DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, PE, Director/City Engineer
COUNCIL DISTRICT IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Application for Federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the submission of an application to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) for funding in the amount of $66.8 million from federal funds for the construction of eight projects in the total estimated amount of $83.5 million through the FY 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program and authorizing the acceptance of federal funds if awarded.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The AAMPO includes all of Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe Counties, and a portion of Kendall County. As part of the AAMPO's planning process, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is developed cooperatively among the partner agencies to determine the allocation of federal transportation funds for major roadway, highway, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and other projects.
The TIP is a four-year financially constrained list of transportation projects that is approved for federal and state funding by the MPO Transportation Policy Board. The TIP is updated every two years and amended quarterly. The current TIP covers FY 2017-2020 and includes roadway, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and other projects. On June 1, 2017, the AAMPO issued a call for projects for the FY 2019-2022 TIP. All governmental entities throughout the AAMPO region may submit projects. Projects may be awarded in full, or partially. Award of project funding is anticipated to be approved by the AAMPO Transportation Policy Board by May 2018.
Projects submitted for funding consideration will be grouped into the following five categories for evaluation purposes:
• Added Capacity Projects - Roadway projects which add through travel lanes for vehicles; these projects are to also include new or replacement bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Roadway projects must be on federally functionally classified roadways and not local streets.
• Operational Improvement Projects - Projects which improve the operational function of a facility without adding through travel lanes. Examples include, but are not limited to, improving intersections to add right or left turn lanes; adding a center turn lane; adding acceleration or deceleration lanes; constructing a roundabout; adding or improving intersection signalization; reconfiguring travel lanes for a multimodal shift; constructing new or reversing highway entrance and exit ramps; converting frontage road from two way to one way; implementing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) projects; or constructing interchanges.
• Stand-alone Bicycle Projects - Projects which construct, reconstruct, or upgrade public bicycle facilities.
• Stand-alone Pedestrian Projects - Projects which construct, reconstruct, or upgrade public pedestrian facilities.
• Other Projects - Projects that do not fall into the categories listed above; examples include public transit projects and major planning studies.
Projects submitted for funding consideration must have a minimum construction cost of $1,000,000. Other key requirements are as follows:
• Only eligible items related to construction will be reimbursable. All project development costs such as design, utility relocation, and right-of-way acquisition are the responsibility of the implementing agency.
• A minimum 20% match on the project construction cost is required. An in-kind match is not allowed.
• The implementing agency must commit to developing and letting selected projects within one year of the year in which the projects are initially placed in the TIP.
The AAMPO utilizes many federal and state funding sources. The funding source for this call for projects is Category 7 funds, Surface Transportation Program - Metropolitan Mobility (STP-MM). STP-MM funding is a federal funding source allocated to AAMPO’s with a population greater than 200,000. Contingent upon the availability of federal funding, the total amount of STP-MM funds available for the current call for projects is estimated up to $170,000,000 of which the local agencies would be responsible for 20% ($34,000,000).
On October 16, 2017, the City Council Transportation Committee recommended requesting full City Council approval for the submission of an application to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning AAMPO.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of an application to the AAMPO for funding in the amount of $66.8 million from federal funds for the construction of eight projects in the total estimated amount of $83.5 million through the FY 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program and authorizing the acceptance of federal funds if awarded.
The eight projects proposed have been selected based primarily on the following four factors:
• Leveraged Funding Opportunities
• Ongoing Needs and Challenges
• Locations/Areas of Concern
• Program Continuation
The table below provides a brief description of the eight projects:
|
Category |
Project |
Limits |
Estimated Cost |
80% Federal |
20% Match |
Source |
|
Operational Improvement |
S. Zarzamora RR Overpass |
Railroad at Frio City Road |
$23,000,000 |
$18,400,000 |
$4,600,000 |
2017 Bond |
|
Operational Improvement |
Citywide ITS Enhancements |
Citywide |
$4,500,000 |
$3,600,000 |
$900,000 |
Future Fiscal Year Budget |
|
Other |
Corridor Mobility Planning |
Citywide |
$8,000,000 |
$6,400,000 |
$1,600,000 |
Future Fiscal Year Budget |
|
Pedestrian & Bicycle |
Citywide Ped & Bike Mobility |
Citywide |
$3,000,000 |
$2,400,000 |
$600,000 |
Future Bond or Fiscal Year Budget |
|
Pedestrian & Bicycle |
Roosevelt (SP 536) |
St. Mary's to Loop 410 |
$5,000,000 |
$4,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
2017 Bond |
|
Pedestrian & Bicycle |
Harry Wurzbach |
Loop 410 to Dove Haven |
$10,000,000 |
$8,000,000 |
$2,000,000 |
Future Bond |
|
Added Capacity |
S. New Braunfels |
Lyster to Loop 410 |
$19,500,000 |
$15,600,000 |
$3,900,000 |
Future Bond |
|
Added Capacity |
Prue Road |
Cedar Park to Old Prue |
$10,500,000 |
$8,400,000 |
$2,100,000 |
Future Bond |
|
|
TOTAL COST |
|
$83,500,000 |
$66,800,000 |
$16,700,000 |
|
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose to not authorize any or all of the projects in this submittal for the federal funding consideration. However, the City would miss out on an opportunity to obtain approximately $66.8 million in federal funds for the completion of these important transportation improvement projects in San Antonio. The $66.8 million represents the estimated construction cost for the eight projects less the 20% local match amount. City Council also could choose to select other projects. The projects recommended meet the program requirements and represent needs throughout the San Antonio community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance requests City Council action to submit the application for funding in the amount of $66.8 million from federal funds for the construction of eight projects in the total estimated amount of $83.5 million. If approved, the City will be responsible for a local match of 20% of the approved construction costs, plus design, environmental and administration costs and is estimated at $16.7 million. The City’s portion is to be funded through a combination of the 2017 Bond Program, future Bond Programs, and future annual Fiscal Year Budgets.
RECOMMENDATION:
An ordinance authorizing the submission of an application to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) for funding in the amount of $66.8 million from federal funds for the construction of eight projects in the total estimated amount of $83.5 million through the FY 2019-2022 Transportation Improvement Program and authorizing the acceptance of federal funds if awarded.