TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to provide consent to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) in an amount not to exceed $45,869,469 for the SR 347 Grade Separation. Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents. TIGER Discretionary Grants may be used for up to 80 percent of the costs for the project. USDOT may increase the Federal share above 80 percent only for projects located in rural areas, in which case USDOT may fund up to 100 percent if the costs of the project. The match amount of 20% or $9,173,894 will come from General Government CIP fund and the Transportation Development Fund for projects currently requested in the FY14-15 and beyond, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget requests pending adoption. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The purpose of TIGER is to support capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure that provide significant impacts nationally, in a metropolitan area, or in a region. Projects may include interstate rehabilitation, improvements to the rural collector road system, reconstruction of overpasses and interchanges, bridge replacements, seismic retrofit projects for bridges, and road realignments. Planning projects may address individual transportation projects, transportation corridors, or regional transportation systems or networks.
Eligible project types include:
· Highway and bridge projects eligible under title 23, U.S. Code
· Public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, U.S. Code
· Passenger and freight rail transportation projects
· Port infrastructure investments
Applicants may apply for TIGER/Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 ('TIFIA') program support. TIFIA funds support credit assistance for projects that have secured additional funding.
USDOT will give priority to projects that are ready to proceed quickly and have a significant impact on desirable long-term outcomes. Primary selection criteria has been elevated due to the legislatively-mandated timeline for obligation of TIGER Discretionary grant funds:
· State of good repair
· Economic competitiveness
· Livability
· Environmental sustainability
· Safety
· Project readiness
· Technical feasibility
· Financial feasibility
· Project schedule
· Assessment of project risks and mitigation strategies
TIGER Discretionary Grants may be used for up to 80 percent of the costs for the project. USDOT may increase the Federal share above 80 percent only for projects located in rural areas, in which case USDOT may fund up to 100 percent if the costs of the project. However priority is given to projects that use Federal funds to complete an overall financing package, both urban and rural projects can increase their competitiveness for purposes of the TIGER Program by demonstrating non-federal financial contributions.
USDOT may not consider any funds already expended or otherwise encumbered towards the matching requirement.
The FY2014 Appropriations Act, which provided $600 million for Department of Transportation infrastructure investments. Pursuant to FY2014 Appropriations Act no more than 25% of the funds made available for grants will be awarded to projects in a single state ($150 million) and not less than 20% of the funds for grants shall be used for projects located in rural areas ($120 million)
This item will be presented by Intergovernmental Affairs Director Paul Jepson, Public Works Director Bill Faye and Community Programs Manager, Mary Witkofski.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council take action to provide consent to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) in an amount not to exceed $45,869,469. Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents. TIGER Discretionary Grants may be used for up to 80 percent of the costs for the project. USDOT may increase the Federal share above 80 percent only for projects located in rural areas, in which case USDOT may fund up to 100 percent if the costs of the project. The match amount of 20% or $9,173,894 will come from General Government CIP fund and the Transportation Development Fund for projects currently requested in the FY14-15 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget requests pending adoption.