Agenda Date: 04/16/2024
Subject:
Title
Resolution 46-2024: Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Littleton and the Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County, regarding cost sharing for the County Line Road (Broadway to University) Project
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Deputy Director of Public Works and Utilities |
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Brent Thompson, City Engineer |
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Presentations: |
N/A |
PURPOSE:
Does city council support an IGA between the City of Littleton and the Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County, Regarding Cost Sharing for the County Line Road (Broadway to University) Project?
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Safe Community; High Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
The County Line Road Widening Project begins at South Broadway and extends along County Line Road approximates 1.5 miles east to University Boulevard. The project serves two municipalities (the cities of Littleton and Centennial), the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District, and Arapahoe and Douglas counties. From 2019 to 2023, the City of Littleton, City of Centennial, and Douglas County, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CODT) have worked to advance the final design and acquire right-of-way for the proposed project.
The proposed improvements on County Line Road will eliminate one of the last remaining two-lane sections of the roadway and will reduce congestion delays, providing a more reliable roadway and resilient C-470 corridor which is necessary for continued economic growth. The project will also maximize the regional investment recently made on C-470.
The proposed project will be an improved four-lane, divided urban arterial with a raised center median and sidewalks, which matches the existing County Line Road template both east and west of the 2-lane section. The project’s drainage improvements will resolve the Lee Gulch over-topping. A new traffic signal will be constructed at the Clarkson Street intersection. Additional pedestrian and trail connections will be included to improve neighborhood access to the C-470 Regional Multi-Use Trail. A sound wall will be constructed to minimize noise impacts from the roadway and preserve the livability of the adjacent neighborhoods.
Douglas County is managing the project. This IGA is a cost sharing agreement between the City of Littleton and Douglas County for the City of Littleton’s financial contribution to the project. Douglas County anticipates executing a separate funding IGA with the City of Centennial regarding their financial contribution for the Project. Per the CDOT IGA between Douglas County, who is managing the project, all construction funding is the responsibility of the County to secure.
Construction is anticipated to start in the Fall of 2024 and be completed in the Summer of 2026.
BACKGROUND:
County Line Road is the old State Highway 470 alignment utilized by the entire region before C-470 was constructed. The roadway provides a direct connection between I-25 on the east and Santa Fe Drive (US Highway 85) on the west. It includes at least four east-west travel lanes for almost the entire length. The limits of the County Line Road Widening Project stretch from University Boulevard to South Broadway and is the last segment that CDOT committed to improve in 1988 as part of negotiations to construct C-470 in its current location.
The C-470 corridor serves over 100,000 trips daily and is a vital piece to the regional transportation network, while there are 20,000-30,000 trips per day on County Line Road. Without County Line Road, these primary local trips would likely result in more congestion on C-470. The County Line Road Widening Project will provide the additional capacity needed to allow for County Line Road to be safer and more reliable.
Douglas County conducted a corridor planning and preliminary engineering (50%) effort for this segment of County Line Road in 2011. In 2019 Douglas County submitted a grant application for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) administered by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) for the County Line Road Widening Project. The County was successful in receiving $10M in grant funding for this project, which requires a $10M local match (50%). Additional TIP funding and Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding later became available, and has been added to the overall project revenue, for a total of $12,582,000 in grant funding.
The municipal boundary between the City of Littleton and the City of Centennial on County Line Road is approximately ½ mile east of Broadway. In addition, within the Centennial section of County Line Road, the jurisdiction is split approximately along the center, with Centennial on the north and Douglas County on the south. Each agency is responsible for maintenance of the street within its jurisdiction.
Prior Actions or Discussions
N/A
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The estimated project cost when the TIP grant was awarded in 2019 was $20M. The funding breakdown at that time was:
Federal Funding = $ 10,000,000
Local Agency Match = $ 10,000,000 - Douglas County, City of Centennial, City of Littleton
Project Total = $ 20,000,000
The design has now been finalized, with additional project elements incorporated, and substantial inflation of construction prices is being realized. The current estimated project cost is $34,325,000. It is in the City of Littleton’s best interest to continue our partnership in this project by increasing our contribution. Similarly, the City of Centennial and Douglas County will also be providing additional funding towards the project. Douglas County anticipates executing a separate funding IGA with the City of Centennial regarding their financial contribution for the Project, but the amount has not yet been finalized. Per the CDOT IGA between Douglas County, who is managing the project, all construction funding is the responsibility of the County to secure. The funding breakdown for the project is as follows:
Federal Funding = $ 12,582,000
City of Littleton = $ 2,000,000
City of Centennial = $ TBD
Douglas County = $ TBD
Project Total = $ 34,325,000
The $2,000,000 contribution from the City of Littleton will be funded by Transportation Impact Fees.
Both entities realize a cost savings in jointly undertaking projects with mutual benefit. Joint projects such as this result in a higher-quality finished product versus being constructed independently.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution approving the IGA.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this agreement not be approved, the city would need to undertake the work within Littleton independently, at a much higher cost than if completed as part of the joint project with Douglas County and Centennial. The city would not be able to fund this project on its own. Leveraging grant funds for projects such as this is critical. Forgoing this opportunity would put Littleton at a significant disadvantage in attaining community goals related to transportation, economic development, and quality of life. Turning down the funds would also put Littleton at significant disadvantage in competing for future transportation funding that is available through DRCOG.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 46-2024 authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Littleton and the Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County, Regarding Cost Sharing for the County Line Road (Broadway to University) Project.