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CONTRACT K-1819-110: A PROJECT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (ODOT) FOR FEDERAL-AID PROJECT STP-214B(091)AG, J/P 30606(04) FOR THE 24TH AVENUE N.W. AND TEE DRIVE/TEE CIRCLE INTERSECTION SIGNALIZATION AND WIDENING PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $338,720 FOR THE CITY’S LOCAL SHARE AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R-1819-81.
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BACKGROUND: The 2015 - Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) federal transportation funding bill allocates approximately $21 Million in Federal funds per year for the implementation of eligible transportation improvements in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Intersection widening with new traffic signals along federal functionally classified roads are eligible for 80% federal funding.
In early 2012, citizens and area business owners began to request the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of 24th Avenue NW and Tee Drive / Tee Circle. An aerial photo of this area is included in Attachment No. 1. As customary and required, traffic data was collected and analyzed to determine if the volume of traffic was high enough to justify the need for a new traffic signal. Satisfaction of minimum traffic volume threshold levels is required in order to comply with the City's Code requirements for traffic signal control at an intersection, as established in the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which is adopted by reference into the City's Code of Ordinances.
On February 8, 2012, City staff completed a traffic study and determined that the volume of traffic and the frequency of traffic collisions were high enough to justify the installation of a traffic signal and the widening of 24th Avenue NW to provide dedicated left turn lanes. Installing the northbound and southbound left turn lanes will require widening of the existing four-lane section at the intersection. Also included with this project will be an upgrade to L.E.D. of the street lighting system from Tee Drive to Robinson Street, and the relocation of the 24th Avenue NW fiber optic traffic signal interconnect cable.
On November 26, 2013, City Council adopted resolution R-1314-61 requesting federal funds for the widening and signalization of the 24th Avenue NW and Tee Drive / Tee Circle intersection. The project was submitted to the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) with a request to include it in the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). This request was approved in January of 2016 by both the Intermodal Technical and Policy Committees of ACOG. Transportation federal funds ($1,211,280) to pay for 80% of the construction cost were secured last year and are included in the Federal Fiscal Year 2019 element of the TIP.
On May 26, 2015, City Council approved Contract K-1415-128 with Garver Engineers of Norman, Oklahoma, for the design of the project, and agreed to pay $149,991 for this service.
Final plans were submitted to ODOT in January of 2019 and the project is scheduled to be bid on April 18, 2019. The widening of the intersection and installation of the traffic signal is anticipated to begin in August of 2019 and be completed by the end of the year.
DISCUSSION: ODOT requires the City to execute a project agreement and to adopt it by resolution before letting the project to contract. The agreement addresses the responsibilities of the City and the Department during and after the construction of the project. The execution of three original documents is required. Both the resolution and agreement have been reviewed by staff and approved by the City Attorney.
ODOT is also asking that the local match of the project cost, estimated at $338,720, be paid in advance of the bid opening, which again has been scheduled for April 18, 2019. These funds are budgeted in the FYE 2019 Capital Improvement Plan (Account 050-9079-431.61-01 - Construction/Project TR-0053).
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract K-1819-110 and Resolution R-1819-81 with ODOT for the 24th Avenue NW and Tee Drive / Tee Circle Intersection Signalization and Widening project.
Staff further recommends that Council authorize payment in the amount of $338,720 to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for the local share of project cost.