To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Transportation Enhancement Applications

Initiator

Planning Department

Recommendation

Approval is requested to submit applications and if approved accept grant funds \n \n for Transportation Enhancement from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Approval

Approved

Background

The Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant program, which is administered by the

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). Funding is accepting applications

to fund projects that contain one or more of the following activities:

1. Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles

2. Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles

3. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites

4. Scenic or historic highway programs including the provision of tourist and

welcome center facilities

5. Landscaping and other scenic beautification

6. Historic preservation

7. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings,

structures, or facilities including historic railroad facilities and canals

8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion and

use thereof for pedestrian or bicycle trails

9. Control and removal of outdoor advertising

10. Archaeological planning and research

11. Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway run-off

or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat

connectivity

12. Establishment of transportation museums.



For this round of applications, staff is recommending the following

applications be submitted: Veterans Parkway Streetscape Improvement - Phase III

(Trees Columbus, Inc; Wynnton Road Master Plan - Phase I (Midtown Columbus,

Inc.)j; and the enhancement of the 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge, as projects

to be considered for funding. These projects will provide streetscaping and

pedestrian improvements to enhance these areas. The submission of these

applications will meet the requirements under eligible activities for

facilities for pedestrians and bicycles as a primary function. Upon

submission, the application will be reviewed by the GADOT TE review panel. The

panel includes citizens and representatives from various state and local

agencies. The panel will rank the projects and provide their recommendations

to the State Transportation Board for final approval.

Analysis

The grant applications offer the community an opportunity to provide

streetscape and bridge improvements to these needed roads and pedestrian

walkways.

Financial Considerations

GDOT will provide funding in the amount of up to $1 million dollars for each

grant application. There is a required of a twenty percent match for each

grant. Trees Columbus, Inc., and Midtown Columbus, Inc., will be responsible

for the match for their respected application project. The City will provide

the match for the 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge application utilizing SPLOST

and Capital Improvement funds.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

Acceptance of these funds would require certification from the City that all

federal laws and guidelines would be followed and enforced.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approval is requested to submit an application and if approved accept grant

funds for Transportation Enhancement from the Georgia Department of

Transportation.





A RESOLUTION



NO. _____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA TO APPLY

TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FY2008 AND 2009 TRANSPORTATION

ENHANCEMENT FUNDS.

WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Transportation has available

Transportation Enhancement funds for the construction of streescapes along

transportation corridors; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to complete a streetscapes

improvements along Veterans Parkway from Victory Drive to 13th Street.; along

Wynnton Road from Peacock Avenue to Hilton Avenue; and desires to enhance

improvements to the 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge.

____________

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY

RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit applications and

if approved accept FY2008-2009 Transportation Enhancement funds from the

Georgia Department of Transportation to be used toward streetscape improvements

on Veterans Parkway from Victory Drive to 13th Street; Wynnton Road from

Peacock Avenue to Hilton Avenue; and, for improvements to the 14th Street

Pedestrian Bridge.

___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held

the _________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of _____________members of said Council.

Councilor Allen voting __________.









Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.



___________________________________ _____________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor

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