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Home My WebLink About09-10-07 Item 4E, Grant Through Safe Routes to School Program with MnDOT ~ ~HILLS Request for Council Action Prepared By: Michelle Olson -1110 Dept.: Public Works Council Mtg, Date: -"--'"'-'--'-'-~~~_~_p!~~~~i.I~-:::~Q9!~~::- Final Action Needed By: September 10, 2007 Agenda Item: 4.E. n--'-'------~---...-'-'-'-"n-"'-'-n---~BuagetecfAmounf-~:~:~:~n:~::=_~=~ Actual Amount: Funding Source: .... ....=--.$6 $0 ~~eeBu~11jM1~21lStt~lii_~,_,_'__n""'_'_'___,_________,_,_,_"'''''''.,.,.,___"'_________'"'m.m iMotion to authorize City Staff to apply for a grant through the Safe '''RoLiies--to 'Sctl"ooi-Program-.wliil-Ihe 'NiTnnesota--'jje-partmenI"'o~ !Transportation. f[fATFHiw81.:DJ.~li5!~~~~~..________ ,__,_________ '.'__n__'"________"__".."'"""", ____,_____,.., n..'on__'.._________ '"'nn""___.,"_______,",,",., _____ ..,.,.,___,"'__ !Staffrecommends a motion to authorize City Staff to apply for a grant through the Safe Routes to School Program with the Minnesota jDepartment of Transportation. .....,.... """---- -- .-..,.......,".."'"~- - ---..........,........," "---- -_..-..,......,..,.."'"'"" "------.-....,..,....'"' "'" "- ------..-.......,.. ..,",,, ,","-"- ---_..-...... ..,....." "------..--....,......","--- ----............"'"'""~--- ~~1:r11~g~~~~aff8cllel11ifd] i X I Memo/Letter: ' !-oo__.....+.._....".."'"_________m_..,mm.. __.......,......""___ __..... ! IResolution No,: Dated 09/05/07 from Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager --~....._,..,.,.."'"''''~'~------ ..,..... '"'"" ------ iOrdinance No,: ~____.._i_ m..... '" " '___no ............. ,~~_____+ i" I Engineering Recommendation: iAttorney Recommendation: x IOther: ...frain~ap;.S'affd~oufes...to..'sa1"oorGiinfA~pi;-ficaiioil'lilformatlon.m" -....".."""'"-----j --...........1 l;ffijna~~amffiiP1l~1~HfffiR~~~'..mmm".."..""_"_______.._m"m"...."'..'~.._"________.....m..m".....",..,"_"~'"______..oo..__..'",m......"'''"_~_________........mmm..'"".."'"'""_________..".........."m...."'''_________..".m........'..'"_"_~______....._..mm..'"'"_,,___________.._m...."'"'"""~____oo' i The SRTS Program is a reimbursable grant program which requires recipients to front project costs and be reimbursed during the course i of the project. If the City is awarded this grant, the funds for this project would need to be secured before June, 2009, which is the end of I the 2008 Fiscal Year for the State. Therefore, City Staff is proposing that the engineering expenses be budgeted for in 2008 and ! construction costs in 2009. ' \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\PR&PW\Parks\Memos\Council Actions\Safe Routes to School Application Approval 0907.doc MEMORANDUM ~ ~~HILLS DATE: September 5, 2007 AGENDA ITEM: 4.E. TO: Michelle Wolfe - City Administrator Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager-fJ[tf) SUBJECT: Minnesota Safe Routes to School Grant Program BACKGROUND The Minnesota Department of Transportation has recently announced the opening of the third Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Grant Program solicitation. This program was created by the Federal Surface Transportation Act, which established the program in order to provide communities with the opportunity to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school. As you may recall, the City of Arden Hills did apply during the second solicitation of this program in January of 2007. Unfortunately, the City was one of III applications and only 23 proposals were awarded funding. However, the feedback that staff received from MDOT regarding our application was extremely positive. Ramsey County Parks and Recreation has once again agreed to partner in this grant process. The trail segments that County and City Staff anticipate applying for will be similar to our previous year's application. The main emphasis will be a trail in front of Valentine Hills, along County Road E2 that runs from New Brighton Road to Old County Road 10 with one connection running north to V enus Avenue. This area is surrounded by busy roads and has little or no sidewalks/trails. The segments are identified on the attached map. The Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee added this trail location to their Strategies at their November 21,2006 meeting. Safe Routes to School Projects are funded at one hundred percent and do not require a local match. The SRTS Program is a reimbursable grant program which requires recipients to front project costs and be reimbursed