TITLE: Title
Consideration of Transportation Projects for NCDOT’s High Impact and Low Cost Projects Program
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the Board information about a funding source from NCDOT for small, shovel ready transportation projects, to evaluate Town projects which appear to be candidates for the program, and to consider whether to submit any or all of these projects for possible funding.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Zachary Hallock, 919-918-7329, zhallock@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:zhallock@townofcarrboro.org>; Tina Moon, 919-918-7325, cmoon@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:cmoon@townofcarrboro.org>
INFORMATION: On November 7th, NCDOT announced a call for projects to be funded as a part of State Senate Bill 257, “Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017,” Section 34.7(c) High Impact and Low Cost Projects. (Information about the SB 257 may be found at the following link: <https://dashboard.ncleg.net/api/Services/BillSummary/2017/S257-SMRW-104(sl)-v-2>) Now in its third year, the program is designed to provide funding for small, shove ready, highway projects which support regional/local needs and priorities, including job creation and economic growth. The selection criteria, developed by NCDOT Division 7, provides points for eight categories: traffic volume, safety, roadway characteristics, multimodal benefits, other funding availability, and county economic well-being based on county tier designation.
Staff has identified four possible projects that appear to score well on the selection criteria and address local transportation interests:
1) Construction of shoulders on NC Old 86 from Homestead Road to Farmhouse Road. This project has been submitted for funding as part of the formal prioritization process under both the highway and bike-ped category but has not scored well in the SPOT evaluation process.
2) Improve the bike-ped facilities on the Smith Level Road Bridge over Morgan Creek by widening the sidewalk and restriping. This project was identified during the final review of the Morgan Creek Greenway project as a way to improve the bike and pedestrian experience crossing the bridge for safety. If funded it could be constructed as part of the greenway project.
3) Intersection improvements at the Hillsborough Road and West Main Street intersection. This location was recommended by the Transportation Advisory Board as part of its evaluation of bike-ped safety improvements.
4) Installation of an enhanced pedestrian crossing at North Greensboro Street and Shelton Station. An improved crossing at this location was recommended as part of the Shelton Station development. High visibility crosswalks are currently part of the project, this would include additional safety improvements.
Project descriptions, location maps with preliminary cost estimates and scores have been prepared for each project (Attachment B and Attachment C). While no local match is required, a 20% local match is recommended, particularly for Tier 3 counties, and increases the quantitative scoring (Attachment D).
The deadline for submitting projects for this funding cycle is December 3, 2018.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: While this program does not require a local match, the quantitative ranking methodology selected by Division 7 provides bonus points if additional funding (maximum points at 20% match) is available. Because of this, in order to have the best chance to receive State funding, there would be a fiscal impact associated with providing that match.
The current cost estimate and 20% local match for the identified projects are:
|
Project |
Cost Estimate |
Recommended 20% Local Match |
|
Old NC 86 Shoulders |
$540,000 |
$108,000 |
|
Smith Level Road Bridge-bike-ped crossing |
$ 83,000 |
$ 16,600 |
|
West Main Street @ Hillsborough Road |
$ 41,000 |
$ 8,200 |
|
North Greensboro St @ Shelton Station |
$ 45,000 |
$ 9,000 |
|
Totals |
$709,000 |
$141,800 |
Funds have not been budgeted for the match. An appropriation would need to be made should any of these projects receive funding through the program. Staff has reached out to NCDOT to determine whether STBG-DA funds could be used toward the match.
There would also be requirements for staff time both to administer the project funds and to manage the development of design plans.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board review the attached project descriptions and cost estimates, and direct staff as to whether to submit any of the identified projects to NCDOT for funding consideration in the upcoming High Impact and Low Cost program.