TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Peter Fernandez, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Federal transportation funding allocated by the Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study
Ward(s): 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
Councilor(s): Kaser, Andersen, Nanke, Ausec, Hoy, Lewis
Neighborhood(s): SESNA, NOLA, ELNA, NESCA, Highland, NEN, Morningside, Faye-Wright, West Salem, Grant
Result Area(s): Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council authorize the City Manager to submit applications for federal transportation funding, allocated by the Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study, for five projects, listed in priority order?
1. McGilchrist Street SE - 22nd Street SE Phase
2. Pedestrian Safety Improved Crossings
3. Commercial Street SE, Vista Avenue SE to Ratcliff Drive SE Pedestrian Safety
4. Orchard Heights Road NW Pedestrian Safety
5. Broadway Street NE at Hood Street NE Intersection Improvement
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to submit applications for federal transportation funding, allocated by the Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study, for five projects, listed in priority order:
1. McGilchrist Street SE - 22nd Street SE Phase
2. Pedestrian Safety Improved Crossings
3. Commercial Street SE, Vista Avenue SE to Ratcliff Drive SE Pedestrian Safety
4. Orchard Heights Road NW Pedestrian Safety
5. Broadway Street NE at Hood Street NE Intersection Improvement
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SUMMARY:
Federal funds are available for transportation projects in the Salem-Keizer-Turner area. These funds will be allocated by the Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study (SKATS), a partnership between the cities of Salem, Keizer, and Turner; Marion and Polk counties; the Salem-Keizer Transit District; the Salem-Keizer School District, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
SKATS is soliciting transportation projects that will be ready for contract between fiscal years 2021 and 2024. Staff reviewed eligible projects and are recommending that the City submit applications for five projects, with a total request of $10,683,000. The recommended projects align with the goals of the Regional Transportation System Plan, specifically goals relating to a vibrant regional economy, a multimodal transportation system, safety, and a well-preserved transportation system.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Applications are due June 28, 2019. Salem has many transportation needs, as documented in the Salem Transportation System Plan. Staff recommends submitting applications to SKATS requesting federal funds for five projects. SKATS has requested that each jurisdiction rank their projects if applying for more than one project. The projects are in recommended priority order.
The cost estimates will be further reviewed by SKATS and ODOT in the late summer and early fall of 2019. If a project is selected, the costs will be inflated to the year of expenditure. Projects will be ranked and selected by the SKATS Policy Committee, on which Councilor Lewis serves as the City of Salem representative. Project selection is expected in May 2020. Staff will return to Council for approval of matching funds through the budget process for applications that are awarded federal funds.
McGilchrist Street SE - 22nd Street SE Phase
The City has previously sought and been awarded more than $4.5 million from SKATS to acquire rights-of-way for this important project. The City used urban renewal funds to design the project and to provide the match for the right-of-way phase that is currently in progress. The City continues to actively pursue funding for construction of the entire project through the federal government’s BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant program.
The amount of funding needed to complete construction (approximately $15 million) is more than could be allocated through SKATS. This application focuses on an initial phase of construction at the intersection of McGilchrist Street SE and 22nd Street SE. The project would realign 22nd Street SE to align the north and south legs of this roadway, install a traffic signal, and make improvements to McGilchrist Street SE on the approaches to the intersection. Future phases would extend the project east to 25th Street SE and west to Pringle Road SE. This project aligns with the Regional Transportation Systems Plan goals to support a vibrant regional economy and provide a safe transportation system.
Estimated Federal Funds Request: $4,350,000
Estimated Match (Source): $550,000 (McGilchrist Urban Renewal Area)
Total Project Cost (2019$): $4,900,000
Pedestrian Safety Improved Crossings
This project would construct a series of pedestrian safety improvements. The locations were identified through previous planning and engineering analyses.
• Lancaster Drive NE between Sunnyview Road NE and Wolverine Street NE-pedestrian medians and rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs).
• Lancaster Drive NE near Weather Street NE- pedestrian medians and RRFBs.
• River Road NE between River Road Park and Fred Meyer driveway- curb extensions.
• State Street at 19th Street SE- RRFBs.
• State Street at 21st Street SE- RRFBs.
Estimated Federal Funds Request: $1,073,000
Estimated Match (Source): $142,000 (State Highway Fund)
Total Project Cost (2019$): $1,215,000
Commercial Street SE, Vista Avenue SE to Ratcliff Drive SE Pedestrian Safety
This pedestrian safety project is part of the Commercial-Vista Corridor Project, accepted by City Council in 2017. The project would fill in a key 800-foot segment of sidewalk along the east side of Commercial Street SE between Vista Avenue SE and Ratcliff Drive SE and construct a traffic signal at the intersection of Commercial Street SE and Ratcliff Drive SE.
Estimated Federal Funds Request: $2,715,000
Estimated Match (Source): $340,000 (State Highway Fund)
Total Project Cost (2019$): $3,055,000
Orchard Heights Road NW Pedestrian Safety
This pedestrian safety project would fill in two missing segments of sidewalk on the south side of Orchard Heights Road NW to enhance pedestrian connections to Orchard Heights Park, Straub Middle School, and transit. One of the sections of missing sidewalk is along the frontage of the City water reservoir. The project would add a pedestrian median island at the intersection of Orchard Heights Avenue NW and Parkway Drive NW to improve safety for pedestrians accessing the park.
Estimated Federal Funds Request: $1,620,000
Estimated Match (Source): $706,000 (Utility Fund)
Total Project Cost: $2,326,000
Broadway Street NE at Hood Street NE Intersection Improvement
Broadway Street NE and Hood Street NE are minor arterial streets in the Salem Transportation System Plan. The existing traffic signal at this intersection is one of the oldest in the City and does not have pedestrian push buttons. This project would replace the aging traffic signal and add a left turn pocket on the west leg of the intersection.
Estimated Federal Funds Request: $925,000
Estimated Match (Source): $110,000 (Transportation System Development Charges)
Total Project Cost: $1,035,000
BACKGROUND:
SKATS is soliciting for transportation projects that will be ready for contract in fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The total amount of federal funds available for this solicitation is $15 million. Recipients are required to provide matching funds to cover at least 10.27 percent of the project cost. To be eligible for funding, projects must be within the SKATS boundary and be included in, or consistent with, the Regional Transportation Systems Plan. Projects are expected to be regionally significant and assist in achieving one or more goals in the Regional Transportation Systems Plan.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. McGilchrist Street SE - 22nd Street SE Phase Map
2. Pedestrian Safety Improved Crossings Map
3. Commercial Street SE, Vista Avenue SE to Ratcliff Drive SE Pedestrian Safety Project Map
4. Orchard Heights Road NW Pedestrian Safety Project Map
5. Broadway Street NE at Hood Street NE Intersection Improvement