AGENDA DATE: 10/5/2022
TITLE:
Title
Reconnecting Communities Grant Application
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution of Support for Reconnecting Communities Grant Application
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Herrick, Filardo, Rapp, McDermott, Hersh-Ballering
PRESENTER (S): Jessica Hersh-Ballering
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: In the July 2022 Quarterly Report, staff noted several grant opportunities, including the US Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot. This discretionary grant program is dedicated to reconnecting communities that have experienced negative safety, mobility, accessibility, and/or economic impacts due to transportation infrastructure. Program funding supports planning grants and capital construction grants to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofitting, mitigation, or replacement of eligible transportation infrastructure facilities.
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 has prepared a Reconnecting Communities planning grant application for approximately $300,000. This funding would support a corridor study for US 29 (and the surrounding neighborhoods) from Hydraulic Road to the Rivanna River. The corridor study would feature a strong public engagement component.
The purpose of the corridor study would be to identify solutions to any negative impacts of US 29 on the safety, mobility, and overall well-being of Albemarle County residents, especially vulnerable road users and those who live in the neighborhoods adjacent to this section of US 29. This purpose is consistent with the goals identified in the Places 29 Master Plan.
Future funding would be needed to design and construct any solutions identified in the corridor study
BUDGET IMPACT: Reconnecting Communities planning grants must identify non-federal funds for 20% cost-sharing. In-kind donations may be used as part or all of the non-federal share. Staff will clarify during the presentation how much of the 20% cost-share would be in-kind, including staff support in Community Development, Communications & Public Engagement, and administrative staff time. The remaining cost-share would come from the Transportation Leveraging Fund in the Capital Improvement Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board endorse the Reconnecting Communities grant application by adopting the attached Albemarle County Reconnecting Communities Grant Resolution (Attachment A).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Albemarle County Reconnecting Communities Grant Resolution