TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to ratify the submission of a grant application to the Maricopa Association of Governments, Pinal County Surface Transportation Program in an amount not to exceed $2,000,0000 for the purpose of improving a 1.2 mile segment of Maricopa Casa Grande Highway between the intersections of Porter Road and White and Parker Road. There is a matching requirement of $855,188 which is available in County Road Tax Fund, Engineering, Street Projects (30055155-67750). Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
On February 27, 2015 the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) presented a call for projects and accepted applications for the Pinal County Surface Transportation Program (STP). Funding is available for projects within the Pinal County portion of the MAG planning area.
The goals of the Pinal County STP are to reduce congestion, promote economic vitality, enhance system preservation, and improve safety. Funding is available for design and construction projects and the match ratio is 5.7% local and 94.3% federal. Agencies that receive project funding awards are required to report bi-annually to MAG on project development schedule and budgets.
There is a two-tiered review process with the MAG. The first meeting will review the application, hear presentations from the applicants and the second meeting will continue to seek any additional clarification and move the applications forward with recommended ranking and programming process. In April or May 2015, the Transportation Review Committee will recommend projects to be selected and programmed with federal funds. The rank order will determine awarded projects based on availability of funding.
The City of Maricopa is requesting a grant in the amount of $2,000,000 through the Pinal County STP. The City has an awarded amount of $540,000 previously funded through MAG for this project and the matching component is $855,188 which is available in County Road Tax Fund, Engineering, Street Projects (30055155-67750).
The grant deadline was April 6, 2015. City staff will be bringing this item before City Council on April 21, 2015 to ratify the submission of this grant application to the MAG.
Maricopa Casa Grande Highway (highway) is a principal arterial providing east-west connectivity between the cities of Casa Grande and Maricopa. It also connects Interstate 10 (I-10) with State Route 347 and functions as an I-10 bypass. The average daily traffic volume is between just over 10,000 vehicles, operating with minimal delays. Regional growth anticipates the corridor within the project limits to carry approximately 20,800 vehicles per day in 2020, necessitating an increase in traffic carrying capacity. The segment between Porter and White Parker Roads is a two lane chip seal road in need of maintenance. The highway is topographically higher than the adjacent land. Where cross-drainage features are lacking, runoff will flow along the south edge of the road until reaching a culvert, dip crossing or overtopping the road to flow north. Additional cross-drainage improvements are needed to provide an all-weather surface. The White and Parker Road and highway intersection currently lacks turn lanes for each leg of the intersection. This intersection requires improvements to enhance the intersection's function and contribute to an improved level of service along the corridor. The City has made incremental improvements at the intersections at Porter Road and White and Parker to get better performance out of the corridor however ultimate improvements between the intersections are needed to facilitate drainage, a safer intersection at White and Parker and greater carrying capacity.
The grant will if awarded will improve a 1.2 mile segment of Maricopa Casa Grande Highway between the intersections of Porter Road and White and Parker Road. Add three additional lanes, relocate and extend existing guardrail, add drainage facilities adjacent and North of MCGH, complete intersection improvements at White and Parker by adding turn lanes at each leg, mill and overlay the existing chip seal portion to accommodate a five lane arterial roadway that improves safety, drains properly and opens traffic carrying capacity.
This item will be presented by Bill Fay, Public Works Director and Mary Witkofski, Community Programs Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council ratify the submission of a grant application to the Maricopa Association of Governments, Pinal County Surface Transportation Program (STP) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,0000 for the purpose of improving a 1.2 mile segment of Maricopa Casa Grande Highway between the intersections of Porter Road and White and Parker Road. There is a matching requirement of $855,188 which is available in County Road Tax Fund, Engineering, Street Projects (30055155-67750). Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents.