ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Interim Director of Public Works to APPROVE a RESOLUTION between the ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and the City to Locally Let the Federally Funded ROCK ISLAND GREENWAY PROJECT. (Council Districts 1 & 3)
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BACKGROUND: Public Works is working with IDOT for approval to take a federally-funded infrastructure project and go through a Local Advertisement, Bid Opening/Letting, and Contract Execution. This Resolution is part of the requirement from IDOT to allow the City to place the project on a Local Letting. (Resolution attached)
Staff had been working toward the design of this project with the intention of placing it on an IDOT letting later this year. Recently, IDOT staff informed the City that they will not allow lane closures on War Memorial Drive from March 1, 2020 thru November 30, 2020, due to their work on the Murray Baker Bridge. With an anticipated 6 weeks of lane closures on War Memorial Drive needed to renovate the existing railroad bridge for trail use, an IDOT letting will likely delay our project completion until 2021. This delay could even be longer if there are lane closure restrictions on War Memorial Drive due to work on the McCluggage Bridge in 2021.
A Locally Let project will accelerate the design and allow staff to get this project under construction in 2019 and will enable us to complete all the work requiring the lane closures before the March 1, 2020 deadline. This will allow the entire project to be complete in 2020.
Locally letting the project will not absolve the City of IDOT review or construction oversight since Federal Dollars are being used on this project. Federal and State regulations of construction and staffing practices are still required.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This project is funded through ITEP, TAP grants which a local match of approximately $300,000 for design and construction engineering and construction.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Extending the Rock Island Greenway south of War Memorial Drive/US 150 will provide a safe and efficient non-motorized route for bicycles and pedestrians in our community. Extending the Rock Island Greenway has the support of many parties, including the Friends of the Rock Island Trail, Bike Peoria and the Peoria Park District. A public meeting was previously held as part of the design of this project on March 8, 2018 at the Washington Gifted School.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City can accelerate the advertisement, letting, and award of Construction contract to allow the project to begin in 2019 and be completed in 2020.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The Project’s Construction bid will be on a slower State-controlled schedule and potentially delay the project completion until 2021 or later.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
2. Attractive Neighborhoods with Character: Safe and Livable
3. Not applicable.
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Have an efficient government.
2. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
3. Support sustainability.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works