TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action on approval of a budgetary transfer from General Fund, General Government, Contingency (10010000-99000) to General Fund, Transportation, Professional and Occupational (10044146-53320), in an amount not to exceed $150,000, to fund an Internal Scoping Study of SR-347 between SR-238 and Peters and Nall Road. For Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
This agenda item requests Council approval of the use of Contingency Funds to conduct this study in conjunction with the Rural Scoping Study of SR-347 funded by Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) and the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority (PRTA). The MAG and PRTA Study is for the segment between SR-238 and Interstate 10. MAG has committed $150,000 for the rural segment of this study by including it in their Unified Project Work Program and the PRTA has committed to contributing $100,000 - $150,000 for the same rural portion of the study. Pinal County committed to funding $100,000 to $150,000 in the event the PRTA cannot provide funding due to court challenges. However, neither MAG nor PRTA (due to Prop 417 ballot language) are contributing funds toward the internal segment of SR-347 south of SR-238. This is a critical segment that directly contributes to the traffic problems experienced on SR-347 along its entire corridor. It should be studied concurrently with the rural segment to ensure consistency. MAG leadership is coordinating this study effort with Gila River Indian Commuity. The overall SR-347 Scoping Study is scheduled to go to Request For Proposal by July 2018, and project launch is expected in October 2018, with an 18 month schedule for completion.
The SR-347 Corridor is in critical need of study in preparation for improvements. Crash data from 2007-2016 reflects 19 fatal crashes on this roadway and 47 incapacitating injury crashes during this period, making it the fifth highest for crashes in Pinal County. (Source: Pinal County Strategic Safety Plan, 2018) Overall roadway efficiency is closely related to safety and the roadway's ability to handle increasing traffic volumes.
The traffic problem begins in Maricopa as 80 percent of our working population gathers onto SR-347 headed toward jobs in the Phoenix metro area every day. Disparities in speeds of travel contribute to the inefficiency of the roadway performance. One of the primary objectives of the Internal Scoping Study of SR-347 is for potential performance of the roadway as an Arizona Parkway. Continuous flow of traffic along the entire length of SR-347 is the objective under the Arizona Parkway scenario. Left turns are handled as indirect left, described as a U-turn in the median with a smooth continuous merge into traffic and a smooth right turn to the destination. This will be a critical study effort due to the complexity of access points within Maricopa that directly fuel the traffic problem all the way up the SR-347 Corridor to I-10. Another important consideration is completion of the overpass which will create free flow of traffic over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, further adding to the traffic congestion.
We are in the process of preparing an application for a Shared Revenue Grant from Ak-Chin Indian Community for $150,000 to complete the internal study of SR-347. If we are awarded the full amount, it will directly offset the amount funded from Contingency Funds. The application is due by July 13, 2018 and has an award announcement date on or after September 10, 2018. However, in order for MAG to allow the Internal Maricopa SR-347 Scoping Study to completed as part of the MAG study, Maricopa must have $150,000 on deposit by the end of July, 2018. This is the reason we are requesting Contingency Funds instead of waiting for the grant award to be announced. Additionally, if we are awarded grant funds, it will be solely for the internal Maricopa segment of the study, and the funds would not be used for the rural segment of the study since that portion is already funded by MAG and PRTA (or Pinal County).
This item is presented by Director of Development Services Martin Scribner and Transportation/Transit Administrator David R. Maestas
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and Council approve the budgetary transfer from General Fund, General Government, Contingency to General Fund, Transportation, Professional and Occupational, in the amount of $150,000 to conduct the Internal SR-347 Scoping Study in conjunction with the MAG and PRTA (or Pinal County) Rural Scoping Study of SR-347.