AGENDA DATE: 2/16/2022
TITLE:
Title
Smart Scale Project Agreements
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approval of VDOT Project Administration Agreements for Upcoming Smart Scale Projects
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Filardo, Rapp, McDermott, Hersh-Ballering
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Smart Scale grant program is the primary method for funding large-scale transportation projects in the State. The program provides State and Federal funds for the design/engineering, right-of-way, and construction of transportation projects, and runs on a biennial cycle. At the June 17, 2020 meeting, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Resolution in support of Smart Scale funding applications for the following projects: Old Lynchburg/5th Street Extended Intersection Improvements; US 250 Pantops Corridor Improvements (Route 20 to Hansen Road); and Route 20/Route 53 Intersection Improvements, among others. Also at the June meeting, the Board expressed its desire to contribute local funds through the Transportation Leveraging Program CIP Line Item in order to buy down the project costs and improve the scoring of these projects.
At the August 19, 2020 meeting, following VDOT’s extension of the Smart Scale application deadline, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in support of the Rio Road/John Warner Parkway Intersection Improvements project as an additional Smart Scale funding application. The Board approved the inclusion of local funds through the Transportation Leveraging Program CIP Line Item for this application, as well.
Submitted Application Project Name |
Estimated Project Cost |
Local Fund Contributions |
Old Lynchburg Road/5th Street Extended Intersection Improvements |
$7,263,075 |
$2 million |
US 250 Pantops Corridor Improvements (Route 20 to Hansen Road) |
$5,939,563 |
$2 million |
Route 20/Route 53 Intersection Improvements |
$9,536,258 |
$1 million |
Rio Road/John Warner Parkway Intersection Improvements |
$10,126,306 |
$2 million |
All four of these projects received Smart Scale funding.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment - Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: While it was expected that funding would become available for these projects and preliminary engineering would begin in Fiscal Year 2025, these projects have been fast-tracked by VDOT. VDOT is requesting the local funds for Old Lynchburg Road/5th Street Extended Intersection Improvements, Rio Road/John Warner Parkway Intersection Improvements, and Route 20/Route 53 Intersection Improvements in FY23. VDOT is requesting the local funds for US 250 Corridor Improvements projects in FY25.
All four projects would be administered by VDOT, which requires project agreements for all projects that it administers. The project Agreements (Attachments A, B, C, and D) outline the County’s commitment of the local share for each project and VDOT’s administration of the project. The proposed Resolution (Attachment E) would provide the County Executive with authority to sign the Agreements.
BUDGET IMPACT: In the Smart Scale applications, the County already committed a total of $7 million of local funds from the Transportation Leveraging Program CIP Line Item. The attached Agreements specify that the County will pay a total of $5 million to VDOT in FY 23 for the Old Lynchburg Road/5th Street Extended Intersection Improvements, Rio Road/John Warner Parkway Intersection Improvements, and Route 20/Route 53 Intersection Improvements, and $2 million in FY25 for US 250 Corridor Improvements. This local funding will leverage approximately $25.8 million in State funding for the design/engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of all four projects.
Additional costs related to staff time that would impact the County budget are expected to be minimal, as all four projects will be administered by VDOT and therefore will not require large amounts of staff time.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment E) approving the attached Agreements (Attachments A, B, C, and D), and authorizing the County Executive to sign the Agreements on behalf of the County .
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Old Lynchburg Road/5th Street Extended Intersection Improvements Smart Scale Project Agreement
B - US 250 Pantops Corridor Improvements Smart Scale Project Agreement
C - Route 20/Route 53 Intersection Improvements Smart Scale Project Agreement
D - Rio Road/John Warner Parkway Intersection Improvements Smart Scale Project Agreement
E - Smart Scale Project Agreement Resolution