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Home My WebLink About4B, Resolution of Support - Transportation Enhancement Grant�41�EN HILLS Request for Council Action 14 13 Prepared By: Michelle Olson Parks and Recreation Manager Council Meeting Date: August 8, 2011 Resolution 2011 -040: Supporting Federal Transportation Enhancement Program Funding Application Budgeted Amount: N/A Actual Amount: N/A Funding Source: N/A Recommendation: Motion to adopt Resolution No. 2011 -040: A Resolution supporting Federal Transportation Enhancement Program funding application submittal for an off - street shared use trail on County Road E /Lake Johanna Boulevard. Supporting Documents: 1. Memorandum from Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager. 2. Attachment A: Project Map of proposed trail on County Road E /Lake Johanna Blvd. 3. Attachment B: Resolution No. 2011 -040. 4. Attachment C: Map showing City /County boundary for trail on Lake Johanna Blvd. ARJENHILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: August 8, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Patrick Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager `'fie SUBJECT: Resolution 2011 -040: Supporting Federal Transportation Enhancement Program Funding Application Background The Metropolitan Council and the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) have released the 2011 regional solicitation — the eleventh regional solicitation for federal transportation funds since the passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991. Like the first regional solicitation, the TAB has advertised for projects in this funding cycle in the same four federal funding categories: Surface Transportation Program (STP) —Urban Guarantee, Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ), Transportation Enhancement Program (TE), and the Bridge Improvement and Replacement Program (BIR). Unlike the other regional solicitations, the availability of federal transportation funding is more uncertain than ever before. Congress has extended the current transportation funding act (the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act — A Legacy for Users, abbreviated to SAFETEA -LU) through the end of the federal fiscal year on September 30, 2011. Congress and President Obama are expected to pass a new federal transportation funding act before the extension expires. At this time, the TAB does not know how much funding will be available in the new act, nor does the TAB know whether all of the projects traditionally funded through the regional solicitation process will be eligible for federal funds in the new act. Despite this uncertainty, the TAB has decided to continue with the 2011 regional solicitation on schedule and will react to the new federal act when it is passed. In 2009, the City of Arden Hills applied for funding in the STP category for a standalone pedestrian bridge over County Road E. The City scored well but was unsuccessful in obtaining funding. Since that time, the County Road E Bridge has been programmed for replacement in 2015. The Ramsey County Public Works Department and the City of Arden Hills continue to work with Mn/DOT on design and cost impacts for the bridge. The bridge is not eligible for STP funding. However, the City has been exploring options for funding for the trail from the bridge to Old Snelling. Joe Lux from Ramsey County Public Works indicated that the County Parks \\ Metro- inet. us \ardenhills\PR &PW\Parks\Memos \Council Memos\Memo to CC re - Res 2011 -040 County Road E federal application080811.doc Resolution 2011 -040 County Road E federal application Page 2 Department may be interested in partnering on an off street shared use path on Lake Johanna Boulevard to Tony Schmidt Regional Park and the Elmer L. Andersen Memorial Trail. Staff contacted Greg Mack at the Ramsey County Parks Department and asked if they would be interested in partnering on a trail connection from the County Road E bridge to Tony Schmidt Regional Park and the Elmer L. Andersen Memorial Trail. Mr. Mack was supportive of the application and committed that if the project is chosen, the local share of their segment would be eligible for funding under the Metropolitan Council's Capital Improvement Program and the County intends to request matching funds through that program. Staff has been preparing an application for the Transportation Enhancement Program (TE) for an off street shared use trail from the County Road E bridge to Tony Schmidt Regional Park and the Elmer L. Andersen Memorial Trail. A map of the project is attached for Council review (Attachment A). The application deadline is August 22, 2011. Transportation Enhancement Program (TE): Amount of money in