City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 8, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution for a Competitive Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Transportation for Primary Extension Improvement Program Funding. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: City Council consideration of a Resolution for a competitive grant application to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for funding in the amount of $1,000,000 for the resurfacing of primary route extensions.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Adopt the attached resolution (Attachment) to apply for a Primary Extension Improvement Program funding allocation for $1,000,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation for the resurfacing of City-maintained primary route extensions; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to submit this resolution and enter into any agreements with the State that may be required to receive these funds should the requested allocation be approved.
BACKGROUND: The 2014 General Assembly modified Section 33.1-23.1 of the Code of Virginia so that Primary Extensions maintained by municipalities could receive a portion of maintenance funds previously available only to Interstates and Primary Roads. Primary Extensions are routes maintained by municipalities that carry a primary route number for continuity; in Alexandria, examples include Duke Street (Route 236) and Van Dorn (Route 401).
Because VDOT estimates that approximately 55% of primary roads in Northern Virginia localities are deficient, the new funds have been made available to such routes with a critical condition index (CCI) of less than 60. This VDOT-specific score is consistent with the City's Pavement Condition Index which was developed as part of a citywide survey in 2016. The new funding is also intended to supplement (not replace) the current level of funding by localities. No match is required.
Primary Extension Improvement Program funding is intended to provide funds for immediately needed improvements or to supplement funding for existing projects. The maximum award per locality for this program is $1 million. Because VDOT expects to receive more applications than available funding, the agency will likely use a formula to determine award amounts resulting in awards of less than $1 million per applicant. Additionally, VDOT has indicated it plans to rate applications giving the most weight to the Critical Condition Index (CCI) of each street followed by traffic volume. Streets currently proposed by the City which meet VDOT requirements are all major arterials/primaries which require significant investment (more than $100,000 each) to resurface.
In March of 2016 Council approved the application for the VDOT FY 2017 Primary Extension Improvement Program in the amount of $1,000,000 for the resurfacing of a section of N. Patrick Street as well as a section of Seminary Road. The grant application was approved by VDOT in June of 2016 for the section of N. Patrick Street in the amount of $500,000 and the work will be completed in May/June of this year.
Primary Extension Improvement Program funding would be in addition to the VDOT Revenue Sharing Program funding.
DISCUSSION: In FY 2017, VDOT completed a pavement management inventory in which a condition assessment was performed on primary extension routes statewide, including those in Alexandria. This system, much like the citywide pavement condition index (PCI) performed by T&ES in 2016, resulted in a condition index score assigned to each route.
T&ES staff compared the VDOT CCI scores with the City's proposed three-year paving schedule from the FY 2017 to FY 2026 approved Capital Improvement Program, which is based on PCI scoring. Because VDOT requires Primary Extension Improvement Program funding be advertised within six months of allocation, Alexandria primary extensions already on the City's FY 2019 to FY 2020 list with a CCI of less than 60 are the best candidates for these funds.
Staff has therefore identified the following streets in the proposed FY 2019 to FY 2020 paving schedule as candidates for potential VDOT Primary Extension Improvement Program funding:
* Jefferson Davis Highway (SR 1) from Maskell St. to the Four Mile Run Bridge. (VDOT CCI of 15, City PCI of 50, Estimated resurfacing cost of $350,000)
* Duke St. from Somervelle St. to N. Jordan St. (VDOT CCI of 15, City PCI of 35, Estimated resurfacing cost of $250,000)
* N. Van Dorn St. from Holmes Run Pkwy. to Kenmore Ave. (VDOT CCI of 15, City PCI of 45, Estimated resurfacing cost of $400,000)
FISCAL IMPACT: The application reflects a request for $1,000,000 in State revenues to supplement the City's CIP funding for major street resurfacing. The existing FY 2017 to
FY 2026 Capital Improvement Program includes a planned amount of $5,260,000 in FY 2019 which would be dedicated to resurfacing. Receiving this additional $1,000,000 in VDOT funding would allow the acceleration of other streets within the proposed 3-year paving schedule.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, AICP, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services
Morgan Routt, Budget Director, Office of Management and Budget
Jeffrey DuVal, Deputy Director, Transportation and Environmental Services
Nikeya Cunningham, Capital Program Manager, Transportation and Environmental Services