Title
Resolution to Approve an Agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the Dexter Avenue Improvements Project ($2,353,425.00)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval, please find a resolution to approve an agreement between the City of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the reconstruction of Dexter Avenue (Maple to Huron) and related necessary utility improvements. The agreement is required so that this project can be performed as a Federal Aid project.
This purpose of this project is to completely reconstruct the road and eliminate the sidewalk gaps at the west end, as described by the FY11 Capital Improvements Budget project TR-SC-10-01/02. In addition, our practice is to make certain all necessary underground utility improvements are performed in conjunction with the road project. Therefore, this project will also include storm sewer and water main improvements (UT-ST-10-01/02, and UT-WS-10-10).
The completed plans were submitted to MDOT in October 2012 for a bid letting on February 3, 2012. Although the bid results will be available by the March 5 Council meeting, this resolution was drafted prior to the bid opening and the bid results are not included in this memorandum.
Public Involvement
In June 2011, during the planning stage of the project, a public input meeting was held at Forsythe Middle School. Approximately 25 neighbors attended the meeting. Staff gave a brief overview of the project and then gathered input from the citizens about their desired improvements. In the fall of 2011, staff met individually with the residents who were part of the Special Assessment district for the new sidewalk and curb and gutter.
We scheduled a second Public Meeting (February 28, 2012 at Slauson Middle School) to share information about the final design, construction sequencing, and to explain ways citizens can stay informed about the construction.
During construction, staff will share information during standing monthly open houses (the schedule will be determined at the February Public Meeting) and via regular email updates.
Road & Non-Motorized Improvements
The curb-to-curb width will remain the same as currently exists. There will be two vehicular lanes (as currently exists) and on-street bike lanes will be added in both directions. There will be vertical changes in some areas (smoothing out the hills) to improve sight distance for both drivers and pedestrians seeking to cross the road.
Currently existing at the west end of the project, there are gaps with no concrete curb & gutter. In this area, there are issues with storm water ponding where the water sits and accelerates the deterioration of the surrounding roadway and creates icing areas in the winter. The project will address these issues, with the installation of new concrete curb & gutter consistent with the rest of the corridor.
Also existing at the west end of the project, there is a gap in the sidewalk system along the north side of Dexter Avenue. As part of this project, new sidewalk will be installed that will close this gap and provide a continuous pedestrian connection along the north side of the street.
With input from the neighbors, we pursued various locations to improve the pedestrian street crossing on Dexter. Three marked crosswalks will be added; near the Veterans Park Parking Lot, near Doty, and near Grandview. These locations were selected based on expected usage and with respect to other site details, such as sight distance and preservation of nearby features (e.g., trees).
Also to improve access, all sidewalk ramps along the corridor will be replaced to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act.
Special Assessments
As called for in Chapter 13 of City Code, the cost for the addition of the new sidewalk and curb & gutter where none currently exists is borne by the parcels that benefit from the improvements. Because this is a federal-aid project, up to 81.85% of the construction cost of the sidewalk and curb & gutter will be paid by federal Surface Transportation Funds. The remainder of the costs would be local share to the property owners.
City Council has previously approved Special Assessment Resolutions 1 through 4 (11-1047, 11-1277, 11-1320, and 11-1471), which detail the public involvement and costs to the affected property owners. Attached is a table summarizing these Special Assessments.
Traffic Control During Construction
Dexter Avenue is a major road with approximately 7,000 vehicles per day. To reduce traffic impacts on the neighbors during the construction, the construction will be phased into three sections, with approximately a third of Dexter Avenue under construction at any given time. Section 1 will extend from Huron Street to Grandview. Section 2 will be in the middle of the project, from Grandview to Lyn Anne Court. Stage 3 will consist of the west end of the project from Lyn Anne Court to Maple Road. Within each section under construction, traffic will be limited to one-way westbound, with only local and emergency traffic permitted. Thru traffic will be detoured via Maple and Jackson Ave. For the two sections without construction, two-way local traffic will be permitted. Attached is a drawing of the traffic control and detour routes.
To keep residents updated on traffic control changes, staff will send out regular email updates and will share information at the standing monthly open houses.
