06-20-11 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Funding Opportunities The City's Park Consultant feels the most likely funding source to assist in the project costs is the Local Trail Connections Program administered through the DNR. This is the same grant program that was utilized by the City in construction of the trail project in 2004. The next round of Trail Connection grant applications will be due March 31, 2012, with funds available on July 1, 2012. The DNR does not know what funds will be available for next year. It is likely that they will have about $500,000 and that there will be about 30 applications. It is a 50/50 matching grant up to a maximum of $100,000. The chance of receiving grant dollars is estimated at about 25 — 30 %. Other Options Explored Staff did review the possibility of completing just the crossing work within the railroad right -of -way as a separate project. This would eliminate the need to obtain an extension of the RR permit and minimize the costs the City would incur this year. The paving machine necessary to pave the portion of the trial within the RR right -of -way would need a gentle slope to access the areas and that will require placing nearly all the fill material needed and most likely most of the gravel due to the machines weight. Therefore, construction of the improvements within the RR right -of -way cannot be done without completing nearly all the work in that area. It is very likely that the additional costs for completing the work in two phases would far exceed the savings of $600 realized by not extending the RR permit. For those reasons we would not recommend construction of the crossing improvements with the RR right -of -way individually. Summary We were initially hesitant to recommend delaying the project even though sufficient funds were not budgeted this year due to the difficulty in obtaining the initial crossing permit and the conditions of the permit. However, the ability to extend the permit would eliminate this concern. While there is a small cost ($600.00) to extend the permit it will allow the City time to delay the project until next construction season. This would provide an opportunity to budget sufficient dollars for the project and time to submit grant applications for possible shared funding. Based on the fact that the City's current CIP includes a street reconstruction project next year, it is likely that sufficient material will be generated from that project to eliminate the need to pay for fill material for the trail crossing project. If you have any questions please call me at (763) 780 -0450 extension 3. 10062 Flanders Court NE — Blaine, MN 55449 — Ph: (763) 780 -0450 Fax (763) 780 -0452 Memo- 061711-0C (RR Trail X -ing) 2