Title
Resolution to Accept a Transportation Enhancement (TE) Grant from the State of Michigan in Support of the Fifth and Division Improvement Project Phase I Construction
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to accept a Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant from the State of Michigan in the amount of $983,952.03 to be used in the construction of Phase I elements of the Fifth and Division improvement project.
This summer City Council approved the DDA's conceptual plan to redesign Fifth Avenue and Division Street as "complete streets" that encourage pedestrian and bicycle transportation choices and enhance residential, civic, and commercial uses along these corridors. In the weeks that followed this conceptual plan approval, the DDA/City Partnerships Committee met to formulate a Phase I construction plan. This Phase I construction plan was approved by the DDA at its September 2008 meeting as follows:
- Widen Division between Washington and Catherine Street by burying utility lines and adjusting curb lines to make more room for current and future vehicle traffic, as well as for the new bike lane.
- Install gateway improvements at Division/Packard and Fifth/Beakes to reduce the width of pavement and establish the "culture" of pedestrian/bike friendly streets.
- Install intersection improvements at Division/Liberty, Division/Washington and Fifth/Liberty to encourage more safe and comfortable east/west pedestrian movements.
- Stripe bike lanes and install parking meters and other parking along the length of the streets as possible.
- Install sidewalk improvements along Fifth between Ann and William Streets and along Division between Liberty and Huron Streets to support private and public sector reinvestment currently taking place in these areas.
The project list originally submitted to the state did not include this last element. But it was decided to include this additional work to support important new developments taking place along the corridors including the City's court/police building addition, the redevelopment of properties on Division Street including the location of new retail, and the new parking structure and downtown library projects. The DDA has established a project budget of $7.1 million for Phase I; less funds from the state, the DDA commitment is approximately $6.1 million.
Following approval of this resolution, the State can complete its grant review. In the next few weeks detailed construction drawings will be submitted to City staff for their review and approval, before bid documents will be assembled and distributed later this year, with construction beginning in spring 2009.
Staff
Prepared by: Susan Pollay, DDA Executive Director
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, City Council has voted to approve a conceptual plan that will install improvements along the length of Fifth and Division Streets to increase alternate transportation use, encourage downtown development, and foster connections between the various downtown commercial and residential districts;
Whereas, The DDA has been notified by the Michigan Department of Transportation that it has received a Conditional Commitment for a Transportation Enhancement (TE) grant in the amount of $983,952.03, for this project, which must be accepted by the City of Ann Arbor;
Whereas, DDA funding is secured, available and committed for use on the following elements of this plan:
- Widen Division between Washington and Catherine Street by burying utility lines and adjusting curb lines to make more room for current/future vehicle traffic, as well as for the new bike lane.
- Install gateway improvements at Division/Packard and Fifth/Beakes to reduce the width of pavement and establish the "culture" of pedestrian/bike friendly streets.
- Install intersection improvements at Division/Liberty, Division/Washington and Fifth/Liberty to encourage more safe east/west pedestrian movements.
- Stripe bike lanes and install parking along the length of the streets as possible.
- Install sidewalk improvements along Fifth between Ann and William Streets and along Division between Liberty and Huron Streets to support private and public sector reinvestment currently taking place in these areas.
Whereas, This last element is an addition to the list that submitted to MDOT in a grant application;
Whereas, The DDA Director has been authorized by the DDA to act as the applicant agency's agent during project development and sign a project agreement upon receipt of a funding award; and
Whereas, The DDA and City commit to own, operate, and implement a maintenance program over the design life of the improvements constructed with TE funds;
RESOLVED, The Mayor and City Council accept a TE grant in the amount of $983,952.03 in support of the DDA's Phase I improvement project along Fifth and Division Streets.