Agenda Date: 09/15/2020
Subject:
Title
Resolution 68-2020: Authorizing a grant application to the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Prince Street Link 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 Prince Street Link Project in the area of Prince Street and Church Avenue. 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 Prince Street Link Project, which is a key project to improve safety and make ADA compliant upgrades on Prince Street from Lake Avenue to Alamo Avenue.
There are two primary elements of the Prince Street Link Project-the first is the reconstruction of the Prince Street and Church Avenue intersection and the second is the widening of the Prince Street Bridge. The ultimate aim of the intersection reconstruction is increased safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and those with mobility and sensory limitations. The design for this intersection is 90% complete, as the 2018 design will be updated to include recommendations from Littleton’s Transportation Master Plan. The project’s second element, widening the Prince Street bridge over the railroad, will accommodate a widened sidewalk to match the sidewalk width south of the bridge, and bike lanes will be striped in both directions.
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 Prince St Link Project will make ADA upgrades at the Prince Street and Church Avenue intersection as well as widening sidewalk and continuing bike lanes on the Prince Street Bridge. This area is a critical link for people accessing the Downtown Neighborhood from the south portion of the City and is critical link for people traveling between RTD’s Downtown Littleton Station and Arapahoe Community College, and for students traveling to and from the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB).
Along with making safety improvements, this project will complete a number of recommendations from the Littleton Transportation Master Plan, including Project A21 (Prince Street & Church Avenue Intersection operation and safety improvements) and part of Project BP18 (Prince Street protected bike lane) and address issues identified in Littleton’s Public Assessment of Public ROW ADA non-compliant issues.
If the grant is awarded for this project, the city would sign an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) and enter into a contract with CDOT to implement the project. After entering into the IGA, staff would proceed with hiring a consultant to prepare a final design. If awarded, construction of the project would be planned for 2021-2023.
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, Arapahoe Community College, and the Colorado Center for the Blind.
Fiscal Impacts
The cost estimate for Prince St Link Project is $1,565,100. The grant would provide for 80% federal funding ($1,252,080) and requires 20% local agency match ($312,220). 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 Prince Street Link Project.