DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 3 & 5
SUBJECT:
Reallocation of City funds from Presa Ramps at Highway 90 project
SUMMARY:
Consideration of the following items related to the $7,000,000.00 2012 General Obligation Bond Project for Presa Ramps at Highway 90 Project:
A.) A resolution abandoning the Presa Ramps Project, a 2012-2017 General Obligation Bond funded project, declaring as surplus bond funds previously allocated to this project, and other matters relating to the foregoing.
B.) An ordinance authorizing the reprogramming of $800,000.00 from the Presa Ramps Project to the World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure Project for sidewalk, lighting, and landscape improvements, located in Council Districts 3 and 5; authorizing the reprogramming of $2,000,000.00 from Presa Ramps Project to the South Presa Street Project from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street for corridor improvements including pedestrian amenities and enhancements, located in Council District 3; authorizing the reprogramming $3,000,000.00 from the Presa Ramps Project to the South Zarzamora Street Overpass Project at Union Pacific Railroad / Frio City Road, a 2017-2022 General Obligation Bond Program for development of an overpass, located in Council District 5; and authorizing the reallocation of funds from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved project for the Presa Ramps Project as listed in the FY 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to the South Presa Street Project from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On May 12, 2012, voters approved the 2012-2017 General Obligation Bond Program which provided $7 million towards the improvements for the Presa Ramps project. The project provided for the construction of an exit ramp from Hwy 90 to Presa Street and frontage road for westbound traffic from Presa to Roosevelt with an entrance ramp onto Hwy 90 as well as improvements along Presa Street. The project was listed on the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Statewide Transportation Improvement Program for FY 2019 to receive federal funding. The project requires approval of an Interstate Access Justification Report from the Federal Highway Administration to construct an exit ramp and entrance ramp along Hwy 90 as it is an interstate highway. On March 20, 2017, TxDOT was informed by the FHWA that the Interstate Access Justification Report was denied. The reprogramming of funds would allow funds from the 2012-2017 General Obligation Bond to fund other projects. The federal funds from the Presa Ramps project would be reprogrammed to another federally funded project.
Previous Council Action
A previously executed advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Presa Ramps at Hwy 90 project, for $9,128,240.00 was approved by City Council on August 13, 2015, through Ordinance 2015-08-13-0688.
Note: The recommendation for the reprogramming of $3,000,000.00 to the South Zarzamora Street Overpass Project at Union Pacific Railroad/Frio City Road is incorrect. The actual project that will receive the $3,000,000.00 is the Zarzamora Street Pedestrian Improvements Project from Fredericksburg Road to SW Military (Loop 13), an approved FY 2020 Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Alternatives Program Project. Both projects are in Council District 5. The Zarzamora Street Overpass Project was listed in the Council briefing memo in error.
ISSUE:
A.) This resolution abandons the Presa Ramps Project, a 2012-2017 General Obligation Bond funded project, declares as surplus bond funds previously allocated to this project, and other matters relating to the foregoing.
The Presa Ramps Project required approval of an Interstate Access Justification Report from the Federal Highway Administration to construct an exit ramp along Hwy 90 as it is an interstate highway. On March 20, 2017, TxDOT was informed by the FHWA that the Interstate Access Justification Report was denied. This resolution allows the City to abandon the Presa Ramps Project and allows the City to move forward with the funds previously allocated to this project.
B.) An ordinance authorizing the reprogramming of $800,000.00 from the Presa Ramps Project to the World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure Project for sidewalk, lighting, and landscape improvements, located in Council Districts 3 and 5; authorizing the reprogramming of $2,000,000.00 from Presa Ramps Project to the South Presa Street Project from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street for corridor improvements including pedestrian amenities and enhancements, located in Council District 3; authorizing the reprogramming $3,000,000.00 from the Presa Ramps Project to the South Zarzamora Street Overpass Project at Union Pacific Railroad / Frio City Road, a 2017-2022 General Obligation Bond Program for development of an overpass, located in Council District 5; and authorizing the reallocation of funds from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved project for the Presa Ramps Project as listed in the FY 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to the South Presa Street Project from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street.
