08-14-2024 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT 1 TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM: Bill Dircks, Public Works Director DATE: August 14, 2024 RE: 35E/Country Drive/Little Canada Road Interchange Project IIJA Grant Application – Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program Planning & Design Grant Application BACKGROUND: City staff have continued to seek available funding to make needed improvements in the vicinity of the Little Canada Road and I-35E interchange. The City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan and current Sidewalk and Trail Plan identifies the need for a grade-separate pedestrian crossing of I-35E along the Waterworks Trail alignment. A grade separated crossing over I-35E was also discussed in the City’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Given the grant success the City has had in recent months near the Little Canada Road and I-35E interchange, now seems to be an appropriate time to consider seeking state or federal funding to advance a grade-separated pedestrian improvement project. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) bill has provided new funding for local agencies to tap into for projects like the possible pedestrian bridge discussed above. The IIJA funds are being administered through various new and existing infrastructure programs. One of the programs, called the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program, provides funding to local agencies to advance projects that reconnect communities that have been separated by transportation projects. The program can fund both Planning/Design or Construction efforts. The program is currently taking applications through late-September. At this time, staff is recommending that the City pursue a grant to fund the Planning & Design of a pedestrian bridge. Future grant applications to this or other programs could be considered. The grant amount sought would be determined during the grant application process. If the application is successful, the City would be responsible for 20% of the costs associated with the award. However, MnDOT has a rolling program to fund the local match requirement on IIJA awards. Bolton & Menk prepared the attached proposal to complete an application for pedestrian bridge planning & design through RCP. The application proposal, in the estimated amount of $10,500, would be fully reimbursable through MnDOT’s IIJA Technical Assistance Program. This program was established to help local agencies by reducing or eliminating the financial burden associated with making applications to the IIJA programs which can be both time consuming and cumbersome. Agencies are eligible for reimbursement of up to $30,000 per year to make applications to eligible IIJA programs. This would be the second grant the City has under this reimbursable program. The City’s prior application to the ATIIP program utilized $19,500 of the $30,000 allotment and the proposed RCP application would utilize the remaining $10,500 of reimbursable funds.