The City of Fullerton has officially been awarded a $4.854 million grant from the 2023 Orange County Complete Streets Program (OCCSP) to enhance the Harbor Boulevard corridor. The funding is earmarked for the Harbor Boulevard Complete Streets Improvement Project, aimed at transforming the area’s infrastructure to better serve all types of road users.

Local officials are now seeking City Council approval to accept and appropriate the grant funds. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) jointly provided the grant, which will partially fund development and improvements along Harbor Boulevard between Brea Boulevard and Valencia Mesa Drive.

The grant funding, sourced from the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG), covers a wide range of eligible activities including project design, environmental studies, and construction management. Notably, the project requires a local match of 12%, which amounts to $582,480. City staff plans to utilize Measure M2 local fair share funds for this match, citing a sufficient fund balance for the purpose.

To support the project’s financial framework, staff has proposed the following budget adjustments:
– Acceptance and appropriation of the $4,854,000 in federal grant funds for the Harbor Boulevard project within the Capital Projects Fund.
– A transfer of $585,000 from Measure M2 local fair share funds to support the project.

In December 2022, the OCTA Board of Directors authorized up to $55 million for future Complete Streets projects, aimed at improving transportation networks throughout the region. The OCCSP was established as part of a strategic initiative to allocate STBG and Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) funds to local agencies that focus on enhancing accessibility and safety for all road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists.

The Fullerton City Council had previously authorized staff to pursue the grant on October 3, 2023. In response, the city submitted a comprehensive application to fund significant improvements to the Harbor Boulevard corridor. Proposed changes include reducing the number of lanes from six to four, installing buffered Class II bike lanes, and adding missing sidewalks on both sides of the road. Additionally, plans feature a signalized intersection at the entrance of Brea Dam Park, aimed at improving access for park visitors, local cyclists, and users of the Fullerton Loop mountain bike trail.

Other enhancements will include upgraded transit stops, ADA compliance measures, improved street lighting, drought-tolerant landscaping, and the addition of new center medians.

The OCTA has approved the lane reduction proposal and has amended the Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) to classify this segment of Harbor Boulevard as a four-lane Primary Divided Highway. This classification will allow the city to continue utilizing Measure M2 funds for ongoing improvements and maintenance on the roadway.

Fullerton officials received notification of the grant award on June 6, 2024, and are actively working with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to finalize all project phases. Construction is projected to commence in the summer of 2026, with city staff committed to adhering to federal procurement procedures to meet all grant requirements.

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