Agenda Date: 06/03/2025
Subject:
Title
Resolution 57-2025: Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Littleton and the Colorado Department of Transportation for reimbursement of costs associated with the Broadway Signal Interconnect Phase 2 Project
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities |
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Brent Thompson, City Engineer |
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Kimberly Dall, Assistant City Engineer |
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Aaron Heumann, Transportation Engineering Manager |
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Presentations: |
N/A |
PURPOSE:
To request council approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Littleton and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for reimbursement of costs associated with the Broadway Signal Interconnect Phase 2 Project, City Project No. 25-37.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Safe Community; High Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
The City of Littleton applied for and was subsequently awarded a second Regional Transportation Operations and Technology (RTO&T) grant with the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to design and construct the extension of fiber for traffic signal communications along South Broadway. This program allocates funding specifically for transportation technology and systems improvements that contribute to the implementation of key outcomes within the DRCOG Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan. The grant awarded $2,963,000 to the project and requires $740,750 in matching local funds; the local match required is 20% of the total project cost. The total estimated project cost is $3,703,750.
The project will design and construct the extension of fiberoptic cable (fiber) and traffic signal communications on South Broadway from Arapahoe Road to C-470; fiber will also be extended to the traffic signals on Mineral Avenue and County Line Road closest to Broadway. The proposed route will connect fifteen signalized intersections on the two-mile segment of Broadway to the new fiber. Along with installing fiber, this project will include upgrades to traffic signal equipment along this corridor. The fiber and upgrades will allow city staff to adjust traffic flow more easily, monitor traffic more thoroughly, and improve communication with traffic signals. These upgrades will improve operations and allow for additional safety measures to be implemented along the Broadway corridor and surrounding areas, while reducing stops and delay resulting in less emissions and improved air quality.
The grant is awarded through DRCOG; however, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) manages the grant funds. An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with CDOT is required to authorize expenditures and reimbursements for the grant project. IGAs require City Council approval.
BACKGROUND:
Traffic safety through the city is critical and is highlighted in the city’s Transportation Master Plan. Traffic congestion and traffic signal operational efficiency are issues that routinely and adversely affect citizens and rank high on topics of concern in community surveys. The city’s Transportation Division of Public Works operates the traffic signals within the community, including the maintenance of equipment and timing of the traffic signals. Traffic signal communications are connected to Littleton’s central traffic signal management system with either fiberoptic cable (fiber) or radio signals. Fiber connections are more reliable than radio signals; fiber connections are direct between the signal and management system while radio signals rely on a clear line of sight between transmitters and receivers. The Transportation Division uses the information provided by the traffic signals to monitor traffic and improve traffic flow.
In 2021, the City of Littleton was awarded a similar RTO&T grant for the first phase of the Broadway Fiberoptic Communications for Regional Traffic Operations project. This project, completed in 2024, installed fiber on South Broadway from Powers Avenue to Arapahoe Road and on Arapahoe Road from South Broadway to Pennsylvania Street. The project established a fiber connection between the City of Littleton, the City of Centennial, and Arapahoe County to accommodate future shared traffic operations and traffic management information. The route connected eight signalized intersections on the one-and-a-half-mile segment of Broadway to the new fiber, including six traffic signals, one pedestrian signal, and one emergency signal. This first phase also upgraded traffic signal equipment along this corridor.
A city-funded project planned for construction in 2025, will connect the traffic signals on Littleton Boulevard from Rio Grande Street to Broadway, providing a connection from Littleton Center to the Broadway fiber.
The second phase of fiberoptic installation project on Broadway from Arapahoe Road to C-470 furthers the fiber backbone system identified in the Transportation Master Plan project highlighting the need for Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies along the Broadway corridor. The project is also identified as a Tier 1 project in the city’s Fiber Master Plan.
The proposed phase 2 project will design and construct the extension of fiber on South Broadway from Arapahoe Road to C-470; fiber will also be extended to the traffic signals on Mineral Avenue and County Line Road closest to Broadway. The extensions are shown in red on the adjacent map; blue and yellow lines are existing fiber installations. The fiber extension will complete traffic signal communications on South Broadway. A total of fifteen signalized intersections will be connected to the existing fiber backbone with this proposed project. Along with installing fiber, this project will include upgrades to the traffic signal equipment along this corridor. The fiber connections and upgrades to the traffic signals will allow city staff to adjust traffic flow easier, monitor traffic better, and improve communication with traffic signals.
After execution of the IGA, staff will solicit consulting services for design of the project, and work through the design approval process with CDOT. Following completion of design, staff will bid the project for construction. Construction of the project is anticipated in 2027.
Prior Actions or Discussions
City council approved an IGA with CDOT for construction of the first phase of the Broadway Fiberoptic Project as Resolution 23-2021 on May 4, 2021.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The grant requires a local match of 20%, or $740,750 to receive up to $2,963,000 in grant funds. The local match is proposed to be funded with Transportation Impact Fees and is included in the city’s five-year capital improvement plan.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement to allocate grant funding to complete fiber installation on South Broadway.
ALTERNATIVES:
If Council does not approve the IGA, this project will not be completed until funds are available. Leveraging grant funds for projects such as this is critical to complete projects the city would unlikely be able to fund. Forgoing this opportunity would prevent Littleton from attaining community goals related to transportation, economic development, and quality of life. Turning down the funds would also put Littleton at a significant disadvantage in competing for future transportation funding that is available through DRCOG and CDOT.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 57-2025 approving an IGA between the City of Littleton and the Colorado Department of Transportation for reimbursement of costs associated with the Broadway Signal Interconnect Phase 2 Project.