ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Director of Public Works with a Request to APPROVE the Submission of an Application for a "BUILD 2018" DISCRETIONARY GRANT, in an Amount up to $25,000,000.00, from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Improvements to MAIN STREET (From the Illinois River to Farmington Road). (Council Districts 1 and 2)
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BACKGROUND: On April 20, 2018, the US Department of Transportation released a Notice of Funding Availability (copy attached), for its latest round of competitive surface transportation discretionary grants called Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) for 2018. The BUILD program has a minimum and maximum request threshold of $5 million and $25 million, respectively, with a maximum of $125 million per state and $1.5 billion for the country, and is only available for projects that can begin construction relatively quickly (are “shovel ready”), upon receipt of the grant. There are also requirements that a portion of the grant awards shall be to rural areas, which limit the availability of the funding for cities such as Peoria. In reviewing potential City projects that meet these and other eligibility requirements, Staff believes the improvement of the Main Street corridor would be an appropriate submission.
The Main Street corridor improvements have been discussed and planned over the past decade. The complete plan would reconstruct 2.10 miles of Main Street and West Main Street between the Illinois River and Farmington Road.
The City's BUILD 2018 application will request funding for this entire roadway corridor. The total budget for the entire project is approximately $24 million. The BUILD 2018 grant would cover up to 80% of the total project costs, with the remaining 20% coming from non-federal sources (local match). Staff is working to finalize the budget and the grant request. Based on a preliminary estimate of $24 million, the federal request would be $19.2 million (80%) and the local match would be $4.8 million (20%). The City's local match could be covered with unrestricted capital funds, motor fuel tax funds, borrowed funds, or another local source. Grant expenditures will happen over a three-year period. Design and acquisition activities would commence upon award, in late 2018. Construction would be slated beginning in 2019. The project should take approximately two years to complete.
The Main Street corridor improvements should lead to an increase in economic growth, multimodal access, green infrastructure, as well as pedestrian and traffic safety. This project is an integral part of the City's growth strategy and Comprehensive Plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Upon award of a successful grant application, the City will need to identify a funding source for the local match of 20% of the project cost, up to $5 million.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: The Main Street corridor improvement project has been discussed by property owners, neighbors and other stakeholders for the past decade. There is general support for this project.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City will submit a BUILD 2018 grant application to the US Department of Transportation (application deadline is July 19, 2018).
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City will not submit an application and funding for this project will need to be sought elsewhere. The content of this application could be used to request (for example) EDA Preliminary Engineering funding.
ALTERNATIVES: NA
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: NA
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Grow Peoria
2. Safe Peoria
3. Beautiful Peoria
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Grow employers and jobs.
2. Invest in our infrastructure and transportation.
3. Support sustainability.
DEPARTMENT: Public Works