To

Mayor and Council

Subject

FY 2013 Georgia DOT - Transportation Planning Contract

Initiator

Planning Department

Recommendation

Approval is requested to execute a contract with the Georgia Department of \n \n Transportation for Financial Assistance to carry out the FY 2013 Transportation \n \n Planning Work \n \n Activities of the Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study (C-PCTS).

Approval

Pending

Background

During June of each year, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

receives a contract on behalf of the City from the Georgia Department of

Transportation (GDOT)

for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Section 112 Funds to perform

multi-modal

transportation planning activities identified in the Columbus-Phenix City

Unified Planning Work

Program (UPWP). The Transportation Planning Division, which is housed within

the MPO

performs the planning work that includes items such as the Long Range

Transportation Plan (LRTP),

Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Congestion Management Process (CMP),

Site Impact Analysis, Traffic Modeling Networks, and additional planning

activities. The Federal

Funds will cover 80% of the cost of the transportation-planning program. The

City is required to

provide the 20% local match for $59,473.57 to receive the Federal Funds.

Analysis

The Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study (C-PCTS) serves as the

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the urban area. The

Transportation Planning

Division is the designated MPO recipient and project administrator of Section

112 Transportation

Planning Funds. The transportation planning funds are designated for the

Columbus-Phenix City

MPO for the performance of multi-modal transportation activities.

Financial Considerations

Transportation planning funds in the amount of $237,894.28

requested in the form of a contract with the Georgia Department of

Transportation. The

following is a breakdown of funding sources.









The City?s 20% match of $59,473.57 is budgeted in the FY13 Budget, General

Fund.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

This is an annual contract with the

Georgia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration,

which will require

a 20% match. The Planning Funds from GDOT has been reduced by $72,982.02.

Congress recently

passed the 9th Continuing Resolution, which extended the Federal Highway and

Transit Programs until

June 30, 2012 . Since this Continuing Resolution expires on June 20, 2012 (and

not until the end of

Federal Fiscal Year 2012-which is September 30, 2012), this means that FHWA

will only be able to provide

a portion of the Federal Fiscal Year 2012 Funding (Apportionment and Obligation

Authority) - which is approximately

3/4 of the amount anticipated for Federal Fiscal year 2012. Until another

Continuing Resolution is signed or a new

Surface Transportation Bill is passed, GDOT cannot execute FY 13 PL Contracts

for the full amount of funding.

Once Congress does pass another Resolution and/or Bill, then GDOT will execute

a Supplement Agreement to

our PL Contract for the full amount of Planning Funds.

Legal Considerations

The Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study is in compliance with

all applicable planning requirements and certifications necessary in order to

receive the federal funds.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign

contract to receive Federal Funding for the FY 2013 Transportation Planning

Activities.

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