DEPARTMENT: Public Works
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7
SUBJECT:
Advance Funding Agreement: Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Off-System
SUMMARY:
An ordinance approving the execution of an Advance Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) authorizing payment in an amount not to exceed $150,635.00 payable to TxDOT for construction related expenses and $15,830.00 payable to TxDOT for administrative oversight of federal funds and accepting $1,506,346.00 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) infrastructure to include improvements of traffic signals at seven locations, a FY 2021 Traffic Signal Installation and FY 2021 Vision Zero project, located in Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. Funding is available from previously authorized General Funds and is included in the FY 2021 - FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program.
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 a 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 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 requires the City to be responsible for 10% of the construction costs and 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, seven currently signalized intersections were selected to be rebuilt or enhanced to meet the latest traffic signal standards during TxDOT’s 2018 HSIP call for projects scheduled for construction later this year. The intersections are listed below with their corresponding council district(s).
• Fredericksburg Road and Zarzamora (Council Districts 1 and 7)
• San Pedro Avenue and Jackson-Keller Road (Council District 1)
• Santa Rosa Street and Martin Street (Council District 1)
• Vance Jackson Road and Gardina Street (Council District 1)
• New Braunfels Avenue and Porter (Council District 2)
• Flores Street and Southcross Boulevard (Council District 3)
• Commerce Street and Hamilton Avenue (Council District 5)
The improvements to these traffic signals include 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 Advance Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) authorizing payment in an amount not to exceed $150,635.00 payable to TxDOT for construction related expenses and $15,830.00 payable to TxDOT for administrative oversight of federal funds and accepting $1,506,346.00 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) infrastructure to include improvements of the traffic signals at seven locations, a FY 2021 Traffic Signal Installation and FY 2021 Vision Zero project.
The seven locations of intersections are listed below with their corresponding council district(s).
• Fredericksburg Road and Zarzamora (Council Districts 1 and 7)
• San Pedro Avenue and Jackson-Keller Road (Council District 1)
• Santa Rosa Street and Martin Street (Council District 1)
• Vance Jackson Road and Gardina Street (Council District 1)
• New Braunfels Avenue and Porter (Council District 2)
• Flores Street and Southcross Boulevard (Council District 3)
• Commerce Street and Hamilton Avenue (Council District 5)
These projects have been selected for funding under TxDOT’s 2018 HSIP, which provides federal funds to cover 90% of the construction costs while the local government is required to provide funding to cover the remaining 10% of construction costs and 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 not to approve this Advance Funding Agreement and 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 $150,635.00 payable to TxDOT for construction related expenses and $15,830.00 payable to TxDOT for administrative oversight of federal funds and accepting $1,506,346.00 in Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) infrastructure to include improvements of traffic signals at seven locations, a FY 2021 Traffic Signal Installation and FY 2021 Vision Zero project. Funding is available from previously authorized General Funds and is included in the FY 2021 - FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the execution of an Advance Funding Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for improvements to traffic signals at seven intersections located in Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7.