Title
Resolution to Approve and Appropriate Transportation Alternative Program Project Funding for the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project ($971,250.00/$614,255.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant to fund improvements for the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project. The City of Ann Arbor was awarded $971,250.00, which will fund a portion of the non-motorized elements of the Allen Creek Berm Opening Project.
In December of 2013, the City and its consultant, OHM Advisors, completed a feasibility study to determine if it was possible to create openings in the railroad berm to accommodate passage of floodwaters, as well as to allow pedestrians to cross safely under the railroad to get to the park facilities to the north. The feasibility study indicated that it would be possible to lower the floodplain elevation in the area by as much as 6.5 feet as well as accommodate non-motorized access under the railroad.
The project aims at creating a new pedestrian connection linking downtown Ann Arbor and its neighborhoods with the Border to Border (B2B)/Iron Belle Trail through the railroad berm in the vicinity of the Allen Creek. Pedestrian access is acceptable to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), who is the owner of the railroad.
As required by the TAP grant, the City is committing to funding and implementing a maintenance program over the design life of the facility constructed with TAP funds.
On June 27, 2016, the Michigan State Police-Emergency Management Division (MSP-EM) provided City Staff with a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant agreement for the first phase of a two phase project to create openings in the railroad berm. Phase one consisted of the engineering design, development of construction plans, and preparation of the phase two hazard mitigation grant application.
On January 3, 2017, City Council authorized a P...
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