PRESENTER: Presenter
Scott McClelland, Assistant Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Advance Funding Agreement between the City of New Braunfels and the Texas Department of Transportation for sidewalks along Schmidt Ave and traffic signal improvements at San Antonio Street & Academy Avenue.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5, 6
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels was awarded construction funding through the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to construct sidewalks along Schmidt Avenue from Morningside Drive to Becker Street and upgrade the traffic signal and pedestrian facilities at the intersection of San Antonio Street and Academy Avenue.
The project was selected for inclusion in the program, which provides 90% of the construction costs, and the remaining 10% will be City participation. However, this project was selected to utilize federal Transportation Development Credits (TDC) to fulfill the City participation obligation. TDC’s are a federal transportation funding tool used to meet federal funding matching requirements. The state accrues credits from the FHWA when capital investments are made in federally approved tolled facilities, including toll roads and bridges, and 75% of credits are allocated to the MPO in whose region they were earned. The City will still be responsible for full project development costs, including design services, right-of-way, and state review. An Advanced Funding Agreement (AFA) with the Texas Department of Transportation is required with the funding program and a resolution by the City Council confirming the City’s financial commitment, including payment of construction overruns, and identifying the signatory authorized to enter the AFA. The project is currently scheduled for construction in the summer of 2025.
ISSUE:
Provide a system of convenient and safe transportation facilities through comprehensive, cooperative, and continuing transportation system planning and development.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☐Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The AFA included the following initial construction estimates, it does not include other project development costs:
Construction Cost
- Schmidt Ave sidewalks $141,779
- San Antonio St signal $405,968
Federal Participation (100%) $547,747
City Participation
- Construction (0%) $0 - due to TDC’s
- Direct State Cost Review $6,611
Total City Participation $6,611 plus construction overruns
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an Advance Funding Agreement between the City of New Braunfels and the Texas Department of Transportation for sidewalks along Schmidt Ave and traffic signal improvements at San Antonio Street & Academy Avenue.