DEPARTMENT: Public Works
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 5
SUBJECT:
Advanced Funding Agreement: General McMullen Traffic Signals
SUMMARY:
An ordinance approving the execution of an Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) authorizing payment in an amount not to exceed $7,905.00 payable to TxDOT for administrative oversight of federal funds and accepting $914,673.00 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) infrastructure to include the rebuild of traffic signals at three locations on General McMullen Drive, a FY 2019 Traffic Signal Installation project funded by TxDOT and previously authorized General Funds and included in the FY 2020 - FY 2025 Capital Improvement Program.
• General McMullen Drive and Castroville Road
• General McMullen Drive and Ceralvo Street
• General McMullen Drive and Commerce Street
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) aims to eliminate or reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes. The program is limited to specific project and crash types identified in the Texas Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). The HSIP included funds for construction and operational improvements of qualifying projects that were located off the state highway system. Federal dollars are used to fund the program and TxDOT will bid and construct the project. As part of this agreement, TxDOT is requiring the City to be responsible for TxDOT’s direct costs for administrative oversight. The City will oversee the timely completion of the projects with no additional State or Federal funding and without decreasing the scope and/or terms of the projects’ work.
Based on Public Works traffic studies and staff recommendations, three intersections were selected to be rebuilt to the latest traffic signal standards during TxDOT’s 2018 HSIP call for projects and scheduled for construction later this year. All three roadway intersections listed below are in Council District 5 and are currently signalized.
• General McMullen Drive and Castroville Road
• General McMullen Drive and Ceralvo Street
• General McMullen Drive and Commerce Street
The rebuilding of these signals includes replacing the existing infrastructure with steel mast arms, upgrading the vehicle detection system and adding audible pedestrian signals, battery backup systems, traffic monitoring cameras and illuminated street name signs.
ISSUE:
This ordinance approves the execution of an Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) authorizing payment in an amount not to exceed $7,905.00 payable to TxDOT for administrative oversight of federal funds and accepting $914,673.00 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) infrastructure to include the rebuild of traffic signals at three locations on General McMullen Drive, a FY 2019 Traffic Signal Installation project funded by TxDOT and previously authorized General Funds.
• General McMullen Drive and Castroville Road
• General McMullen Drive and Ceralvo Street
• General McMullen Drive and Commerce Street
These three projects have been selected for funding under TxDOT’s 2018 HSIP, which provide federal funds to cover 100% of the construction costs and the local government is required to provide funding to cover TxDOT’s direct costs for administrative oversight as well as design and environmental studies. TxDOT will bid and construct the projects. Once reconstruction is completed, the City will continue to own, operate and maintain these traffic signals.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative City Council could choose to not approve this Advance Funding Agreement, not accept these funds or TxDOT rebuilding these signals. However, the City would then be responsible to fund 100% of the construction costs to rebuild these traffic signals in a future project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes a one-time capital improvement expenditure in an amount not to exceed $7,905.00 payable to TxDOT for administrative oversight of federal funds and accepts funds in the amount of $914,673.00 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) infrastructure to include the rebuild of traffic signals at three locations on General McMullen Drive, a FY 2019 Traffic Signal Installation Project. Project will be funded by TxDOT and previously authorized General Funds and is included in the FY 2020 - FY 2025 Capital Improvement Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the execution of an Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to rebuild traffic signals at General McMullen Drive and Castroville Road, General McMullen Drive and Ceralvo Road and General McMullen Drive and Commerce Street.