Title
Resolution to Provide Local Match Funding for the Ann Arbor Station Project (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve local match funding to support the contract between the City and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for federal High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program funding for conceptual planning, preparation of and acquisition of approvals for environmental documentation and preliminary engineering that are required in advance of the final design and construction of the Ann Arbor Station. These efforts are a necessary part of the planning and project development associated with the Ann Arbor Station project, which includes development of an intercity passenger rail station, associated platforms and transportation infrastructure related to the station. The local match funding is required so that this project can be performed as a federal aid project.
HSIPR funding provides for 80% of the participating project costs (up to $2,806,400.00). A local match of 20% of the funding (up to $701,600.00) is required. This request is for up to $550,000 of local matching resources based on Staff's most recent conceptual cost estimate.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently notified the City that the in-kind local match identified in the City's 2011 HSIPR program grant application was disallowed due to the prior work no longer being recognized as timely for environmental review processes administered under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by the FRA. For the local match, the City expects to use up to $550,000 for the project from the General Fund fund balance. Efforts will be made to acquire other local partners and their contributions will be utilized to reduce the City's $550,000 local match.
The project will result in completion of conceptual planning, project-level environmental documentation and preliminary engineering relating to the proposed Ann Arbor Station to improve the existing Amtrak intercity passenger rail service on the Detroit to Chicago corridor.
Understanding significant public interest in this project exists; a comprehensive public participation process is included in the project work program. To facilitate additional public involvement in the project including the confidence to advance a rail station project through construction, the City will place an issue to proceed into subsequent phases for voter approval.
Staff
Prepared by: Eli Cooper, Transportation Program Manager
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Steven D. Powers, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded funds for the conceptual planning, preparation of and acquisition of approvals for environmental documentation and preliminary engineering relating to the proposed Ann Arbor Station to improve the existing Amtrak intercity passenger rail service on the Detroit to Chicago corridor;
Whereas, The completion of such tasks will allow for future final design and construction of an improved intercity passenger rail station;
Whereas, The City's 2011 HSIPR program grant application relied on in-kind local match from expenditures already made out of the FY10 through FY13 budgets;
Whereas, The FRA recently notified the City that the in-kind local match identified in the City's 2011 HSIPR program grant application was disallowed due to the prior work no longer being recognized as timely for environmental review processes administered under the Federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by the FRA;
Whereas, The FRA advised the City that it continues to support the planning for improved rail system access in Ann Arbor and has committed Federal funding available to support the planning for Ann Arbor Station;
Whereas, The FRA desires the project to proceed through the environmental review process conducted in accordance with NEPA and Preliminary Engineering (PE) phases of work;
Whereas, The City and its transportation partners are also desirous of completing the environmental review and planning related to Ann Arbor Station (AAS) as outlined in the HSIPR program grant award; and
Whereas, A thorough public participation process will be conducted according to the proposed project management plan that meets and exceeds NEPA and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) requirements;
RESOLVED, That Council amend the FY2013 Budget to transfer $550,000 from the General Fund fund balance to the Major Grant fund (00MG) to fund the Ann Arbor Station project;
RESOLVED, That the Major Grant fund budget be amended to increase revenues and expenditures by $550,000 to be expended for the purpose of advancing the Ann Arbor Station project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is directed to seek alternative funding for $300,000 of the $550,000 local match funds from other eligible local partners to satisfy the requirements of the 2011 HSIPR program grant;
RESOLVED, That to the extent alternative funding becomes available during the life of this Project, it shall be utilized to replace the General Fund reserve that was expended on funding this project;
RESOLVED, That a thorough public participation process will be conducted meeting and exceeding NEPA requirements and providing opportunity for all Ann Arbor citizens to engage in this project;
RESOLVED, That at or before the completion of a final design for the Ann Arbor Station project, City Council will set a date by which the City will submit the question of moving forward with construction to a vote of the citizens of Ann Arbor;
RESOLVED, That no such construction shall proceed unless approved by a majority vote: and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.
Sponsored by: Mayor Hieftje and Councilmembers Briere, Higgins, and Taylor
As Amended by Ann Arbor City Council on October 15, 2012