Storm Water
With the reconstruction of Dexter Avenue, the project must provide storm water improvements as outlined by the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commission stormwater rules and design standards. These standards address the need to manage smaller, more frequent, storm events as related to urbanization and related increases in impervious areas. The smaller storm events affect surface water quality by eroding soil and flushing pollutants that accumulate on impervious surfaces, such as metals, fertilizers, pesticides, oils and grease, into receiving waterways.
By capturing and treating the first 0.5-inch of runoff from the contributing watershed (First Flush), pollutants that are washed off of the surface can be removed from storm water runoff before flowing offsite. By attenuating the flow from heavier storm events, typically represented by the 1.5-year storm event (Bankfull), downstream impacts from intense flows can be reduced. The Dexter Avenue project will provide both water quality improvements during smaller more frequent storm events (First Flush) and peak flow attenuation during larger storm events (Bankfull).
The improvements include a bioretention area with native plantings and grasses (rain garden) in Veteran's Park and three hydrodynamic separators (pre-cast, swirl chamber type systems). In combination, these treatment systems are designed to provide for increased treatment and reduction of pollutants from the Dexter Avenue storm water runoff. The project will also construct oversized conveyance pipes (up to 48-inches in diameter) connected to storm structures that have internal overflow weirs; to provide attenuation the peak discharge from the road during larger event storms. .
Water Main
The existing 6" water mains will be replaced (due to its condition and age) and upsized with a 12" water main in order to improve the distribution system fire flow capacity. Funding for this project is contained in the approved Capital Budget and as CIP Project UT-WS-10-10.
City-State Agreement
One requirement for this type of project is that the City enters into an agreement with the State of Michigan stipulating the funding split and other rights and responsibilities of the parties. It is the same form of agreement that we have used on other federally funded projects. The Federal Surface Transportation Fund - Urban (STPU) is expected to pay for 81.85% of the eligible participating road and storm sewer work up to the funding cap of $2,353,425.00 All other costs including the remaining participating construction costs, design, construction engineering, testing, and non-participating items of work will be funded from the Street Millage and utility capital funds as shown below.
In the City-State Agreement, the FY12 STPU funds (up to the capped $2,353,425.00) are guaranteed to the project. Based on the Engineer's Estimate, the total anticipated project expenditures of $6,021,500.00 are broken down as follows:
|
Construction |
Design, Construction Engineering, Testing, etc* |
TOTAL |
Road |
$2,552,000.00 |
$893,500.00 |
$3,445,500.00 |
Storm Sewer |
$1,255,500.00 |
$439,500.00 |
$1,695,000.00 |
Water |
$652,500.00 |
$228,500.00 |
$881,000.00 |
Total |
$4,460,000.00 |
$1,561,500.00 |
$6,021,500.00 |
*Design, Construction Engineering & Staking, Material Testing, Equipment Rental, Miscellaneous Expenses
Revenues are scheduled as follows:
|
Amount |
Federal Surface Transportation Fund - Urban (STPU) FY 2012 |
$2,353,425.00 |
Street Millage Capital Fund |
$1,407,850.00 |
Storm Water Capital Budget |
$1,360,635.00 |
Water Capital Budget |
$881,000.00 |
Special Assessments |
$18,590.00 |
TOTAL |
$6,021,500.00 |
We expect construction from April to November 2012. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will award the construction contract to the qualified low bidder and the City will act as the project engineer.
Staff
Prepared by: Homayoon Pirooz, P.E., Project Management Manager
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Interim Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Steve Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The adopted 2010-15 Capital Improvements Plan included the Dexter Avenue Improvements project;
Whereas, Funding for the project is available in the approved street millage, water and stormwater capital budgets; and
Whereas, The Federal Highway Administration will allocate funds in the amount of $2,353,425.00 for the reconstruction of Dexter Avenue from Maple Road to Huron Street
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute contract number 11-5689 with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the Dexter Avenue Improvements project, substantially in the form on file with the City Clerk, following approval as to substance by the City Administrator, and approval as to form by the City Attorney;
RESOLVED, that the City make the following declaration for the purpose of complying with the reimbursement rules of Treas. Reg. 1.150-2 pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that the City reasonably expects to reimburse itself for expenditures for the costs of the Project with proceeds of Bonds;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take necessary administrative actions to implement this project, including issuing Traffic Control Orders for Dexter Avenue, and associated side streets as necessary, including parking prohibition as needed in excess of 1 block and/or 90 days; and
RESOLVED, That Council authorize the City Administrator to take necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.