Agenda Date: 09/15/2020
Subject:
Title
Resolution 67-2020: Authorizing a grant application to the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Mineral Station Mobility-shed Improvements Project
Body
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Prepared by: |
Brent Thompson, City Engineer |
PURPOSE:
To authorize a grant application to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for the Safer Main Street Grant Opportunity for the Mineral Station Mobility-shed Improvement Project in the area of Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road. This project is focused on making safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians at a key location where there are a high number of cyclists and pedestrians and important transit connections.
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): N/A
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
The Safer Main Streets Grant from CDOT and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) provides up to $77 million from three different sources of funding to improve safety and transform urban spaces, especially for vulnerable users who depend on a reliable urban street network, such as pedestrians, bikers, transit users, the elderly, and those with disabilities. The grant’s focus is busy arterials and practical and cost-effective projects that can be delivered relatively quickly so the project benefits are realized swiftly. According to the program website, the Safer Main Streets Program “includes both safety and economic recovery goals that include:
• Reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on the region’s transportation system
• Support a transportation system that safely accommodates all modes of travel i.e. driving, taking the bus or any transit system, walking, and biking
• Improve transit access and multimodal mobility
• Support the development of connected urban/employment centers and multimodal corridors
• Provide safe access to opportunity and mobility for residents of all ages, incomes, and abilities, including vulnerable users
• Help communities adjust to the “new normal” travel patterns caused by COVID-19
• Play an important and immediate role in job creation/retention and small business investment
The Safer Main Streets Program has an accelerated program delivery timeline, with all funds required to be spent by June 1, 2024. Due to this timeline, staff focused on projects where some level of design had been completed and projects that require minimal right-of-way impacts.
The City of Littleton submitted an application for the Mineral Station Mobility-Shed Improvement Project, which is a key project to improve safety and make ADA compliant upgrades east of the Mineral Station.
The heart of this project addresses issues that restrict people east of Mineral Station from walking or biking safely to access it. These seven project elements address known barriers:
1. Jackass Hill Road & Mineral Avenue Intersection Reconstruction: This is the most dangerous intersection for cyclists in Littleton, this project will aim to make it one of the safest.
2. Mineral Avenue Road Diet: This project will reallocate roadway space to narrow vehicle lanes and provide a buffered or protected bike lane for cyclists.
3. Jackass Hill Rd Road Diet: This project will reallocate roadway space to narrow vehicle lanes and provide a buffered or protected bike lane for cyclists.
4. Connecting the Jackass Hill Road intersection to Mineral Station: The current sidewalk that connects the intersection with the station needs to be widened to accommodate the high volume of pedestrians and cyclists.
5. Safety Improvement at Mineral Avenue & Highline Canal Trail Crossing: Crossing improvements here will allow trail users to cross without having to worry about vehicles turning right from Peninsula Avenue.
6. Paving Jackass Gulch Trail: Paving this trail will provide ADA compliant access from the Highline Canal Trail to Mineral Station and a path for novice cyclists.
7. Connecting Mineral Station to the Palisade Neighborhood: This will provide a direct paved connection from the Palisade Neighborhood (just northeast of the station) to Mineral Station that is a few hundred feet long versus ½+ miles via existing sidewalk.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
This project has not previously been discussed with City Council. Given a short timeline on the grant application, and evolving information from CDOT and DRCOG, City Staff submitted the application on August 14, 2020 before a resolution on specific projects was brought to Council. In accordance with the City’s Grant Policy, this resolution is being submitted for Council approval as soon as feasible.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
In 2019, the City of Littleton adopted its first Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The plan identifies priorities based on community needs, development impacts, safety, and the importance of regional coordination for all modes of transportation including autos, active transportation, and transit. The TMP goals and objectives provide a framework for aligning funding and resources to accomplish plan priorities. In today’s resource constrained world, the city will regularly seek outside funding through partnerships and grants to supplement city funds. The TMP provides room for the city’s priorities to adapt as additional funding becomes available to maximize and leverage opportunities. Similarly, the city’s Capital Improvement Plan must remain flexible to seize opportunities to accomplish projects that would unlikely be feasible with city funds alone.
The safety of vulnerable roadway users (pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, the elderly, and those with disabilities) throughout the city is critical to a healthy City and transportation network.
The Mineral Station Mobility-Shed Improvement Project will make ADA and safety upgrades to a number of areas that provide access to RTD’s Mineral Station from the east. These upgrades include safety upgrades at the Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road intersection (the most bike-car collision prone intersection in Littleton), create protected bike lanes on both Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road, and pave trails and access paths that lead to Mineral Station from the east.
Along with making safety improvements, this project will complete a number of recommendations from the Littleton Transportation Master Plan, including Project A22 (Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road Intersection - operation and safety improvements; pedestrian and bicycle focus), Project BP37 (Mineral Avenue and Jackass Hill Road - bicycle intersection improvements) and part of Project BP82 (Mineral Avenue between Jackass Hill Road and Santa Fe Drive - shared use path). In addition, this project will address issues identified in Littleton’s Public Assessment of Public ROW ADA non-compliant issues.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
This project aligns with numerous goals and objectives outlined in the Transportation Master Plan, in particular Objective 13: Achieve a balanced mode share and Objectives 17 and 19: Provide a safe and low-stress biking/walking (respectively) environment.
This project also meets Council Goal 2: Financial Sustainability/Objective 3: Identify, assess and prioritize long-term capital needs through its inclusion in the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program. This project further meets Goal 3: Good Governance/Objective 3: Strategic Partnerships by leveraging grant funds through CDOT, and undertaking a collaborative project with RTD, and South Suburban Parks and Recreation.
Fiscal Impacts
The cost estimate for the Mineral Station Mobility-Shed Project is $2,110,500. If awarded, the grant would provide for 80% federal funding ($1,688,400) and requires 20% local agency match ($422,100). If awarded, the project would be programmed in the Capital Improvement Plan for 2021 - 2023 with the local match being funded from the Capital Projects Fund. More specifically, these improvements do qualify within the scope of Ordinance 2018-14 “Capital Project Reserve Account” which transfers approximately $3.1M from the General Fund to the Capital Projects Fund for street maintenance and related infrastructure improvements.
Staff anticipates the award of the grant being announced sometime in November 2020. If awarded, staff will provide an updated 5-year CIP to council after the notice of award. Assuming the grant is awarded, council would then be asked to consider an amended 2021 budget or incorporate into future budgets.
Staff is also looking into other possible grants to reduce the actual city match requirement. One such example is the federal Economic Development Administration. Should the DRCOG grant not be awarded, staff would continue to pursue other funding opportunities.
Alternatives
If Council does not approve, the design and construction of this project will not be completed until funds are available. The 5-year Capital Improvement Program currently has a shortfall in excess of $90M, so it is unclear when this project could otherwise be prioritized with the significant funding limitation. Leveraging grant funds for projects such as this is critical to complete projects the city would unlikely be able to afford on its own.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing the grant application and funding for local match. If awarded, this grant will allow the City of Littleton to leverage $5 worth of safety and ADA upgrades for every $1 in local match. Safety improvements for vulnerable roadway users, ADA compliant infrastructure upgrades, and improving access to transit are all values that are highlighted in Littleton’s TMP, and improve quality of life for those living in, doing business in, and visiting Littleton. This project will be a significant step in that direction.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the resolution authorizing a grant application to the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Mineral Station Mobility-shed Improvements Project.