TITLE
Consider a memorandum/resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Advance Funding Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Trimmier Road Widening project from US 190 to Bacon Ranch Road.
SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TRIMMIER ROAD WIDENING (US 190 TO BACON RANCH ROAD) PROJECT
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC WORKS - TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Due to the increasing volumes of traffic on and around Trimmier Road, on March 26, 2013, the City Council authorized staff to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Mitchell and Associates, Inc. to prepare the designs for road widening and additional access improvements along Trimmier Road spanning from Jasper Drive to Elms Road to coincide with construction being completed through TxDOT's SH 190 widening project (CCM/R 13-029R). At this time, the expansion of US 190 from the main gate of Fort Hood to W. S. Young Drive is currently underway and being expanded from (4) lanes to six (6) lanes by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The project scope also includes the widening of Trimmier Road directly under US 190 within the TxDOT right-of-way.
In relation to the Trimmier Road Widening Project, on May 30, 2013, the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization (KTMPO) distributed nomination forms for the Statewide Transportation Planning Metropolitan Mobility (STP-MM) Category 7 funds. City management and staff recognized this as an opportunity to help fund the projects within the Trimmier corridor.
On September 10, 2013, City Council authorized the submission of an application to participate in the KTMPO (STP-MM) Category 7 funds project call (CCM/R 13-103R) to help fund a portion of the Trimmier Road Widening project (Us 190 to Bacon Ranch Road) and, further expressed City Council's commitment to fund the remaining portion of the project (2 parts - Bacon Ranch Road to Elms Road and US 190 to Jasper Road). On September 18, 2013, the KTMPO awarded $2,000,000 to the City of Killeen for the Category 7 project with a City match for the estimated balance of the submitted portion of the project (US 190 to Bacon Ranch Road total $3,464,243 minus $2,000,000 Category 7 award and $156,047 of TxDOT Indirect Cost, leaving a City match amount of $1,308,196). The funding for this City match amount and the remainder of the widening project is contemplated to be funded out of Certificate of Obligation's indicated by the Reimbursement Resolution being presented to City Council on February 22, 2014.
As additional information, prior to these actions several other City Council directives and City staff actions were under way to address traffic congestion, pedestrian improvements, and safety concerns on W. S. Young Drive, Lowe's Boulevard and the Trimmier corridors.
In relation to W.S. Young Drive, on January 26, 2007, the City Manager executed a Professional Services Contract to design the widening of W. S. Young Drive from Bacon Ranch Road to Little Nolan Road. The purpose of this project is to improve the sight distance throughout this corridor and mitigate the potential for vehicular accidents to occur. The installation of a continuous left hand turn lane will improve the sight distance for drivers turning from Bacon Ranch Road northbound onto W.S. Young Drive and will also improve the general traffic flow in the area.
In relation to Lowe's Boulevard, on July 12, 2011, the City Council authorized the award of a Professional Services Agreement to design the extension of Lowe's Boulevard from Trimmier Road to Florence Road (CCM/R 10-100R). This project was previously included in the approved prioritized list in CCM/R 10-095R on August 24, 2010. The Certificate of Obligation funding for the prioritized projects was depleted prior to the Lowe's Boulevard project being advertised for bids.
As all of the above-described projects are either contiguous projects or in the same general vicinity, and designed by the same firm, City staff is proposing that they all be combined into one bid package. Including these projects as recommended will eliminate duplicity of effort and provide better coordination for traffic control and construction project sequencing. The projected funds needed to complete these projects are between $9.4 million and $10.9 million and will be known upon receipt of bids.
The construction plans for these projects are projected to be submitted to TxDOT in May, 2014, and it is anticipated that, pending TxDOT authorization, the City will be in a position to advertise for bids in August, 2014, and tentatively commence construction in October, 2014.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
Prior to receiving KTMPO funds, TxDOT requires the City of Killeen to enter into an Advanced Funding Agreement (AFA), which is attached hereto and incorporated herein. By entering into this agreement with TxDOT, the City is agreeing to commit to the project's design, development, construction, maintenance and funding. The City further agrees to provide a local match of approximately 38%, or greater, of the project cost (the segment spanning from US 190 to Bacon Ranch Road) and approximately 82%, or greater, of the total project (including US 190 to Bacon Ranch Road, Bacon Ranch Road to Elms Road, and US 190 to Jasper Road), including being responsible for all non-federally fundable items and 100% of all overruns.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total fiscal impact associated with this project is $3,464,243, of which $2,000,000 is Federally funded as an award and will be reimbursed from the Texas Department of Transportation along with the $156,047 state portion of the award, and $1,308,196 is to be funded by the City of Killeen. A proposed future Certificate of Obligation Bond issuance reflected in the Reimbursement Resolution considered by City Council on February 25, 2014 will reimburse the General Fund and track expenditures in the Reimbursement Resolution Trimmier account #010-9501-492.50-67 when proceeds from the sale of the Certificates of Obligation Bonds are received. In accordance with part B of this action (budget amendment ordinance), at this time, an initial payment of $37,448 from the City to TxDOT for design review is required to be sent with the executed Advanced Funding Agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
City staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into an Advance Funding Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Statewide Transportation Planning Metropolitan Mobility Category 7 funding with the Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization and issue payment in the amount of $37,448 to the Texas Department of Transportation to move forward with the project.