AGENDA DATE: 10/5/2016
TITLE: Transportation - Review of Revenue Sharing Program and Other Grant Applications for FY 18
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Review of Revenue Sharing Program and Other Grant Projects Application for FY18
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Blair, Graham, Benish, McDermott
PRESENTER (S): Kevin McDermott
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Choose an item.
BACKGROUND: Staff is following the schedule below in presenting information to the Board regarding transportation priorities, transportation funding mechanisms, and prioritization strategies in advance of asking the Board to provide direction on transportation priorities:
April 6: Initial input was received from the Board regarding the County Transportation Priorities List. The Board also provided comments and direction regarding projects recommended by County staff and VDOT staff for the next round of Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) applications through Smart Scale.
August 3: The Board approved the list of projects to be submitted for funding for the FY 2017 Smart Scale application round. Attachment A is the approved list with amendments which reflect discussions by the Board and updated project information.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Goal 2.Critical Infrastructure: Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: The Board allocated $1.72 million in the CIP for FY17 and FY18 for transportation improvements that can be used to leverage funds through the VDOT Revenue Sharing Program (RS) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TA), or can be used to directly fund the design or construction of transportation projects. The County has consistently participated in the Revenue Sharing Program since the early 90’s. No application for RS funding was submitted last year due to the number of outstanding RS projects, but the County was awarded a TA grant last year, which was submitted by the Thomas Jefferson PDC for Moore’s Creek and Biscuit Run pedestrian/bike/greenway improvements near Fifth Street. Participation in the Revenue Sharing Program requires a dollar for dollar match of County funds applied to a particular project, and the Transportation Alternatives program requires the locality to provide a 20% match. The deadline for the Revenue Sharing Program and the Transportation Alternatives Grant application is November 1, 2016.
County and VDOT staff have met to review the current Revenue Sharing Program and Transportation Alternatives grant opportunities, requirements, and guidelines, along with the County’s priority lists of transportation projects and the State transportation priorities for the region. Staff has also considered the Board’s ongoing efforts to identify and prioritize strategic initiatives and have provided the following recommendations:
- Submit a Revenue Sharing Program application for funds for the preliminary engineering of the Innovation Drive Extension to Lewis & Clark Drive and the Meeting Street (Berkmar Drive) Extension to Airport Road. This project is an important transportation improvement to complete the remaining portion of the Berkmar Drive Extended project and will also provide an important and strategic economic development benefit by improving access to developable industrial lands. Additionally, this project is listed in the Board approved Transportation Priority List for Secondary Roads (Attachment B). Smart Scale applications will be submitted for the construction of these projects; however, if the applications are awarded, funds would not be available until FY21 and design would not begin until that time. This Revenue Sharing application would accelerate the development of these improvements and increase the scoring potential of the projects under the Smart Scale process. The total estimated cost of Preliminary Engineering for these two segments of roadway is $1,925,000 of which the state would cover 50% of the cost under the Revenue Sharing Program. The total cost to the County is estimated at $962,500.
- Submit a Revenue Sharing Program application for funds for preliminary engineering of the Avon Street bicycle and pedestrian improvements. If awarded, these funds would evaluate, design, and engineer improvements that would include either sidewalk and on-street bike facilities or a multi-use path on Avon Street Extended from the I-64 Bridge to Mill Creek Drive where it would tie in to the existing multi-use path and sidewalk project currently in design. North of the I-64 Bridge the project would tie in to the improvements constructed with the Fifth Street Station development. This project was identified as a priority in the CIP Sidewalk Construction Program Project List (Attachment C) and would provide an important missing link in the bicycle and pedestrian network between previously constructed projects. A Phase II application for funding for the construction of this project is anticipated to be submitted with next year’s application once costs are determined with the Phase 1 study. A potential Third Phase of this project would evaluate the connection north to the City Line potentially partnering with the City of Charlottesville. The estimated total cost of the Preliminary Engineering for this project is $400,000 of which the state would cover 50% of the cost under the Revenue Sharing Program. The total cost to the County is estimated at $200,000.
- Submit a Transportation Alternatives Grant application under the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program for funds to construct sidewalk improvements on the Cale Elementary School property to connect to the public sidewalk improvements on Avon Street Extended that are currently in design. Additionally, these funds would be used to construct an at-grade pedestrian crosswalk of Avon Street Extended in front of the school property to tie in to the pedestrian facilities on the east and west sides of the road. The cost for this project is still under development.
- Directly fund a crosswalk on US 250 East at State Farm Boulevard to provide an improvement in pedestrian safety. The Board approved Transportation Priority List for Pedestrian, Bike, and Enhancement Projects (Attachment B) identified this section of US 250 East as the highest priority for pedestrian crossings. This project is seen as the first step in improving pedestrian access throughout this critical development area. Due to the small cost of this project, it will likely not be cost effective to pursue grant sources to augment funding of this project (the cost of application and grant management would exceed funds received). The cost for this project is still under development.
The projects noted above will not commit all available funding in FY17 to transportation projects. Staff believes it is prudent to not commit those remaining funds to projects at this time until the Board completes its effort to establish priorities for its strategic initiatives and the Board can further discuss its transportation priorities in relation to those initiatives (for example, recommendations stemming from Rio + 29 Small Area Plan, future focus on urban revitalization efforts, efforts to support Southwood redevelopment, and continued work to create a multimodal network in the Crozet Development Area).
BUDGET IMPACT: Participation in the VDOT Revenue Sharing Program leverages matching funds from VDOT to advance important transportation projects. The County has appropriated $1.72 million for transportation improvements and the funds are available for local match for the FY18 Revenue Sharing request and match for other grant requests.
RECOMMENDATION:Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board approve proceeding with applications and planning for Revenue Sharing Program requests for preliminary engineering for 1) Innovation Drive Extension to Lewis & Clark Drive; 2) Meeting Street (Berkmar Drive) Extension to Airport Road; 3) the Avon Street bicycle and pedestrian improvements; 4) a SRTS Grant application to construct sidewalks on Cale Elementary School site; and 5) the construction of a pedestrian crosswalk on US 250 East at State Farm Boulevard.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Amended List of Smart Scale Projects approved by the Board on August 3, 2016
B - Transportation Priority List
C - Sidewalk Construction Program Project List