TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Brian D. Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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Application for project funding under the Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration grant program issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Ward(s): Wards 2, 3, 5
Councilor(s): Nishioka, Phillips, and Gonzalez
Neighborhood(s): Morningside, Northgate, South Central, and Southeast Salem
Result Area(s): Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Natural Environmental Stewardship
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SUMMARY:
summary
The National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration grant program makes federal funds available to states, local governments, and Indian Tribes for the replacement, removal, repair, and improvement of culverts or weirs that would meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish. City staff has identified the Replacement of Railroad and McGilchrist Street SE Culverts on the West Fork of Pringle Creek as a suitable project for this grant funding.
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ISSUE:
Shall Council authorize the City Manager to apply for U.S Department of Transportation funding to design and construct the Replacement of Railroad and McGilchrist Street SE Culverts on the West Fork of Pringle Creek and, if successful, authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration to accept these funds?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to apply for U.S. Department of Transportation funding to design and construct the Replacement of Railroad and McGilchrist Street SE Culverts on the West Fork of Pringle Creek and, if successful, authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration to accept these funds.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The U.S. Department of Transportation Notice of Funding Opportunity (Attachment 1) solicits applications for the National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program that will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL appropriated $200 million annually for Federal FY 2022 through 2026 to improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish.
City staff identified the Replacement of Railroad and McGilchrist Street SE Culverts on the West Fork of Pringle Creek project as a match for this funding opportunity due to its high priority and competitiveness with grant criteria.
The project (location shown on Attachment 2) is important as the West Fork of Pringle Creek regularly overtops McGilchrist Street SE and floods undeveloped property located to the northeast, prompting road closures as often as four or five times a year. The proposed project includes design and replacement of the culverts at the railroad crossing on McGilchrist Street SE and existing railroad spur downstream. The improvements will meet fish-passage requirements, add flow capacity, and provide flood mitigation. The total estimated project cost is $4 million.
The grant application requires 20-percent City match funding. The project chosen is already in the adopted CIP planned to occur with Phase 3 of the ongoing McGilchrist Street SE Improvements, so the 20-percent match has already been programmed. If successful, the 80-percent grant award would equal approximately $3.2 million.
BACKGROUND:
The City unsuccessfully applied for this same grant in FY 2023. The application was strong in four of the seven criteria, reaching a Level 2 review. Staff attended a debrief with the U.S. Department of Transportation review team and they indicated that the application would have been more competitive if the local habitat was more demonstrably tied into the larger/regional program. For the FY 2024 application staff will enhance the narrative based on local habitat as it applies to efforts to improve the Salem area watershed, conservation benefits to anadromous fish, ecosystem benefits, and equity.
Allen Dannen, PE,
City Engineer
Attachments:
1. Attachment 1 - U.S. Department of Transportation Notice of Finding
2. Attachment 2 - Opportunity FY 2024 Vicinity Map