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Department of Streets and Fleet
Reference: INFRA Grant Support
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Philip Rodriguez, City Manager
Prepared By: Kimberly Dall, Director of Streets and Fleet
Date Prepared: October 4, 2017
PURPOSE
Consider approving a funding commitment in principle for transportation infrastructure grant opportunity.
BACKGROUND
Transportation infrastructure has lacked funding on all levels of government for the last several years. To stretch the dollars as far as possible states, counties, and local agencies are innovative with funding methods such as public private partnerships and other collaborative methods.
There is a grant opportunity today that may significantly advance transportation in Brighton. The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program advances a pre-existing grant program established in the FAST Act. It utilizes updated criteria to evaluate projects to align them with national and regional economic vitality goals and to leverage additional non-federal funding. The new program will increase the impact of projects through leveraging capital, allowing innovation in the project delivery and permitting processes, and promoting innovative safety solutions that will improve our transportation system. There are two INFRA application categories: large projects (costing more than $100 million) and small projects (less than $100,000). Approximately $1.56 billion of grant funding will be awarded through this program this fiscal year with 90% of that being awarded to the large project category.
The seven agencies of Weld County, Adams County, CDOT Region 1, CDOT Region 4, Commerce City, Thornton, and Union Pacific have partnered to create a project of improvements identified in the US 85 Access Control Plan and US 85 Planning and Environmental Linkage study. Project would have two primary elements: modifications to railroad crossing and US 85 highway access; and an interchange at 120th Avenue and US 85. Specifically, along US 85 within Weld County roadway/railway crossings of the Union Pacific Railroad and access to US 85 would be modified at more than ten locations including Weld County Road 2.5 and Weld County Road 4. The interchange at 120th Avenue would also grade separate 120th Avenue from the railroad. This combination of projects would create several two-mile long segments of railroad free of roadway crossings, increasing safety and reducing conflicts of trains occupying roadway crossings. The project has an estimated cost of more than $100 million and is consistent with the findings and recommendations of the US 85 Access Control Plan and the US 85 Planning and Environmental Linkage study.
The state, counties, and cities involved believe the project is a strong candidate for this nationwide grant opportunity based on the outcomes, multijurisdictional collaboration, as well as the proposed funding match. According to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects (INFRA Grants) for Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 , “When the transportation network fails-whether due to increasing bottlenecks, growing connectivity gaps, or unsafe, crumbling conditions-our economy suffers. Projects that address congestion in our major urban areas, particularly those that do so through the use of congestion pricing or the deployment of advanced technology, projects that bridge gaps in service in our rural areas, and projects that attract private economic development, all support national or regional economic vitality. Therefore, the INFRA program seeks these types of infrastructure projects.” It continues to state, “To increase the leveraging of Federal funding, the INFRA program will give priority consideration to projects that use all available non-Federal resources for development, construction, operations, and maintenance... These projects include projects that maximize State, local, and private sector funding…”
The cost of the Adams County portion of the project is roughly the same as the Weld County portion. To date the amounts committed in principle include $17 million from Weld County, $7 million from Commerce City, and $7 million from Adams County. Thornton has issued a letter of support for the project. A $3 million commitment in principle from Brighton would provide equal local match funding for the northern and southern portions of the project. CDOT would commit the remaining local match needed for the application and is also providing the resources to create the grant application.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Adams County Road and Bridge Sales Tax is a recurring funding source that has annually brought over $1 million in revenue the last few years and is projected to grow 1% this year. The Adams County Road and Bridge Sales Tax is a 0.5% tax collected within Adams County; the revenues are distributed proportionately to the cities that collect the sales tax and must be used for improvements to or the building of road and bridge projects. As indicated above, a $3 million commitment in principle from Brighton would provide equal local match funding for the northern and southern portions of the project. Subject to requirements of appropriation, the $3 million pledge for this grant opportunity could be spread over three or more years, or paid as a lump sum. Adams County Road and Bridge Tax revenues can only be used on road and bridge projects, is separate from the traffic impact fees and bridge crossing fee revenues and Highway Users Trust Fund (HUTF) revenues. Should the grant not be awarded to the project, the commitment for funding would not be implemented.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
There is a recurring revenue source that has the ability to fund this request to leverage a $3 million contribution into $100 million in transportation improvements. The project would provide a significant benefit to the transportation network in and surrounding Brighton including improved safety, reduced congestion, and improved freight movement. Based on the availability of funding and improvements generated, along with the collaborative nature of the project, staff recommends approval of the funding commitment.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
At the next City Council meeting staff will propose a resolution consistent with the recommendation. Council may take action to approve the request as written, approve a modified request, or deny the request.