To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Chattahoochee Riverwalk/ Bibb Mill Connector Application for Transportation Enhancement Funds

Initiator

Community Development

Recommendation

Approve a resolution to authorize the City Manager to submit the application \n \n for Transportation Enhancement funds.

Approval

Approved

Background

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) created

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

Georgia Department of Transportation (GADOT). Funding is set aside under this

program to provide for 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 Chattahoochee

Riverwalk/Bibb Mill Connector as the project to be funded. This undertaking

will help connect a vital link of the Chattahoochee Riverwalk that it now

separated by the North Highland Dam and Bibb Mill on the Chattahoochee River.

The project will provide a continuous link from Lake Oliver to the north, to

18th Street to the south, offering scenic walkways and bikeways to the section

of the community. The submission of this application 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 use of this grant program would help accelerate the completion of an

essential link in the community's riverwalk system, as well as the overall

alternative transportation program. The construction of this link will

eliminate the existing need to walk approximately one mile around the Bibb Mill

site to connect to the either existing end of the riverwalk, and would offer a

scenic vista for those using the riverwalk.

Financial Considerations

Through this funding program, the state will provide up to $1 million. The

typical match is 20 percent, with opportunities of an award increase if the

local match exceeds that amount. Estimates for this section of the riverwalk

have been projected at total cost of $3.7 million. The City's share of the

$2.7 million would be financed through city funds.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

Acceptance of these federal funds would require certification from the City

that all federal laws and guidelines would be followed and enforced.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the resolution to authorize the City Manager to submit the application

for Transportation Enhancement funds.

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