TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Dale S. Sugerman, Ph.D., Assistant City Manager
THROUGH: Chief Neal de Jesus, Interim City Manager
DATE: May 16, 2017
Title
2017 LOCAL INITIATIVE (LI) AND TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (TAP) GRANT SUBMITTALS TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO)
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to Approve four (4) supporting resolutions for the grant applications submitted by the City of Delray Beach for the 2017 Local Initiative and Transportation Alternative Programs funded through the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Body
Background:
The Palm Beach MPO administers two competitive grant application processes annually for the funding of projects located within Palm Beach County. The grant application process typically commences in January, when the MPO posts online application materials. Applications are ranked and recommended for funding by the MPO Advisory Committees and the MPO Board. Scoring criteria is based on the Goals, Objectives and Values of Directions 2040 and the Palm Beach MPO's Long Range Transportation Plan. 2017 project applications to be recommended for funding will be included in the MPO's Project Priority List for Fiscal Years 2019 - 2023 which is anticipated for MPO adoption in mid-2017. The latest Long Range Transportation Plan Directions 2040 carved out future allocations of MPO Surface Transportation funds to be used at the MPO's discretion. As a result, the Local Initiatives (LI) program was created as an annual application process to identify and evaluate potential funding for the better lower-cost, non-regionally significant transportation projects that our communities want and our economies need.
Approximately $18 million has been allocated annually to fund projects under the Local Initiatives (LI) Program. Established by MAP-21, the federal Transportation Alternatives Program is a cost reimbursement program where projects are selected by the MPO but administered by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The program funds on and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities; infrastructure for improving non-driver access to public transportation for enhanced mobility; community improvement activities; environmental mitigation; recreational trail projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former divided highways. Approximately $3 million has been allocated annually in recent years to fund Transportation Alternative (TA) projects. The deadline for applications to be accepted by the MPO for the LI & TAP Programs was March 3, 2017. Presentations and review ranking should be completed by the MPO in July 2017. The MPO allows until June 16th for the submission of supporting resolutions from applicants.
On February 21, 2017 the City Commission authorized staff to submit grant applications for three projects to be considered under the Local Initiative Program along with one application for consideration under the Transportation Alternative Program:
• Barwick Road Complete Street - Atlantic Avenue to the northern City limit (L-30 Canal) - Local Initiative Program - Engineer's Opinion of Probable Cost = $1,672,013
• Lindell Boulevard Complete Street - Federal Highway to SW 10th Avenue; north on SW 10th Avenue to Linton Boulevard - Local Initiative Program - Engineer's Opinion of Probable Cost = $2,325,403
• Carl Bolter Drive and Avocet Road loop connection between the Brant Drive bridge and Lindell Boulevard - Local Initiative Program - Engineer's Opinion of Probable Cost = $440,302
• Linton Boulevard ICWW Bridge Eastbound Protected Bike Lane - similar to existing westbound; eliminate grass strip between curb and sidewalk to provide a wider sidewalk; provide ramp for bicycle access to the protected bike lane from the sidewalk; and include the non-slip bike lane cover on grated portion to prevent cyclists from slipping on the bridge - Transportation Alternative Program Supported by Palm Beach County Engineering - Engineer's Opinion of Probable Cost = $1,099,888
City Attorney Review:
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency.
Finance Department Review:
Finance recommends approval.
Funding Source:
Funds will be required in 2021 for design/engineering professional services which will be requested in the FY 2020 CIP Budget.
Timing of Request:
The timing of this request is of high importance. The City has submitted the grant applications to the MPO and supporting resolutions are due by June 16, 2017.