AGENDA DATE: 10/4/2017
TITLE:
Title
Transportation Funding/Grant Application Review
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolutions for Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Grant Requests and update on the additional project funding
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Walker, Kamptner, Graham, Gast-Bray, McDermott
PRESENTER (S): Kevin McDermott
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Douglas C. Walker
BACKGROUND: In August of 2017 the Board reviewed and approved the updated list of Albemarle County Transportation Priorities for 2018 (Attachment A). Included in that review and approval were a number of projects recommended for funding through the Revenue Sharing and Transportation Alternatives Programs grant applications, including:
• Berkmar Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements (#9) from US 29 to Hilton Heights Road
• Commonwealth Dr/Dominion Dr Pedestrian Improvements (#10) from Hydraulic to Peyton Place, from Commonwealth Circle to Dominion Dr, and from Commonwealth Dr to US 29
• Greer/Jouett Bike/Pedestrian Improvements (#13) from Hydraulic Rd to Greer Jouett Schools
• Cale ES Pedestrian Improvements (#14) at Avon St Extended
The Cale ES and Greer/Jouett Projects are also being advanced as potential Neighborhood Improvement Funding Initiative (NIFI) projects. Other projects discussed for funding at the August Board Meeting are not yet developed enough to be part of applications for this round but will continue to be advanced in preparation for future applications.
Since the August Board meeting, a fifth project has arisen as a potential funding request: #11 on the approved Transportation Priorities List, the Library Avenue Extension from the current stub out at the Crozet Library to the current stub out of Hilltop Street in the Parkside Village development. Discussions with the developer of the future Barnes Lumber property have resulted in the development of a potential public-private partnership to address the need for this connection.
Based on funding provided for revenue sharing projects in the most recent CIP, there is funding available to support the local match required to complete all five of these projects. The deadline for the Revenue Sharing and Transportation Alternatives grant applications is November 1. A Board Resolution supporting these projects is required and must be submitted prior to November 1s for the Transportation Alternatives Grant and prior to December 1 for the Revenue Sharing Grant.
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: Staff is currently preparing the applications for the referenced projects. Detailed cost estimates for these projects have not yet been developed, however some planning level cost estimates are provided in the project descriptions below.
• Berkmar Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements - This project proposes to construct a Shared-use Path from Hydraulic Road to Hilton Heights Road to connect to the new Shared-Use Path on Berkmar Extended. It would be approximately 1.1 miles long and cost in the vicinity of between $1.9 million and $2.1 million. Under the Revenue Sharing grant the local contribution would be 50%, or approximately $1 million. This project builds on the success of the new Berkmar Extended Bicycle and Pedestrian Path and is also an important segment of the Northtown Trail, which is ranked at #2 in the County’s Transportation Priority List and is also on the list of top-ranked NIFI projects for the Rio Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
• Commonwealth Dr/Dominion Dr Pedestrian Improvements - This project proposes to construct three segments of sidewalk: on Commonwealth from Hydraulic to Peyton Place, and from Commonwealth Circle to Dominion Dr; and on Dominion Dr from Commonwealth Dr to US 29. This is approximately one mile of sidewalk for a total cost of between $550,000 and $750,000 making the County’s share of 50% under the Revenue Sharing program around $300,000. This project is located in an area that is a focus of the County’s Strategic Goal to invest in aging urban neighborhoods.
• Greer/Jouett Bike/Pedestrian Improvements - This project proposes to construct a shared-use path from the Hydraulic Rd/Lambs Rd intersection to the Greer/Jouett School complex to provide a safe walking and bicycling connection for students, staff, and visitors to those schools. This is proposed to be submitted as a Transportation Alternatives project under the Safe Routes to School Program. The total length of the path would be just under a half of a mile at a cost of between $625,000 and $825,000 making the County’s share of 20% under $200,000. This project is currently being evaluated as a potential NIFI project for the Hydraulic CAC.
• Cale ES Pedestrian Improvements - This project proposes to construct a pedestrian crossing of Avon St Extended in front of Cale Elementary and internal sidewalks to connect from the road to the entrance of the school. This is proposed to be submitted as a Transportation Alternatives project under the Safe Routes to School Program. The total cost of the project is not yet known but a conservative estimate would place it between $400,000 and $600,000, making the County’s share of 20% around $100,000. This project is currently being evaluated as a potential NIFI project for the 5th and Avon CAC.
• Library Avenue Extension - The new project added to this list is the proposal to extend Library Avenue from its current terminus through the Barnes Lumber property to connect to Hilltop Street in Parkside Village and Crozet Square. This is being proposed as a partnership with the developer of the Barnes Lumber property in which the developer would provide the local match necessary for the Revenue Sharing Program. This project is being combined with a potential NIFI project to reconstruct Crozet Square to improve parking and pedestrian facilities and connect to the prosed road system of the Barnes Lumber Development. The project is ranked at #11 on the County’s Transportation Priorities and can be seen as a catalyst for the redevelopment of downtown Crozet including the desired office and retail development that is envisioned in the Crozet Master Plan. To complete this project, a separate agreement will be necessary with the developer of the Barnes Lumber site to define roles and responsibilities but the only financial contribution from the County would be the NIFI funds to complete the Crozet Square portion of the project. Cost estimates are still being developed on this project.
BUDGET IMPACT: Staff recommends using the County CIP funds to leverage against State funds to fully fund the identified transportation projects to completion. The funding requested has been previously approved through the FY 17-21 Adopted Multi-Year CIP and the FY 18-22 Recommended Multi-Year CIP Expenditures Summary under the CIP Revenue Sharing program. If selected for funding through the Grant programs, the County will be responsible for 20% of the total project cost of the Transportation Alternatives request and 50% of the total cost of the Revenue Sharing Request.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board endorse the recommended grant applications and adopt the attached Resolution B and C for the two Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Grant applications. The Resolutions for the Revenue Sharing applications will be on the consent agenda for the November 1 Board meeting once the final costs are determined.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - FY 18 Tier 1 County Transportation Priorities List
B - Cale ES Transportation Alternatives Grant Resolution
C - Greer/Jouett Transportation Alternatives Grant Resolution