Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and other railroad companies as needed, relative to the Bridge Rehabilitation - Front St and Nationwide Blvd project.
The aforementioned effort eventually will culminate in the rehabilitation of the Front Street and Nationwide Boulevard bridges over the railroad tunnel in downtown Columbus. That scope of work necessitates that the Department of Public Service contract with Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and other railroad companies as needed, to review and approve engineering plans, design plans, construction specifications, and drawings, and other documents and work necessary to the completion of the project in order to identify and mitigate potential conflicts between rail operations and public infrastructure in proximity to railway corridors.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $40,000.00 is available for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, within the Department of Public Service. An amendment to the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget is to provide sufficient cash and budget authority for the requisite expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to facilitate the execution of the requisite railroad agreements as soon as reasonably practicable so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the completion and acceptance of design plans, which are expected to be finalized in mid-September.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into agreements with Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and other railroad companies as needed, relative to the Bridge Rehabilitation - Front St and Nationwide Blvd project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $40,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund for this project; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is administering the Bridge Rehabilitation - Front St and Nationwide Blvd project, which will culminate in the rehabilitation of the Front Street and Nationwide Boulevard bridges over the railroad tunnel in downtown Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned effort requires cooperation from Norfolk Southern Railway Company, which operates within the proposed project limits; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute agreements authorizing that entity, and other railroad companies as needed, to review and approve engineering and design plans, construction specifications and drawings, and other documents necessary to the successful completion of the planned improvements; and
WHEREAS, the estimated cost of those services is $40,000.00; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the execution of the requisite railroad agreements as soon as reasonably practicable so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the completion and acceptance of design plans, which are expected to be finalized in mid-September, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1711-2023 be and is hereby amended to provide sufficient budget authority for the appropriate project authorized within this ordinance as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P530301-260275 / Bridge Rehabilitation - Front Street over Conrail South of Nationwide (Voted Carryover) / $250,000.00 / ($40,000.00) / $210,000.00
7704 / P530301-260755 / Bridge Rehabilitation - Front St and Nationwide Blvd over RR Tunnel (Voted Carryover) / $520,782.00 / $40,000.00 / $560,782.00
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to execute agreements with Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and other railroad companies as needed, for the purpose of authorizing those entities to review and approve engineering and design plans, construction specifications and drawings, and other documents and work necessary to the completion of the Bridge Rehabilitation - Front St and Nationwide Blvd project.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $40,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5911 (Division of Infrastructure Management), Project P530301-260755 (Bridge Rehabilitation - Front St and Nationwide Blvd project), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this Ordinance.