Council
Communication

Office of the City Manager
 
 

Date

August 6, 2007

 

Agenda Item No.       9

Roll Call No.              07-

Communication No.  07-477

Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E., City Engineer

 

 

AGENDA HEADING:

 

Authorize the City Manager to submit Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) Fund Applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT)--(1) Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements ($400,000), and (2) SE 14th Street and East Indianola Avenue Intersection Improvements ($500,000).

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

 

Recommend authorization to submit two applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) funding.  The two projects recommended by staff are:  (1) Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements, and (2) SE 14th Street and East Indianola Avenue Intersection Improvements.  The goal of the ICAAP is to reduce congestion and thereby improve air quality. 

 

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

Amount: 

 

1.         Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements

           

                        ICAAP Funds Requested            $   400,000

                        Other Federal/State Funds           $1,300,000

                        City Funds                                   $   300,000

                        Total Project Cost                       $2,000,000

 

2.         SE 14th Street and East Indianola Avenue Intersection Improvements

           

                        ICAAP Funds Requested            $   500,000

                        Other Federal/State Funds           $   550,000

                        City Funds                                   $   150,000

                        Total Project Cost                       $1,200,000

 

 

Funding Source:  Depending on receipt of IDOT funding grants, City matching funding would be programmed in future CIP budgets.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) established a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program that directs federal transportation funds for projects to reduce congestion and pollution.  The IDOT has established an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP), including guidelines on how to prioritize the disbursement of these funds, which are approximately $4.7 million annually statewide.  Their program is implemented through a statewide competitive application procedure that evaluates each proposed project based on reducing congestion and pollution, and thereby maintaining the clean air quality that Iowa now enjoys.

 

The types of projects that are eligible for this funding include Traffic Flow Improvements, Shared-Ride Services, Transit Improvements, Pedestrian and Bicycle Programs, and others.

 

The deadline is August 24, 2007, for this year’s project applications to be submitted through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to the Iowa Department of Transportation.  The MPO needs early submission of the application packages in order to present the projects to the MPO Policy Committee at its meeting on September 20, 2007.

 

The City has previously received funding through this program for a number of projects including Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway ($5,500,000), the Downtown Traffic Signal System ($3,000,000) and East 14th and Hull Intersection Improvements ($750,000).   

 

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to submit applications through the Metropolitan Planning Organization to the Iowa Department of Transportation for ICAAP funds for the following projects:

 

1.         Merle Hay Road and Urbandale Avenue Intersection Improvements--This project would consist of intersection widening to add north-south left-turn lanes and center medians.  New traffic signals would be installed.  This project is proposed to be funded from multiple sources, including IDOT funds, and federal safety funds.  The total project cost is $2.0 million, of which $400,000 would be requested from ICAAP funding.

 

2.                  SE 14th Street and East Indianola Intersection Improvements--This project would consist of intersection widening on the south and east approaches.  The south approach would be widened to provide a second northbound left-turn lane.  The east approach would be widened to provide a left-turn lane and a right-turn lane.  New traffic signals would be installed.  This project is proposed to be funded from both ICAAP funding and Traffic Safety funding.  The total project cost is $1.2 million, of which $500,000 would be requested from ICAAP funding.

 

 

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): 

 

Date:  July 23, 2007

 

Roll Call Number:  07-1386

 

Action:  Approving Traffic Safety Fund Applications to the Iowa Department of Transportation.  (Council Communication No. 07-446)  Moved by Vlassis to adopt.  Motion Carried 7-0.

 

 

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):  NONE

 

 

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS: 

 

Approval of project agreements with IDOT.