this pro'ram to be awarded: Undetermined Maximum award available for each project: $1 million Purpose and Vision: Transportation- related activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation's intermodal transportation system. The TE program provides for implementation of non - traditional transportation projects. TE funds are directed toward projects that preserve historic, archaeological, scenic and environmental resources related to surface transportation, and to facilitate bicycle and pedestrian use. Parks and open space preserve natural resources and provide a wide variety of recreational activities. Trail corridors are intended to provide for recreational travel along linear pathways throughout the metropolitan area. If the Council supports this application, a resolution of support is required (Attachment B). Financial Implications The maximum award available for each project is $1,000,000. The TAB reserves the right to partially fund any project. The local (nonfederal) match in funding for any project must be at least twenty percent (20 %) of the total project cost. Project construction and materials, right of way and land acquisition are all eligible costs. Engineering, study completion and design are not eligible for reimbursement. This project would be eligible for State Aid funds for the local match, as well as for engineering, up to 25% of construction costs. If the City Council chooses not to allocate State Aid fund to the project, then an alternative funding source will need to be identified for the local match and all engineering fees. If funding is obtained through this process, funds would be available for construction in fiscal years 2015 and 2016. The sunset date for completion of projects awarded funding is March 31 of the year following the original program year established by the TAB. The preliminary estimate for this project is a total project cost of $1,521,302.51, including engineering. The City portion of the project is approximately 2,850 feet from the bridge on County Road E, extending onto Lake Johanna Boulevard to the border of Tony Schmidt Regional Park. The County's portion of the project is approximately 1,400 feet and extends from the Elmer L. Andersen Memorial trailhead east to the border of Tony Schmidt Regional \\ Metro- inet. us \ardenhills\PR &PW\Parks\Memos \Council Memos\Memo to CC re - Res 2011 -040 County Road E federal application080811.doc Resolution 2011 -040 County Road E federal application Page 2 Park and the City's portion. An aerial map showing the County and City boundary on Lake Johanna Boulevard is provided for Council review (Attachment C). The table below breaks down the total project costs between the County and the City. Total Project Costs The federal match is 80% for construction costs. The table below lists the breakdown of federal, city and county construction costs. Construction Cost Breakdown Federal match (80 %) City portion County portion Total Construction Costs $ 807,300.00 $ 349,490.75 $1,156,790.75 Engineering Costs $ 242,190.00 $ 122,321.76 $ 364,511.76 Total Costs $ 1,049,490.00 $ 471,812.51 $1,521,302.51 The federal match is 80% for construction costs. The table below lists the breakdown of federal, city and county construction costs. Construction Cost Breakdown Federal match (80 %) $ 925,432.60 City match $ 159,497.18 County match $ 71,860.97 Total $ 1,156,790.75 The following table lists the local project costs after the federal match has been applied. Local Pro i ect Costs- after federal match The City match is estimated to be $401,687.18 and the County match is estimated to be $194,182.73. Council Action Requested A motion to adopt Resolution No. 2011 -040: A Resolution supporting Federal Transportation Enhancement Program funding application submittal for an off street shared use trail on County Road E /Lake Johanna Boulevard. \\ Metro- inet. us \ardenhills\PR &PW\Parks\Memos \Council Memos\Memo to CC re - Res 2011 -040 County Road E federal application080811.doc City portion County portion Construction Costs $ 159,497.18 $ 71,860.97 Engineering Costs $ 242,190.00 $ 122,321.76 Total Costs $ 401,687.18 $ 194,182.73 The City match is estimated to be $401,687.18 and the County match is estimated to be $194,182.73. Council Action Requested A motion to adopt Resolution No. 2011 -040: A Resolution supporting Federal Transportation Enhancement Program funding application submittal for an off street shared use trail on County Road E /Lake Johanna Boulevard. \\ Metro- inet. us \ardenhills\PR &PW\Parks\Memos \Council Memos\Memo to CC re - Res 2011 -040 County Road E federal application080811.doc Attachment A • • Project Map of proposed trail on County Road E/Lake Johanna Boulevard