The City of Fullerton is moving forward with plans to submit a grant application for the rehabilitation of Yorba Linda Boulevard, specifically the segment from State College Boulevard to Bradford Avenue. The project aims to improve crucial infrastructure and enhance the safety and efficiency of transportation within the area.

City staff are preparing the application for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as part of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Call for Project Nominations for the federal Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Funding will be sought through the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ).

The proposed project has a preliminary cost estimate of approximately $5.9 million, with around $4.6 million expected to be considered eligible for federal funding. If successful, the city anticipates receiving about $4 million in federal grant funds, necessitating a local match of approximately $1.9 million, which could be sourced from M2 Local Fair Share or other local funding avenues.

The segment in question serves a high volume of traffic, with an Average Daily Traffic count ranging from 31,500 to 38,300. The road is currently rated with a Pavement Condition Index between 28 and 39, denoting a “Very Poor” condition that necessitates urgent attention.

The rehabilitation work is expected to include pavement rehabilitation, new signage, ADA upgrades, and upgrades to traffic signals and landscaping—although certain components typical of street projects, such as sidewalk and median improvements, will not be eligible for federal funding.

The city plans to budget for the project following the anticipated announcement of award selections for the STBG and CMAQ programs in FY 2025-26, with work expected to officially commence in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

In a strategic decision, city staff have recommended prioritizing another project, the Euclid Street improvement plan, over the Yorba Linda Boulevard application, given the competitive nature of the grant process. The deadline for submitting grant applications is May 16, 2025, leaving city officials with limited time to finalize the application details.

This information is from the supplemental Backup for city council for April 1, 2025. https://fullerton.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx