DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 8
SUBJECT:
Amendment to an Advanced Funding Agreement on Medical Center Infrastructure Improvements along Floyd Curl
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing an amendment to revise the northern project limits from Huebner Road to Fawn Meadows for the Medical Center Infrastructure Improvements along Floyd Curl Project, a Certificates of Obligation and federally funded project, located in Council District 8.
BACKGROUND:
In an effort to increase safety for pedestrians, especially around highly traveled pedestrian areas and transportation sites, the City submitted for funding from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) for improvements on Floyd Curl as a continuation of improvements in the Medical Center which have been ongoing since 2003 and have been constructed in nine phases. Projects were submitted that supported the Transportation Alternatives Program’s (TAP) intention to promote non-motorized transportation as an integral part of the overall transportation system. Projects also were submitted for which the local funding portion of the project costs would leverage existing projects and not require additional allocation of funds in the City’s budget.
Floyd Curl Drive is identified as a “Green Street” in the 2014 Medical Center Master Plan and was selected by the AAMPO to be funded. The improvements will take place adjacent to the roadway on Floyd Curl Drive. In most cases the roadway will consist of a pavement surface and then a seven inch high curb. Then immediately adjacent to the curb will be a five foot buffer consisting of either grass or brick pavers. After the buffer, there will either be a sidewalk then the cycle track or in some instances the cycle track is placed first and then the sidewalk. The placement of the sidewalks and cycle track was determined by the available right-of-way and in an effort to reduce the number of trees that had to be removed. Along Floyd Curl, the cycle track will only be on one side of the roadway, however sidewalks will be placed on both sides of the roadway.
This project includes the construction of a two-way cycle track with sidewalk along the approximately two miles of Floyd Curl Drive. The track consists of an asphalt pavement section which will have a painted median, dividing the cycle track to allow for bicycle traffic in two directions. It also includes landscaped medians and pedestrian safety signs which are included in this project to enhance transportation safety to and within the Medical Center. Project construction is anticipated to begin in October 2017 with an estimated completion date October 2018.
Previous Council Actions
On August 21, 2014, City Council approved ordinance 2014-08-21-0615 which allowed for the submission of five projects to the AAMPO for consideration of funding. The AAMPO announced the Medical Center Infrastructure Improvements along Floyd Curl as a selected project on January 26, 2015.
On August 6, 2015, City Council approved ordinance 2015-08-06-0637 which allowed for
the execution of an Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), accepting reimbursement in an estimated amount of $5,152,976.00 from TxDOT for construction-related expenses and authorizing payment in the amount of $63,918.00 to TxDOT for state oversight costs for construction, and accepting $628,000.00 from the Medical Center Alliance.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes an amendment to the Advanced Funding Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to reduce the northern limits of Floyd Curl from Huebner Road to Fawn Meadows, a Certificates of Obligation and federally funded project, located in Council District 8.
Medical Center Infrastructure Improvements along Floyd Curl Project, a Local Agency Management (LAM) Project, which allows for City of San Antonio TxDOT-trained employees to manage a construction project with federal funding administered by TxDOT, called for a construction of a two-way cycle track with sidewalk along the approximately two miles of Floyd Curl Drive from Louis Pasteur to Huebner Road as well landscaped medians, pedestrian safety signage and driveway approaches.
The recommendation to reduce the northern limits of Floyd Curl were driven by the lack of available right-of-way to accommodate the proposed improvements and available construction funds. In the design process, it was determined that without being able to mitigate the taking of parking spaces on private property with construction of new parking spaces, the City was limited in being able to continue improvements from Fawn Meadows to Huebner. Reducing the width of the cycle track was not an option as it did not align with project goals set by the Medical Center Alliance. Additionally, the City could not fund the construction new parking spaces for those property owners nor provide funds for the taking from the project as it could jeopardize federal funding. Funding guidelines for receiving federal funds through TxDOT dictate that project funds cannot be used for “betterment” which means funds cannot be used to improve private property.
Once the design was completed and without the sufficient right-of-way, it became clear the project improvements should be reduced by one block to reflect where the improvements will actually be placed.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to approve this item and miss the opportunity to reduce project limits with no decrease to the federal’s portion of the budget.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to this ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance amending the Advanced Funding Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), reducing the northern limits of Floyd Curl from Huebner Road to Fawn Meadows.