ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager with a Request to APPROVE Submission of a "TIGER 2015" APPLICATION for DISCRETIONARY GRANT, in an Amount up to $15,000,000.00, from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the IMPROVEMENT OF WASHINGTON STREET FROM MAPLE STREET TO EDMUND STREET. [District 1]
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BACKGROUND: On April 3, 2015, the US Department of Transportation released a "Notice of Funding Availability" for its latest round of competitive surface transportation discretionary grants called Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) for 2015. The TIGER program has a minimum request threshold of $10 million and is only available for projects that can begin construction quickly, upon receipt of a grant. In reviewing potential City projects that meet these and other eligibility requirements, Staff believes the Washington Street Improvement Project from Maple Street to Edmund Street would be an appropriate submission.
The City has been working to revitalize this important roadway in the urban core. Washington Street, between Main and Maple Streets, has been either previously constructed or funded. This proposed project will continue the improvement of the Washington Street corridor through the Warehouse District. The attached map shows the proposed project location.
TIGER 2015 is able to pay up to 80% of the total project cost with the remaining 20% coming from non-federal sources (most likely a local match). The budget for this two-segment project is approximately $15 million. Staff is working to finalize the budget and grant request. If the full $15 million were needed, the federal request would be $12 million (80%) and the local match would be $3 million (20%). The City's local match could be covered with unrestricted capital funds, motor fuel tax funds, or borrowed funds. Grant expenditures will happen over a three-year period. Design and acquisition activities would commence upon award in...
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