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CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL, REJECTION, AMENDMENT, AND/OR POSTPONEMENT OF RESOLUTION R-2021-121: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING $64,332.46 FROM THE CAPITAL FUND, DEPOSIT-SITE IMPROVEMENT-CASH FOR PAYMENT TO THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF ALAMEDA STREET WITH SUMMIT LAKES BOULEVARD/LOCHWOOD DRIVE.
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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. Ten percent of this appropriation is allocated to fund safety projects at 100% of their construction cost. Installation of pavement markings along federal functionally classified roads is eligible for this level of funding.
On February 13, 2007, City Council adopted Resolution R-0607-83 requesting federal funds for the construction of a new traffic signal and its interconnection to signals along Alameda Street east of 24th Avenue SE. 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). Both the Intermodal Technical and Policy Committees of ACOG approved this request in January 2020. As a result, transportation federal safety funds to pay up to $217,465 in construction costs were secured in Federal Fiscal Year 2021. The Federal Grant was capped because this was the last project selected for the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area, and the amount of available funds were less than the estimated construction costs. On January 26, 2021, City Council approved Contract K-2021-87, a Project Maintenance, Financing and Right-of-Way Agreement for this signalization project. Total construction costs were estimated at the time at just over $275,000. Previously-collected traffic impact fees are available to cover the difference between the federal (ACOG) funding and the full cost of the project.
The intersection of Alameda Street and Summit Lakes Boulevard/Lochwood Drive became eligible for a traffic signal in accordance with the City’s traffic ordinance in the fall of 2019. The intersection serves large residential subdivisions on the north and south sides of Alameda Street (an aerial photo of this area is included in Attachment 1).
Final plans have been submitted with a goal to be eligible for a June 2021 Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) bid. Construction is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2021 with completion of the work expected in early 2022. The estimated construction cost of $278,156 will be funded with 100% federal funds, up to $217,465, as a safety improvement project. The City’s estimated share of $64,332.46 ($60,691 plus an estimated six-percent construction management deposit of $3,641.46) will be paid with traffic impact fees previously collected from adjacent land developers. The attached invoice from ODOT shows the costs that are to be paid by the City.
DISCUSSION: ODOT requires that the invoice be paid in full by May 18, 2021, or the signalization project on Alameda Street at the intersection with Summit Lakes Boulevard/Lochwood Drive risks slipping from a June bid date to a July bid date. Staff has verified with the Finance Department, Treasury Division that sufficient traffic impact fees were collected from multiple additions for this intersection to more than cover the amount of the ODOT invoice. The necessary funds have been placed in Deposit-Site Improvement-Cash (Account 50-22411).
The current budget already has a project set-up for the future signalization of the Alameda Street Intersection with Summit Lakes Boulevard/Lochwood Drive, Design (Account 50590076-46201; Project TR0237).
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Resolution R-2021-121 to authorize the appropriation necessary for payment in the amount of $64,332.46 to ODOT under Contract K-2021-87 as noted above.