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The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to ratify the submission of a grant application to the Public Lands Highways Discretionary Program through the Federal Highway Administration in an amount not to exceed $2,028,000. Consent to submit an application includes completion of all necessary paperwork for the application process and designates the City Manager to sign all documents.
There is no matching requirement; however, leveraged funding increases competitiveness of the application. City staff is requesting to provide matching funds available in Development Impact Fees, Transportation, Land (34644146-67710-35021) in the amount of $507,000. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The Mayor and City Council provided consent to submit grant application for funding through the Public Lands Highways Discretionary Program in 2011 for the SR 347 grade separation project.
The City of Maricopa was encouraged by the U.S. Department of Transportation to resubmit a grant application for Public Lands Highways Discretionary Program after making recommended modifications to the Grant.
The Public Lands Highways Discretionary (PLHD) Program provides funding for transportation planning, and engineering and construction of highways, roads, parkways and transit facilities that are within, adjacent to Indian Reservations and Federal Public Lands including national parks, refuges, forests, recreation areas and grasslands. PLHD funds can be used for any type of Title 23 transportation project providing access to or within Federal or Indian Lands and may be used for State/local matching shares for appropriate Federal aid Highways Funds. This program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration.
This grant application would be for construction to re-align Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and make the connection point be at Honeycutt Road. These two intersections will be 90 degrees to each other and could be signalized because of the available spacing.
The City of Maricopa is joined to the City of Casa Grande by the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. The highway is built adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad and generally runs in a northwestern direction. The Maricopa Casa Grande Highway intersects with the City's main north-south road, State Route 347, at a skew and just 425 feet south of Honeycutt Road. Presently the intersection of State Route 347 and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway is signalized. Honeycutt Road is one of the two City's main east-west road.
The PHLD application would include the construction of the signal located at the intersection of Honeycutt Road and Maricopa Casa Grande Highway. Maricopa Casa Grande Highway would be closed just east of the present intersection of State Route 347. The signal at State Route 347 and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway would then be eliminated and some of the parts would be relocated on future traffic signals, including the two required as part of this project. The other traffic signal required as part of this project would be located at the intersection of State Route 347 and Honeycutt Road. Presently the intersection at Honeycutt Road and State Route 347 meets traffic signal warrants, but due to spacing with the signal at State Route 347 and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway the installation is prohibited. The City is already in the design stage for the improvements required from the proposed intersection of Honeycutt Road and Maricopa-Casa Grande to State Route 347 on Honeycutt Road.
As part of the application we have proposed a timetable that estimates the commencement of construction by September of 2013. This is an aggressive timetable based on a best case scenario in completing action that must be managed by the Arizona Department of Transportation. If the City of Maricopa receives this grant, City staff will work with Bob Holmes and Richard Travis to launch a coordinated effort with all partners to guarantee that all actions take place and federal compliance is achieved, as required by the conditions of our grant.
It is critically important that the City continues to build its story about the State Route 347 grade separation project with the federal government. While the Public Lands Highways Discretionary program was not highly competitive, seven of the nine applications were funded in Arizona, but all seven were within tribal lands. We do not know the nature of the application this year but we hope the number of applications will position our request within the reach of this year's funding. Staff continues to support Council's formally approved "no-stone-unturned" approach with the federal government in seeking funds for the SR 347 Grade Separation Project.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends proceeding with the grant application for the Public Lands Highways Discretionary Program