during the course of the project. The SRTS grant range for individual infrastructure projects is between $10,000 and $175,000. Staff anticipates applying for the highest amount of$175,000. The grant deadline is November 16,2007 and the awards will be announced sometime in early spring 2008. Staff anticipates bringing forward an official resolution to the City Council supporting the completed grant application sometime in November 2007. Safe Routes to School Grant Approval September 5,2007 Page 2 of2 BUDGET If the City is awarded this grant, the funds for this project would need to be secured before June 2009, which is the end ofthe 2008 fiscal year for the State. Therefore, City Staff is proposing that the engineering expenses be budgeted for in 2008 and construction costs in 2009. If unsuccessful, the trail segments would be put on hold. A fourth and final solicitation is scheduled sometime in 2009. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends a motion to authorize City Staff to apply for a grant through the Safe Routes to School Program with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Dear Safe Routes Applicants, The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is pleased to announce the opening of the third Safe Routes to School solicitation. Safe Routes funding is available for schools with any combination of K-8 enrollment to make infrastructure improvements, such as bike racks and sidewalks, and for noninfastructure programs such as developing Safe Routes Plans, enforcement, and promoting biking and walking to and from school. To date the Safe Routes program has awarded 40 projects totaling $3.2 million. Under this solicitation $1.9 million will be available for Federal Fiscal Year 2008. A minimum of $1.5 million is available for infrastructure projects and $250,000 for non- infrastructure project. The grant ranges for individual projects are: . $10,000 - $175,000 for infrastructure projects · $10,000 - $20,000 for single school non-infrastructure projects · $20,000 - $50,000 for a multiple school non-infrastructure project Safe Routes to School projects are funded at 100% with no local match required. The SRTS Program is a reimbursable grant program meaning that recipients of the funds will front the cost and be reimbursed during the course of the project. All costs submitted for reimbursement are subject to eligibility requirements. Safe Routes grants may be applied for by: · Schools, public & private . School districts · Parent/teacher organizations, . Tribes . Local governments . Non-Profit Organizations · Metropolitan Planning Organizations · Regional Development Commissions . Other educational organizations Timeline for 2008 Solicitation August 29, 2007: Application available on our website htto://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/SRTS2008aoolication.html November 16, 2007 Application period closes. All applications must be received by 4:30 PM CST Early Spring 2008 Grant recipients notified Training Training will be provided in late September and early October for the SRTS program. The training provides an introduction to the SRTS program and an overview of the application. Five sessions will be held around the locations are listed below. Location Date Duluth Mankato SI. Cloud Arden Hills Bemidji TBD TBD September 24, 2007 October 3, 2007 October 10, 2007 Future Solicitations Another solicitation for Safe Routes to School is scheduled for 2009 to award the monies from Federal Fiscal Years 2009. Based on current projections it is estimated that $2 million will be made available under this solicitation. This will be the final solicitation for Safe Routes to School under SAFETEA - LU. Additional Safe Routes to School information and updates can be found online at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/index.html Thank you for your time and I look forward to working with you to improving biking and walking conditions for Minnesota's students. If you have any questions about the program please contact: Kristie Billiar at 651-366-4164 or kristie.billiar@dot.state.mn.us. Sincerely, Kristie M. Billiar Minnesota Safe Routes to School Coordinator ~ zt- -" 1 co '" e .... tl C 'e -" '0 G) t- J:: 1 .21 ~ - e E tIl . .!!1 a. '" - 'C tIl '8 S 8 G) c: a. .~ ~ CI) '0 t- e u.. - Cl Ol C)t- '0 '0 W ~ '" C) Ol Ol o .5 ~ c: ~ '" 0.- '"' 0. 0 . o .~ :J '" tn - 'x e g- o: Jj ~ UJ a. a: - - .- I I I :J: . I -tc . G) C .- .... C G) - ~ 0 .... tn C 0 .- 1:5 G) c c 0 0 - .- e I- G) 0 0 .... I/) ::;::, 0 c::: ~ 0 CO en