Agenda Item # 3
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
05/08/2012
Agenda Report # 47
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Reallocation of Transportation Enhancement Funds
INITIATED BY: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager
Recommendation: Authorization is requested for the reallocation of $1,000,000
in Transportation Enhancement Funds, previously approved to fund a pedestrian
bridge and viewing platform on the Riverwalk, to another City project to be
determined and authorize funding of constructing a pedestrian bridge and
viewing platform in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000 with 1999 SPLOST
funds. To further authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding
with Uptown Columbus, Inc., for construction of a pedestrian bridge.
Background: The Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge is a project developed and
co-sponsored by Uptown Columbus as part of the Whitewater Project to provide
public access to an island located at the termination point of the Whitewater
course immediately below Eagle/Phenix Dam. A viewing platform will be
constructed on the island to allow public viewing of rafters and kayakers?
navigating through the final rapids of Whitewater on the Chattahoochee River.
The pedestrian bridge viewing platform and island will be the property of the
City upon completion of the project.
The use of Transportation Enhancement Funds to construct the pedestrian bridge
and viewing platform will require standard approvals through the Department of
Transportation. These approvals will include concept development, plan
approval, ROW certification, and environmental. The bidding process will
require a formal Notice to Proceed and final award of the construction contract
will require DOT approval. The typical timeline for a Transportation
Enhancement Project is 18-24 months. The Whitewater course is scheduled to
open to the public within the next 12 months. If the bridge and viewing
platform are to be ready by the opening of Whitewater, construction must begin
with the next few months.
Analysis: The City currently has approximately $2,000,000 remaining in the
1999 SPLOST account for the Rails to Trails project. This funding is available
due to the use of stimulus and other state funding for portions of the trails
project. Additional projects under consideration to enhance the Rails to
Trails include; constructing a park and ride at Warm Springs Connector/Milgen
Road and constructing a Pavilion with a park and ride at Flat Rock Park. Both
projects are in preliminary discussion phase at this point. Another
possibility for use of Transportation Enhancement Funding is expansion of the
trail network at Oxbow Meadows. The Oxbow Masterplan has an extensive trail
network through the two oxbows along the river. Funding provided for the Oxbow
development was insufficient to fund the trail network designated in the
Masterplan. The use of Transportation Enhancement funds and the timeline for
meeting the funding requirements would not be an impediment to any of the
projects previously mentioned due to them being in the early phases of
development. The reallocation of Transportation Enhancement funds will
require approval by Georgia Department of Transportation. Our GDOT Board
Member supports reallocation of funds as presented.
A viable alternative would be for $1,000,000 of the remaining SPLOST funds be
reallocated to the pedestrian bridge project as a parks/greenspace improvement
and Transportation Enhancement Funding be reallocated to one of the three
projects above.
Financial Considerations: This is a reallocation of funding sources and does
not represent a request for additional funds.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: The construction of the pedestrian
bridge and viewing platform is not projected to have an annual fiscal impact
since both improvements are permanent structures.
Legal Considerations: Council approval of this action is required since the
original application for Georgia Department of Transportation Funding was
approved in Resolution #435-10.
Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize the City Manager to submit a request to
reallocate of $1,000,000 in Transportation Enhancement Funds, previously
approved to fund a pedestrian bridge and viewing platform on the Riverwalk, to
another City project to be determined, and to authorize funding of the
construction of the pedestrian bridge and viewing platform in an amount not to
exceed $1,000,000 with 1999 SPLOST funds. To further authorize the execution
of a Memorandum of Understanding with Uptown Columbus, Inc., for the
construction of the pedestrian bridge and viewing platform.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO REALLOCATE $1,000,000 IN TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT FUNDS,
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TO FUND A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND VIEWING PLATFORM ON THE
RIVERWALK, TO ANOTHER CITY PROJECT TO BE DETERMINED AND TO AUTHORIZE FUNDING OF
THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,000 WITH 1999 SPLOST
FUNDS. TO FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WITH UPTOWN COLUMBUS, INC. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AND
VIEWING PLATFORM.
WHEREAS, the City was awarded $1,000,000 in Transportation Enhancement funding
for construction of a pedestrian bridge and viewing platform by the Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT), the bridge and viewing platform would
become the property of the City upon completion; and,
WHEREAS, the construction of the pedestrian bridge and viewing platform was to
be administered by Uptown Columbus, Inc., as part of the Whitewater project and
the agency would be responsible for providing the required 20% match for
receiving grant funds; and,
WHEREAS, the construction schedule of the Whitewater project will not provide
sufficient time to complete construction of the pedestrian bridge and viewing
platform while meeting all the GDOT grant requirements; and,
WHEREAS, Uptown Columbus, Inc., has requested the Transportation Enhancement
funds allocated to the pedestrian bridge project be reallocated to fund another
qualified City project that could meet the grant requirements and funding be
authorized for the pedestrian bridge project from an alternate funding source;
and,
WHEREAS, adequate funds are available in the Rails to Trail project through
the 1999 SPLOST to meet this request and trail enhancement projects are
currently under consideration but at a preliminary phase of development.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to:
-submit a request to the Georgia Department of Transportation to reallocate
$1,000,000 in Transportation Enhancement Funds, previously approved to fund a
pedestrian bridge and viewing platform on the Riverwalk, to another city
project to be determined; and,
-to authorize funding of the pedestrian bridge in an amount not to exceed
$1,000,000 with 1999 SPLOST Funds; and,
-to further authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with
UpTown Columbus, Inc., for construction of the pedestrian bridge and viewing
platform.
_________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held on the _____ day of _________, 2012 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _______ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
______________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
Attachments