Sierra County RTP: Data-Driven Targets & Funding Path
Context
Rural, high-elevation county with aging infrastructure, limited transit, and seasonal tourism pressures. Sierra County needed a clear pathway to maintain existing transportation assets while addressing safety concerns and improving access for residents and visitors.
Challenge
Establish realistic performance targets and a prioritized investment path under tight fiscal constraints. The county needed defensible project selection criteria and clear alignment with state and federal funding programs to maximize competitive grant success.
Approach
Data Integration & Analysis
Integrated ACS/DOF growth trends, HPMS traffic data, SWITRS safety records, and maintenance backlogs into a PostGIS model for comprehensive analysis.
Interactive Visualization
Built Mapbox GL views and simple dashboards to pressure-test targets and funding scenarios with county staff and decision-makers.
Grant Alignment
Developed project narratives tied to specific outcomes (safety, preservation, access) and aligned with likely funding sources including SB-1, IIJA, and SHOPP coordination.
Outputs
- Performance targets tables with defensible baselines and 10-year goals
- Fiscally constrained project list prioritized by scoring criteria
- Grant-ready narratives tied to measurable outcomes
- Interactive web map for public engagement and stakeholder coordination
Outcomes
A clear 10-year roadmap aligning projects with likely funding sources (SB-1, IIJA, SHOPP coordination), improving board and Caltrans alignment and speeding near-term applications.
The data-driven approach provided audit-ready documentation and reproducible workflows, enabling annual updates and responsive adjustments as funding opportunities evolve.
Project Role
Lead author & GIS analysis; collaborators: Sierra County transportation staff and Caltrans District 2 partners.
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