Title
A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) regarding funding of the 31st Street Bridge Project
Presenter:
Mike Chaves, P.E., Engineering Manager
Body
Summary:
Approval of the attached resolution will authorize the Mayor to execute the Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the 31st Street Bridge Project.
Previous Council Action:
City Council passed ordinance 13-77 (2014 Appropriation Ordinance) which authorized the appropriation of $30,000,000 to the Grants Fund for 2014. This grant was accepted during 2014 and the required appropriation of approximately $1.5 million was moved from that Grants Fund pool to this project.
City Council approved Resolution 4-14 on January 28, 2014 approving and authorizing eleven (11) Intergovernmental Agreements between the City of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Department of Transportation for Roadway and Bridge Project Funding - including the 31st Street Bridge Project.
Background:
The original 31st Street Bridge Project grant was for the study and design of a replacement bridge. Analysis of the bridge shows it is in better condition than originally estimated with at least 10 years of service life left, and a lining of the interior will extend the life another 30 to 40 years. Replacement of this bridge would be best, if done in conjunction with CDOT’s future plan to install an interchange at Highway 24 and 31st Street. During the assessment of the existing bridge a separate major drainage basin study of the Camp Creek Drainage Basin was proceeding. The conclusion of the basin study resulted in reduced calculated flood flows and a concept to change the 31st Street concrete channel to a natural channel. The revised flood flow rates can be accommodated by the size of the existing bridge, but the bridges upstream of 31st Street are undersized, even with the new flow rates. The City is currently planning to rehabilitate, rather than replace the 31st Street Bridge at a much lower cost. A timeline for this work to be completed has not yet been established. The reduced scope of this engineering project has left funding available, which the City has requested of CDOT to change the scope of the project and be used to advance the engineering of the 31st Street corridor concept from the Camp Creek Basin Study. CDOT has approved the City’s request pending an approved and executed Amendment #1 to the IGA. The grant amount is $1,537,589 with approximately $ 573,000 having been expended to date. The remaining $ 964,589 will be used to advance the design of the 31st Street roadway corridor
This project supports the City’s strategic goal relating to investing in infrastructure.
Financial Implications:
Funds were appropriated in 2014. As noted above, with the annual appropriations ordinance, City Council approved a Grants Fund appropriation of $30 million and when this grant was accepted approximately $1.5 million appropriation was moved from the pool to the specific project within the Grants Fund.
Board/Commission Recommendation:
The inclusion of this project in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) was approved by the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) Board.
Stakeholder Process:
Multiple Public meetings were held to solicit input from a broad range of stakeholders. This input helped craft the final recommendations for the entire basin area studied.
Alternatives:
The City Council may approve, modify or deny approval of the attached resolution.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move approval of the resolution.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A