Item 8: URA-Riverfront URD Funds for Franklin Multiway

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ERA UGENE ENEWAL GENCY AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Action: Urban Renewal Agency Commitment of Riverfront Urban Renewal District Funds as Match for TIGER II Grant for Franklin Multiway Boulevard Meeting Date: August 9, 2010 Agenda Item Number: 8 Department: Planning & Development Staff Contact: Denny Braud www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5536 ISSUE STATEMENT The Cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane Transit District are partnering on a grant application to the U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would implement elements of the Walnut Station Mixed-Use Center plan in Eugene and the Glenwood Refinement Plan/Franklin Boulevard Study in Springfield. The Eugene element of the application would fund environmental analysis and preliminary design for the Franklin Multiway Boulevard project and acquisition of one land bank site for affordable housing within the mixed-use center area. The Springfield element of the project would fund similar activities in Springfield. The grant requires a match and the proposed match source in Eugene for the multiway boulevard element of the project is the Riverfront Urban Renewal District. BACKGROUND HUD, DOT and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have formed a partnership to advance a sustainable development agenda. The partnership is guided by six Livability Principles: 1) provide more transportation choices; 2) promote, equitable, affordable housing; 3) enhance economic competitiveness; 4) support existing communities; 5) coordinate policies and leverage investment, and 6) value communities and neighborhoods. HUD and DOT released a joint notice of fund availability for DOT TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II Planning Grants and HUD Community Challenge Planning Grants (CCPG). TIGER II Planning Grants will fund the planning, preparation or design of surface transportation projects. The purpose of the HUD CCPG program is to support housing, economic development, and land use planning strategies that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the transportation project being planned. A primary goal of CCPG is to facilitate the development of affordable housing close to transit, jobs, and services. HUD and DOT have created one application for receiving funding requests through both of these programs and the agencies are encouraging joint-funding requests that seek funds from both programs. Pending Urban Renewal Agency commitment of the urban renewal district funds, Public Works Engineering and Community Development have received approval from the Intergovernmental Relations Committee to submit a grant application to DOT and HUD. The City of Eugene would apply for $945,000 in TIGER II funds and $600,000 in Community Challenge Grant funds. The TIGER II grant requires a minimum 20 percent cash match and a commitment to the match amount on the part of the local Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100809\S1008098.doc