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<br />State of California – Office of Traffic Safety
<br />GRANT AGREEMENT
<br />Schedule A
<br />GRANT NUMBER
<br />PT26147
<br />
<br />1. PROBLEM STATEMENT
<br />Describe the city, county, or jurisdiction this grant will impact.
<br />The Redwood City is located in the heart of San Mateo County, which is a dynamic and rapidly growing
<br />community on the San Francisco Peninsula. As the county seat, Redwood City serves as a regional hub for
<br />government, business, and entertainment, attracting a diverse population of residents, workers, and visitors.
<br />The city is known for its vibrant downtown, bustling nightlife, and a mix of residential, commercial, and
<br />industrial areas. With a population exceeding 84,000 residents, Redwood City continues to experience
<br />growth and increased activity, contributing to a greater demand for effective traffic safety measures.
<br />
<br />San Mateo County, which encompasses Redwood City, is one of the most economically and geographically
<br />diverse counties in California. Stretching from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean, the county is
<br />home to major technology companies, suburban neighborhoods, and scenic coastal highways. The county's
<br />varied landscape presents unique traffic safety challenges, including high-volume urban roadways,
<br />commuter-heavy freeways, and winding rural roads that require targeted enforcement and engineering
<br />solutions to ensure public safety.
<br />
<br />The Redwood City Police Department’s (RCPD) jurisdiction includes major transportation corridors such as
<br />U.S. Highway 101, Woodside Road (State Route 84), and El Camino Real, all of which see significant daily
<br />traffic volumes. These roadways serve as key routes for commuters traveling between Silicon Valley, San
<br />Francisco, San Jose, and other parts of the Bay Area. Additionally, Redwood City’s downtown and
<br />entertainment districts generate high pedestrian and vehicular activity, particularly during evening and
<br />weekend hours. This growing vibrancy has led to an increased need for around-the-clock traffic enforcement
<br />and safety interventions.
<br />
<br />The partnership with the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has a significant impact on RCPD, assisting in
<br />enhancing road safety through targeted enforcement and education. Through grant funding DUI
<br />enforcement, traffic enforcement, speed reduction efforts, and pedestrian safety campaigns, assist the city
<br />to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. This also support the department’s commitment to Vision
<br />Zero—a strategy aimed at eliminating severe traffic crashes through proactive measures such as data-
<br />driven enforcement, roadway redesigns, and public awareness programs. Through the support of the OTS
<br />grant, RCPD will continue our innovative traffic safety solutions which directly benefit residents, commuters,
<br />and visitors. These efforts contribute to a safer, more accessible transportation network for all who travel
<br />through the city and the surrounding roadways.
<br />
<br />The RCPD currently has a Traffic Unit includes 8 full-time staff comprised of 1 police sergeant, 4 traffic
<br />officers, and 4 parking enforcement officers. Redwood city has experienced a growth in the number of
<br />vehicles on the roadway. With the current number of large corporations and the continued business growth
<br />in the region, daytime vehicle traffic significantly increases with 89.4% vehicles commuting to work. The
<br />additional enforcement could not be possible without the support of OTS and NHTSA's funding, which
<br />allows RCPD to provide enhanced education and enforcement during critical times on needed roadways in
<br />an effort to reduce incidences of injury and fatal crashes.
<br />
<br />Describe the problem(s) to be addressed, supported by current and relevant crash data. (most
<br />recent calendar year data/stats).
<br />In 2024, there were 693 reported traffic crashes in Redwood City. Greater than 18% of those were found to
<br />be caused primarily by unsafe speed. That is approximately a 4% decrease from 2023 for crashes caused
<br />by speed, however, that is still unacceptably high. It should be noted that while the number of reported
<br />crashes increased by 21% from 2023, this is not an anomaly, crashes rates have been steadily increasing
<br />year or year since our low point in 2020 of 441 crashes, and have now surpassed our previous high point
<br />from 2018 of 695 reported crashes. That is particularly disturbing when taken into account the Department
<br />adopted the protocol of documenting injury-only crashes in 2020. This policy was developed to help officers
<br />direct more of their time in the enforcement of traffic violations.
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