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Title:
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Consideration of a Resolution for a Competitive Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Transportation for Primary Extension Improvement Program Funding. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2018
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]
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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 million 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 the resolution and enter into any agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia 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 pavement 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 2017 Council approved the application for the VDOT Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Primary Extension Improvement Program in the amount of $1 million for the resurfacing of a section of Duke St., Jefferson Davis Highway, and N. Van Dorn St. The grant application was approved by VDOT in September of 2017 in the amount of $1 million and the work will be completed in the City Fiscal Year 2019.
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 2018 through FY 2027 approved Capital Improvement Program and which are 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 2020 through FY 2021 list with a CCI of less than 60 are the best candidates for these funds.
Staff has therefore identified the following street in the proposed FY 2020 through FY 2021 paving schedule as a candidate for potential VDOT Primary Extension Improvement Program funding:
* Duke St. E/W from Somerville St. to 0.1 miles east of S. Walker St. (VDOT CCI of 28, City PCI of 53, Estimated resurfacing cost of $1 million)
FISCAL IMPACT: The application reflects a request for $1 million in State revenues to supplement the City's CIP funding for major street resurfacing. The existing FY 2020 through FY 2021 Capital Improvement Program includes a planned amount of $5.5 million in FY 2020 which would be dedicated to this project. Receiving this additional $1 million in VDOT funding would allow the acceleration of other streets within the proposed 3-year paving schedule.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution: Duke St. E/W from Somerville St. to 0.1 miles east
of S. Walker St.
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
Mary Martin, P.E., Division Chief, Transportation and Environmental Services
Nikeya Cunningham, Capital Program Manager, Transportation and Environmental Services