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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Eric Seaburg, City Engineer <br /> <br />DATE: May 22, 2024 <br /> <br />RE: 2026 Little Canada Road Improvements - Project Update <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />City staff have continued to work on advancing the 2026 Little Canada Road Improvements Project. <br />This project has now spanned several years that have included preliminary concepting, agency <br />coordination with Ramsey County, MnDOT and the FHWA, as well as several funding requests to <br />various grant programs. An information gathering open house was held last November to solicit <br />general feedback from the public prior to making additional grant requests for construction funding to <br />improve the safety and congestion deficiencies along the corridor. <br /> <br />The project has continued to do well in the grant programs to which it has been submitted. To date, <br />the project is anticipated to receive $7M in construction funding across three different programs. As <br />such, construction of the project appears to be nearly, if not fully, funded. Easement acquisition and <br />other indirect costs like legal, engineering, and administrative are estimated at $3.5M and are not <br />currently funded by grants but would instead be split between the City and Ramsey County in <br />accordance with the County’s cost participation policy. The City recently submitted a <br />Congressionally Directed Funding Request and will make other future funding requests to help cover <br />indirect costs. A Memorandum of Understanding has been executed between staff from the City and <br />Ramsey County to memorialize the upcoming partnership on this project. A formal cooperative <br />agreement between the agencies would be executed upon completion of the preliminary design phase <br />of the project. <br /> <br />Staff will attend the City Council meeting to discuss the project in more detail and provide an update <br />regarding upcoming public engagement, environmental review, and preliminary design efforts. A <br />formal work plan and scope of service from the various consultants needed to deliver the project is <br />still being developed and reviewed by project staff and agency partners but will be brought to the City <br />Council at an upcoming meeting for authorization. <br /> <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />This item is for informational purposes. No council action is required.