Agenda Date: 05/21/2019
Subject:
Title
Resolution 28-2019: Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Littleton and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for the South Platte Canyon Road/South Lowell Boulevard (SH 75) and Bowles Avenue, and South Platte Canyon Road (SH 75) and West Mineral Avenue intersection improvements
Body
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Presented By: |
Keith Reester, Public Works Director |
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for reimbursement of costs associated with constructing two intersection improvements at South Platte Canyon Road/South Lowell Boulevard (SH 75) and Bowles Avenue, and South Platte Canyon Road (SH 75) and West Mineral Avenue which includes upgrading traffic signals, analyzing both intersections for safety concerns, upgrading pedestrian facilities, minor paving and striping as needed, and minor landscaping as required?
BACKGROUND:
The City of Littleton is a participating agency of the Platte Canyon Road Task Force, which also includes CDOT, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, the Town of Columbine Valley, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). This Task Force was formed to discuss issues related to operations along Platte Canyon Road between Mineral Avenue and Bowles Avenue. A Platte Canyon Road Feasibility Study was completed in 2015 to evaluate the operational needs of the corridor to address future development, including the potential expansion from a two-lane to a four-lane section and intersection improvements where necessary. The study found there was not an immediate need to expand the roadway but recommended making improvements at some of the key intersections, which included Bowles Avenue and Mineral Avenue.
Subsequently, based on the results of the Feasibility Study, CDOT identified the Platte Canyon Road and Bowles Avenue intersection as a safety concern that met the conditions for FASTER funding. FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery Act of 2009) established the Road Safety Fund to support the construction, reconstruction, or maintenance of projects the state determines are needed to enhance the safety of a state highway, county road, or city street. This state distributed funding source is specifically intended for addressing safety issues, such as addressing a pattern identified by crash history or interactions between vehicles and pedestrians and bicyclists. A cost estimate for design, potential right-of-way acquisition, and construction of safety and capacity improvements for the Platte Canyon Road and Bowles Avenue intersection is approximately $1,000,000. The design proposes upgrading the traffic signal system, adding northbound dual right turn lanes, and upgrading the pedestrian facilities at the Platte Canyon Road and Bowles Avenue intersection.
CDOT also identified the Platte Canyon Road and Mineral Avenue intersection as a location requiring pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements on the west side of the intersection. Based on conversations between CDOT and City of Littleton personnel and the findings of the Mineral Avenue Corridor Assessment Study conducted by the city in 2016, both agencies agreed that additional pedestrian and bicycle improvements were necessary for the east side of the intersection, along with capacity improvements. CDOT identified HSIP (Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program) as the appropriate program to fund this work. The purpose of the Colorado HSIP is to provide for a continuous and systematic procedure that identifies and reviews specific traffic safety issues around the state to identify locations with potential for improvement. The ultimate goal of the HSIP process is to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities by eliminating certain predominant types of crashes through the implementation of engineering, enforcement, education, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) solutions. The Platte Canyon Road and Mineral Avenue project involves adding dual northbound and southbound left turn lanes, relocating a bus stop, and upgrading the pedestrian facilities at the Platte Canyon Road and Mineral Avenue intersection. The estimated cost of the project is $750,000.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
No prior actions or discussions.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Staff believes that the proposed project to improve safety and operations at both the Platte Canyon Road intersections with Bowles Avenue and Mineral Avenue is appropriate. Both locations were identified through the cooperative effort of the Platte Canyon Road Task Force and by the Mineral Avenue Corridor Assessment Study.
OPTIONS/ALTERNATIVES:
If the City of Littleton decides not to accept the responsibilities as the local agency for the project, CDOT will likely not administer the FASTER and HSIP funds to the two intersections. As a result, the safety and operational improvements necessary at both intersections will not be completed in the near future.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Both the FASTER funds of $1,000,000 at Platte Canyon Road and Bowles Avenue, and the HSIP funds of $750,000 at Platte Canyon Road and Mineral Avenue are being funded 100% by CDOT. There is no city funding required. However, CDOT is only the administrator of the funds and these projects require management by a local agency. Since the City of Littleton operates and maintains both of these signalized intersections, it is the local agency best suited to manage the project.
The first step is to complete this work is an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between CDOT and the City of Littleton.
While there is no city funding required for this project, the city is a subrecipient of federal and state funding and required to report the reimbursement from CDOT and related expenditures. This work will be completed with existing staffing. The total cost and grant revenue will have to be added to the 2019 budget. This additional appropriation will be proposed within the 2019 amendment scheduled for June 4, 2019.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that council approve the IGA between CDOT and the City of Littleton, identifying CDOT as the administrative body distributing state and federal funding for the project, and the City of Littleton as the local agency manager of the project.
PRESENTATIONS:
i. Staff Presenter: Keith Reester, Public Works Director
ii. Applicant Presenter: N/A
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Littleton and the Colorado Department of Transportation for the South Platte Canyon Road - South Lowell Boulevard (SH 75) and Bowles Avenue, and South Platte Canyon Road (SH 75) and West Mineral Avenue intersection improvements.