Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
06/23/2015
Agenda Report # 124
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: FY 2016 Georgia DOT - Transportation Planning Contract
INITIATED BY: Planning Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to execute a contract with the Georgia
Department of Transportation for Financial Assistance to carry out the FY 2016
Transportation Planning Work Activities of the Columbus-Phenix City
Transportation Study (C-PCTS).
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 for the
transportation-planning program. The City is required to provide the 20% local
match for $43,613.71 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
$174,454.82 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 $43,613.71 is budgeted in the FY 2016 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 $76,427.27. Congress recently passed a Continuing Resolution, which extended
the Federal Highway and Transit Programs until July 31, 2015. Since this
Continuing Resolution expires on July 31, 2015 (and not until the end of
Federal Fiscal Year 2015-which is September 30, 2015), this means that FHWA
will only be able to provide a portion of the Federal Fiscal Year 2016 Funding
(Apportionment and Obligation Authority) - which is approximately 3/4 of the
amount anticipated for Federal Fiscal Year 2016. Until another Continuing
Resolution is signed or a new Surface Transportation Bill is passed, GDOT
cannot execute FY16 PL Contracts for the full amount of funding. Once Congress
passes another Resolution and/or Bill, then GDOT will execute a Supplemental
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 execute contracts to receive Federal Funding for the FY 2016 Transportation
Planning Activities.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA TO EXECUTE A
CONTRACT WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CARRY OUT THE FY 2016 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING
ACTIVITIES OF THE COLUMBUS-PHENIX CITY TRANSPORTATION STUDY (C-PCTS).
WHEREAS, the FY 2016 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) of the
Columbus-Phenix City Transportation Study has been reviewed and approved by the
United States Department of Transportation (FHWA) and the Georgia Department of
Transportation (GDOT); and,
WHEREAS, the FY 2016 UPWP indicates the amount of Section 112 Transportation
Planning Funds to be provided by GDOT to be $174,454.82; and,
WHEREAS, the local match necessary to receive the Section 112 funds are
$43,613.71; and,
WHEREAS, the federal and local funds will be available to the Transportation
Planning Division within the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to carry
out the Section 112 Work Activities identified in the FY 2016 UPWP.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
(1) The the Mayor, City Manager or designee is hereby authorized to execute
said contract on behalf of the Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia
and receive an amount up to $174,454.82 as may be necessary to carry out said
contract; and,
(2) That the City gives assurance that, should such contract be executed, it
is the intent of the Council to commit $43,613.71 for the local match of
planning expenses; and,
(3) That the City Manager is authorized to execute (or to delegate to the
Metropolitan Planning Organization) the execution of and file with such
application and assurance, or, other documents required by GDOT in connection
with the application, and to requisition state funds to reimburse the City for
eligible expenses under any resulting grant contracts.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of _____________ 2015, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting _______________.
Councilor Baker voting _______________.
Councilor Barnes voting _______________.
Councilor Buck voting _______________.
Councilor Davis voting _______________.
Councilor Henderson voting _______________.
Councilor Huff voting _______________.
Councilor Thomas voting _______________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting _______________.
Councilor Woodson voting _______________.
_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
Attachments
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