DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Application for Federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of an application to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) for five (5) projects for funding consideration under the Transportation Alternatives Program. This action also authorizes the acceptance of the federal funds if awarded.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) has issued an agency call for Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funded projects. The TAP is a reimbursable federal funding program and all applicable federal rules apply. The amount of funding to the AAMPO region is $11,500,000. The funding only may be used for construction costs and may not exceed more than 80% of a total project construction costs.
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) will fund construction projects for bicycle, pedestrian, and other forms of nonmotorized transportation. The Program also will fund recreational trails and Safe Routes to School improvements.
The City of San Antonio application submittal is due to the AAMPO by September 1, 2014. Projects submitted by the City will be evaluated by AAMPO through a competitive process. All governmental entities from throughout the AAMPO region may submit projects. Projects may be awarded in full, or partially. Award of project funding will be announced in January 2015.
ISSUE:
The Transportation Alternative Program submittal by the City of San Antonio includes pedestrian and bicycle facilities in the Medical Center, additions to the Howard P. Peak Greenway Trail System, pedestrian infrastructure around schools and transit, and a Safe Routes to School Coordinator. This submittal has been coordinated with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Office of Sustainability. Projects were selected that support the TAP program intention to promote nonmotorized transportation as an integral part of the overall transportation system. Projects also were selected 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. Lastly, adding federal funding to a project does place more requirements, administration, and costs to a project because the project needs to meet federal construction guidelines and requires oversight by the Texas Department of Transportation. Because of the additional regulations, AAMPO only accepts projects that exceed $1 million in construction costs. Below is a brief description of each project for the City submittal.
Medical Center Master Plan - Floyd Curl Drive
Floyd Curl Drive is identified as a "Green Street" in the 2014 Medical Center Master Plan. This project includes the addition of a two-way cycle track along the approximately three miles of Floyd Curl Drive. It also includes landscaped medians and a trail head to connect the off-road trail system. Pedestrian Safety monument signs are part of this project to enhance transportation safety to and within the Medical Center. Local funding will come from private investment from the Medical Center Alliance in the amount of $628,000; the 2012 Bond Medical Center Projects in the amount of $750,000; and funding of $1,197,000 proposed to be appropriated in the FY 2015 Infrastructure Maintenance Program ($280,000 Sidewalks and $915,000 Streets Maintenance Program).
Ft. Sam Houston Greenway Trail on Salado Creek
Construction of a 10-foot wide multi-use path from John James Park to Jack White Park.
Local funding will come from a portion of Proposition 2 sales tax in the amount of $2,223,800 already included in the Ft. Sam Houston Trail (John Jacks Park to Jack White Park) Project.
Pedestrian Infrastructure around Schools and Transit
Construction of sidewalk and pedestrian improvements throughout San Antonio. Locations were chosen based upon proximity to schools and transit. The local funding in the amount of $1,676,456 will come from Advanced Transportation District (ATD) funds that is proposed to be appropriated in the Sidewalk Infrastructure Maintenance Program (IMP) in FY 2015.
Medina River Greenway Trail Mission Espada
Construction of an 8-foot to 10-foot wide multi-use path to connect the trail systems along the Medina and San Antonio River east to Mission Espada. Local funding will come from a portion of Proposition 2 sales tax in the amount of $1,930,500 already included in the Medina River Greenway Trail Project (from the Medina River to Pleasanton Road to Mission Del Lago).
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose to not authorize any or all of the projects in this submittal for federal funding consideration. However, the City would miss an opportunity to obtain approximately $11.5 Million in federal funds dedicated specifically to bike and pedestrian facilities that leverage and supplement existing local funding. City Council also could choose to select other projects. The projects recommended meet the program requirements and represent needs around San Antonio to enhance pedestrian and bicycle facilities for the purposes of economic development, recreation and pedestrian safety.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance requests City Council action to submit the application for a total of $20,671,661. If approved, the City will be responsible for a local match of 20% of the approved construction costs, plus design, environmental and administration costs. The City's portion is included in the FY 2015 proposed budget in the General Fund, Advanced Transportation District funds and the Capital Budget.
Through the competitive scoring process, AAMPO may fund a project in full, or partially. For this reason, the City's submittal represents the full project costs. A summary of the costs are shown below.
Total Other Costs Total Total
Construction 80% 20% (Design, Envirn., Local Project
Costs Construction Construction Administration) Funding Costs
Medical Center $5,816,000 $4,652,800 $1,163,200 $1,411,000 $2,574,100 $7,226,905
Green Street
Ft. Sam Houston $3,949,800 $3,160,000 $789,800 $1,434,000 $2,223,800 $5,383,800
Greenway Trail
School and Transit. $2,167,456 $1,734,000 $433,456 $1,243,000 $1,676,456 $3,410,456
Pedestrian Infrastructure
Medina River $3,400,000 $2,720,000 $680,000 $1,250,500 $1,930,500 $4,650,500
Greenway Trail
TOTALS $15,333,256 $12,266,800 $3,066,456 $5,338,405 $8,404,861 $20,671,661
Acceptance of the award will be contingent upon City Council approval of required matching funds through the FY 2015 or subsequent budget adoptions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the submission of an application to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) for five (5) projects for funding consideration under the Transportation Alternatives Program. This action also authorizes the acceptance of the federal funds if awarded.