World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure Project
This project provides for pedestrian improvements including sidewalks, lighting, and landscape improvements, installation of native vegetation and hardscape and rock complements. This action will allow for Bond funds from the Presa Ramps Project to be reallocated into the World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure Project as appropriate and within available funds.
South Presa Street Project
This project provides for corridor improvements including pedestrian amenities and enhancements, including sidewalks, curbs, bicycle accommodation, and landscaping. This action will allow for $2 million in Bond funds previously allocated towards the match requirement from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Presa Ramps Project to be reallocated into the South Presa Street Project as appropriate and within available funds. This project is in early project development and was not included in the design solicitation for mass selection. Staff will utilize an on-call design contract to begin designing the project.
South Zarzamora Street Project
This project provides for the development of an overpass. The proposed project is still preliminary engineering report phase and was included in the design solicitation for mass selection which is anticipated for Council action on October 5, 2017. This action will allow for $3 million in Bond funds previously allocated towards the match requirement from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Presa Ramps Project to be reallocated into the South Presa Street Project as appropriate and within available funds.
Reallocation of MPO Funds
The MPO Technical Committee is scheduled to hear this request on September 8, 2017.
Note: The recommendation for the reprogramming of $3,000,000.00 to the South Zarzamora Street Overpass Project at Union Pacific Railroad/Frio City Road is incorrect. The actual project that will receive the $3,000,000.00 is the Zarzamora Street Pedestrian Improvements Project from Fredericksburg Road to SW Military (Loop 13), an approved FY 2020 Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Alternatives Program Project. Both projects are in Council District 5. The Zarzamora Street Overpass Project was listed in the Council briefing memo in error.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, City Council could choose not to approve this reprogramming and reallocation of funds to fund the additional projects: A) World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure, B) South Presa Street and C) South Zarzamora Street Overpass, however doing so would leave a shortfall of funding to the above projects. The most cost effective option is to move forward with the proposed reprogramming of funds.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A.) This resolution abandons the 2012-2017 Bond Project for the Presa Ramps Project which voters approved for a $7 million dollar project to construct on Highway 90 at Presa an off ramp for eastbound Highway 90 traffic and an on ramp for westbound Highway 90 traffic. $7 million represented the City’s contribution towards the federally funded project.
B.) This ordinance authorizes the reprogramming of $800,000.00 from the Presa Ramps Project to the World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure Project for sidewalk, lighting, and landscape improvements, located in Council Districts 3 and 5; authorizes the reprogramming of $2,000,000.00 from Presa Ramps Project to the South Presa Street Project from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street for corridor improvements including pedestrian amenities and enhancements, located in Council District 3; authorizes the reprogramming $3,000,000.00 from the Presa Ramps Project to the South Zarzamora Street Overpass Project at Union Pacific Railroad / Frio City Road, a 2017-2022 General Obligation Bond Program for development of an overpass, located in Council District 5; and authorizes the reallocation of funds from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved project for the Presa Ramps Project as listed in the FY 2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to the South Presa Street Project from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approving the abandonment of the Presa Ramps Project and allowing the City to move forward with the reprogramming of funds from the Presa Ramps at Hwy 90 project to fund the projects for World Heritage Underpass Art Infrastructure, South Presa Street from Southcross Boulevard to W. Boyer Street and, South Zarzamora Street Overpass at UPRR, located in Council District 3 and 5.
Note: The recommendation for the reprogramming of $3,000,000.00 to the South Zarzamora Street Overpass Project at Union Pacific Railroad/Frio City Road is incorrect. The actual project that will receive the $3,000,000.00 is the Zarzamora Street Pedestrian Improvements Project from Fredericksburg Road to SW Military (Loop 13), an approved FY 2020 Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Alternatives Program Project. Both projects are in Council District 5. The Zarzamora Street Overpass Project was listed in the Council briefing memo in error.