2017-032 Set Aside Recommended Funding Date: May 12, 2017 Report No. 2017-032
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Update regarding Transportation Alternatives-Set Aside applications and recommended funding
by the North Central Texas Council of Governments
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff submitted projects to the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Call for
Projects for the Transportation Alternatives-Set Aside program. The program funds, through an
80/20 reimbursement, Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School projects. Staff was
recently notified that all three projects submitted by the City of Denton were being recommended
for funding. These recommendations will be considered by the Surface Transportation Technical
Committee on May 26, and the Regional Transportation Council will take action to award
funding on June 8.
BACKGROUND:
In December 2016, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) opened a Call
for Projects under the Transportation Alternatives — Set Aside (TA-Set Aside)program. This
program is funded through the current federal transportation funding bill, FAST Act: Fixing
America's Surface Transportation. NCTCOG has $23.4 million to award to the North Central
Texas region. The Call for Projects had two categories—Active Transportation, which is
customary bike and pedestrian infrastructure; and Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS), which is
infrastructure tied to making walking and biking to schools safer. This is a reimbursement
program, with local sponsors being reimbursed 80% (local agency must fund at least 20%).
For Active Transportation, staff submitted the Sycamore-Welch Bike/Ped Connection, which
provides a more direct connection from the Downtown Denton Transit Center to the University
of North Texas. It will also link to existing bike infrastructure on Hickory Street, Mulberry
Street, and Eagle Drive. Staff is proposing a sidepath on Sycamore, and a road diet of Welch.
Additionally, the project will coordinate with traffic signal work planned for the intersection of
Carroll Blvd and Sycamore.
For SRTS, staff consulted the existing City of Denton Safe Routes to School Plan. A key scoring
factor is improving access to schools with a high percentage of students classified as
economically disadvantaged (per the Texas Education Agency school report cards); Ginnings
Elementary and Lee Elementary are ranked third and fourth, respectively, out of the twenty
elementary schools in Denton for number of economically disadvantaged students. Additionally,
these schools have sidewalk projects already identified by staff with cost estimates and funding
allocated, which will provide for the 20% match. The proposed SRTS projects include sidewalks
on Stuart Road, Audra Lane, and Mulkey Lane, in addition to added crosswalks at intersections.
Funding for the 20%match for each project had been identified prior to project application
submittals. The Active Transportation project would use the already-budgeted funds for the
Date: May 12, 2017 Report No. 2017-032
upgraded traffic signal at Carroll Boulevard and Sycamore as the 20% match, while the SRTS
projects would use funding from the 2014 Sidewalk Miscellaneous Fund. After project submittal,
NCTCOG contacted staff to inform that, during the review process, it was decided traffic signals
would not be an eligible reimbursable expense and would therefore be removed from the project
budget. The revised total project cost is $953,135, with the City's 20% match being $190,627.
Since the traffic signal funds cannot be used as the match, this match will come from the Bike
Fund.
Sycamore-Welch Ginning Elementary Lee Elementary
Connection AT SRTS SRTS
Total project cost $953,135 $656,427 $296,461
20% match $190,627 $131,285 $59,292
Funding source Bike Fund 2014 Sidewalk Fund 2014 Sidewalk Fund
Total Funding Requested: $1,906,023
Total Funding Awarded: $1,524,819
Total City Commitment: $381,204
CONCLUSION:
Staff will be coordinating with the TxDOT Dallas District and NCTCOG during the course of
the projects. Approval of the projects in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP)is planned for November. Projects will start preliminary design and engineering work
after approval has been given by the Regional Transportation Council and a workshop session is
held with TxDOT. Construction of projects is expected to begin in late summer 2018.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Active Transportation Projects Overview and Ranking
Safe Routes to School Projects Overview and Ranking
STAFF CONTACT:
Julie Anderson
Bike and Pedestrian Coordinator
(940) 349-7718
Jul ie.Andersona),cityofdenton.com
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