa Mesa will have the final approval authority for implementation of any signal modification plans developed as part of the project within the City’s jurisdiction. The project will upgrade traffic signal controllers at all signalized intersections along Bristol Street as well as install bicycle video detection, Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) push buttons, and modern signal communications equipment at all intersections. The project will also provide new communications equipment for the traffic signals on the Anton Boulevard corridor to connect with the City’s Traffic Management Center (TMC) at City Hall. The project also includes equipment and central system upgrades at the City’s TMC. The grant program requires only a 20% local match, which results in the City being able to procure upgrades at an 80% discount.
As the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization project is a joint project between the cities of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Newport Beach, there is a need for a Cooperative Agreement to define the roles and responsibilities. The City Costa Mesa and Newport Beach are responsible for providing the City of Santa Ana with the local match obligation in the grant for their respective improvements. Each agency is responsible for maintenance of the improvements within its jurisdiction. The City of Santa Ana will administer the project and will monitor the project in accordance with approved funding agreements.
Staff recommends City Council approval of the Cooperative Agreement to enable the implementation of the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization Project along the Bristol Street Corridor, with the term of the Agreement through December 31, 2031.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may elect not to approve the Cooperative Agreement. However, this alternative is not recommended as it would result in the elimination of Costa Mesa intersections along Bristol Street and Anton Boulevard for consideration of traffic signal equipment upgrades. This would also result in the loss of approximately $1,144,277 of grant funds for traffic signal equipment and timing upgrades within the City.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Funding for the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization project will be requested in the FY 2026-27 Capital Improvement Program Budget with a requested amount of $150,000 from the Traffic Impact Fee Funds (Fund 214) and $165,000 from the Measure M2 Fairshare (Fund 416) for a total local match of $315,000, which is inclusive of a 10% contingency for unforeseen costs related to the project.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report, prepared the proposed PSA and approves them both as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goals:
• Maintain and enhance the City’s facilities, equipment, and technology.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the Cooperative Agreement between the Cities of Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Newport Beach for the Bristol Street Traffic Signal Synchronization Project; and
2. Authorize the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute the Cooperative Agreement and any future amendments to the agreement (Attachment 1).