Title
A Resolution Authorizing the City of Colorado Springs to Enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority Regarding the State of Colorado Grant for the Sinton Trail Crossing at Centennial Blvd Project.
Presenter:
Gayle Sturdivant, City Engineer/Acting Public Works Director
Body
Summary:
The Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) Board of Directors served as the applicant on behalf of the City for a State-funded grant for a project to design and reconstruct the Sinton Trail crossing at Centennial Blvd. As the applicant, the PPRTA was required to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the State as administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The City, in turn, desires to enter into an IGA with the PPRTA to implement, manage, and assume responsibilities assigned to the PPRTA under the PPRTA-CDOT IGA.
Background:
The City of Colorado Springs is proposing to engineer and reconstruct a crossing of Sinton Trail and Centennial Blvd. Sinton Trail is a Tier I Trail on the City's Parks and Trails Master Plan providing access from the Pikes Peak Greenway to Garden of the Gods Park and other trail systems west of I-25. The existing trail is a substandard concrete urban trail that provides access to both business and neighborhoods. The City has undertaken several significant projects on the Sinton Trail to improve safety and connectivity, and reconstruction of the underpass is a significant element. It is difficult for cyclists to cross against each other given the narrow 5-foot width and 7-foot height through the 130-foot underpass. The crossing can only occur at its current location due to the drainageway immediately adjacent to the trail so additional right-of-way will not be needed.
In 2022, the PPRTA Board of Directors adopted Policy #31 in which the Board agreed to be the applicant for State grants on behalf of a member government for any PPRTA-eligible Capital or Maintenance project. Shortly after the policy was adopted, and at the request of the City, PPRTA applied for grant funding from the State’s Multimodal Transportation & Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF) for the benefit of the City of Colorado Springs. The application was for $6,145,450.00 of which 50% is required to be matched by the local agency. The State awarded PPRTA $3,072,725.00 and the City (through City general funds and PPRTA program funds) is providing the matching $3,072,725.
Oversight for the State grant funds will be provided by CDOT. A contract in the form of an IGA is being established between CDOT-PPRTA. The IGA details the funding amounts, defines the project scope, and identifies project responsibilities and obligations. The IGA is required to be executed before funds are dispersed.
The Board adopted Policy #31 and agrees to apply for funding on behalf of a member government. However, conditions of the Policy require that ‘the applicable member government will be solely responsible for (…) complying with all the State grant requirements, filings, and reporting…’. An IGA between PPRTA has been drafted in response to the Policy to provide a mechanism for PPRTA to receive grant funds for the Project and for the City to satisfy all the requirements under the PPRTA-CDOT IGA for the management, administration, and implementation of the Project. This is a project-specific IGA and is supplemental to the Comprehensive IGA between PPRTA and the City for ‘PPRTA Funded Capital Projects, Maintenance Programs and City-Sponsored Transit Activities’ effective January 1, 2015.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
N/A
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
Deferred recommendation
Stakeholder Process:
N/A
Alternatives:
Disapprove the resolution and remove the ability for the City to enter into the supplemental IGA with PPRTA to administer the grant at which point the grant funds would likely be returned to the State.
Approve the resolution and permit the City to oversee grant administration, engineering, and construction of the grade separated trail crossing improvements and be eligible for reimbursement from available grant funds.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Recommend approval of the Resolution Authorizing the City of Colorado Springs to Enter Into An Intergovernmental Agreement with the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority Regarding the State of Colorado Grant for the Sinton Trail Crossing at Centennial Blvd Project.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A