HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B: Surface Transportation Program - STP-U
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
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GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: Surface Transportation Program - Urban Funding (STP-U)
Meeting Date: July 8, 2009 Agenda Item Number: B
Department: Public Works Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5343
ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council is requested to approve the projects for which the City will apply for Surface
Transportation Program – Urban (STP-U) funding for FY10. These funds will be programmed by the
Metropolitan Policy Committee (MPC).
BACKGROUND
As an urbanized area of over 200,000, the Central Lane Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) area
receives an annual distribution of flexible funds from the federal Surface Transportation Program. In the
most recent funding rounds, STP-U funds were distributed in the following categories:
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10% for Transportation Options (TO)
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25% for Planning
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65% for Capital Projects – Project Development, Preservation, and Modernization
The MPO will receive STP-U funding of $2.487 million in FY10, of which $1.658 million will be
available for capital projects. Typically, STP-U funds are programmed by the MPC three years at a
time; but, because of uncertainty about future funding and an interest by the MPC in reviewing the
framework and criteria for how STP-U funds are distributed, only FY10 STP-U funding is under
consideration at this time. The MPC is scheduled to review a draft list of proposed STP-U projects at its
July 9 meeting and a Transportation Planning Committee (TPC) recommendation for programming
STP-U funds at its August 13 meeting and make a final decision on programming STP-U funds at its
meeting on September 10. The MPC will likely revisit the framework for distributing STP-U funds
from October through December and decide on programming STP-U funds for FY11 - 13 early next
year.
In the past, Eugene has spent STP-U funds on a few different kinds of projects:
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Pavement preservation on both streets and off-street shared-use paths: Roosevelt Boulevard,
Fern Ridge Path, Garden Way Path and North Bank Path
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Street Improvements: Courthouse District Improvements, Game Farm Road and Chad Drive
Extension
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Bikeway Improvements: Monroe/Friendly Bikeway
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In the last round of STP-U funding, the council directed staff to focus our STP-U applications on street
preservation projects; Roosevelt Boulevard pavement preservation was the Eugene project that was
funded.
RELATED CITY POLICIES
On June 9, 2004, the City Council passed a motion that all project lists or funding allocations for
projects within the City of Eugene generated through the TPC for MPC approval shall first be reviewed
and approved by the City Council before the TPC recommendations are reviewed and approved by the
MPC.
From Eugene-Springfield Transportation System Plan (TransPlan):
Finance Policy #6: Eugene-Specific Finance Policy
The City of Eugene will maintain transportation performance and improve safety by improving
system efficiency and management before adding capacity to the transportation system under
Eugene’s jurisdiction.
From Adopted Growth Management Policies:
Growth Management Policy 11
Increase the use of alternative modes of transportation by improving the capacity, design, safety, and
convenience of the transit, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation systems.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
Staff recommends that the council consider the following projects for STP-U funding:
Coburg Road Pavement Preservation – $800,000
This is a pavement preservation project on Coburg Road from 850-feet north of Cal Young Road to the
Beltline. Spending STP-U funds on pavement preservation would be consistent with past council
direction to prioritize pavement preservation projects. This project is a good candidate for STP-U
funding because it is regionally significant and multimodal in that it has bike lanes, sidewalks, and a
transit route. The project would be bound by Street Bond measure projects on either end.
West Bank Path Completion Project Development – $200,000
This project entails completing a missing link on the West Bank Path where it currently runs on Copping
Street between Formac Avenue and Owosso Drive. The project has been a funding priority for the City
for several years when requesting earmark funds through the United Front process and grant funds
through the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program. The project development work which includes
environmental documentation, permitting, and design and engineering would establish this as a federal-
aid project and position the City well to receive future federal funding for construction.
West Bank Path Extension – $1 million
Currently a pedestrian or cyclist can only take the West Bank Path as far north as River Avenue, just
south of Beltline. This project entails extending the West Bank Path under Beltline and west along
Division Avenue to Beaver Street which will provide the Santa Clara neighborhood with access to the
riverbank path system. Several years ago, the City applied for, and received, $1.2 million in TE funding
for the project. However, during the project design process, it became clear that two at-grade crossings
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of busy gravel operation driveways would pose safety concerns for path users. City engineers have
redesigned the path to instead run along the south side of Division Avenue, but this will add
approximately $1 million to the project’s cost. City staff is concerned that if this project is not moved
forward to construction next year, it could jeopardize the City’s ability to compete for future TE
funding. By completing this and City’s other TE project (Delta Ponds Pedestrian/Bike Path and Bridge)
by next construction season, the City will be well positioned for future rounds of TE funding.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the City Council approve the West Bank Path Extension as the
project for which the City will seek STP-U funding. Moving forward with this project will position the
City well to compete for future TE funding; the additional project cost will ensure that a safe facility is
constructed. The Coburg Road and other West Bank Path project would remain good candidates for
upcoming STP-U funding rounds.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to direct the City Manager to apply for STP-U funding for the West Bank Path Extension project.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Project Locations
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Rob Inerfeld
Telephone: 682-5343
Staff E-Mail: rob.inerfeld@ci.eugene.or.us
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ATTACHMENT A: PROJECT LOCATIONS
West Bank Path Extension
West Bank Path Completion
Coburg Road Pavement Preservation