Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Public Service Director to enter into contracts with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to perform three studies. These contracts, entitled the Columbus Mean Streets project, the Columbus Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan, and Protocols for Cooperative Traffic Studies are designed to promote livability and safety.
Mean Streets. While an abundance of statistics reflect motorist crash patterns and characteristics, much less data has been analyzed about pedestrian and bicycle crashes. At the national level the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) has been compiling statistics for several years about federal spending and fatalities in metropolitan regions. The statistics are presented in a series of reports entitled Mean Streets. Unfortunately, these reports fail to identify issues at a detailed level appropriate for local and regional planning efforts. Furthermore, the reports seem to under estimate investment in pedestrian and bicycle facilities while producing a notably low level of danger for pedestrians and cyclists in Central Ohio.
The Columbus Mean Streets project will modify the approach developed by STPP to develop more meaningful indicators related to the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists in Central Ohio. A clearer picture of pedestrian and bicycle investments and safety issues will help determine where investments should be made to improve the environment for walking and cycling. Detailed work related to this project will include literature review, crash data analysis development, expenditure data analysis development, statewide/nationwide data comparison and issuance of a final report. This study is estimated to cost $70,000.00, and will commence on or about August 1, 2005, and will be completed within approximately (1) year.
Columbus Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan. Pedestrian access plays a vital role in overall mobility of a community. Pedestrian facilities provide additional transportation options to area residents, affect local government's ability to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations, and also provide a valuable compliment to our transit system. However, pedestrian facilities in Columbus vary in degree of coverage and accessibility. While the core of the city and many traditional neighborhoods have an extensive system, many newer and outlying communities have fragmented facilities or no facilities at all. As important as the presence of pedestrian facilities can be in each neighborhood, unless these facilities connect individuals to destinations they are no more than recreational devices. When facilities can be analyzed as part of a continuous network, deficiencies are easier to recognize.
This project will develop a Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan for the City of Columbus. Such a plan will identify an interconnected system of major pedestrian facilities with many and varied destinations. It will help the City to prioritize improvements for pedestrian travel and to establish a consistent approach to providing appropriate pedestrian facilities for major travel corridors throughout Columbus. Detailed work related to this project will include creation of a Project Team Committee consisting of Columbus and MORPC staff, definition of the study area, ascertaining pedestrian travel demand, creation of a pedestrian thoroughfare network with classifications, and the issuance of a final report. This study is estimated to cost not more than $70,000.00, commence on or about August 1, and be completed within approximately one (1) year.
Protocols for Cooperative Traffic Studies. In 2003 Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Washington Township and the Franklin County Engineer's Office partnered on a traffic study for the Northwest (Hayden Run) part of Franklin County. This was the result of concerns raised over proposed development in the narrow Columbus corridor between Dublin and Hilliard. The concern was primarily traffic related in that the development will create traffic congestion on facilities outside of Columbus's jurisdiction.
The "Pay As We Grow" effort is mostly internal to Columbus, although joint facilities and other co-operative ventures are envisioned. A model is needed to encourage affected municipalities, townships, and counties in each growth sub-area to work together. For example, in the southeast this could include Groveport, Canal Winchester, Reynoldsburg, Pickerington; Madison, Violet, Bloom, and Etna Townships; Licking and Fairfield Counties. In the northeast it could include New Albany; Plain, Harlem and Jersey Townships; Delaware and Licking Counties. The mechanics of achieving intergovernmental cooperation in each area will vary. This protocol project will outline the issues and detail to be addressed to allow conduct of a cooperative technical traffic study in these growth areas. Detailed work related to this project will include forming a multi-jurisdictional review committee, identifying criteria to determine the need for a cooperative traffic study, identifying the geographic extent and method to fund the study, identifying the necessary data inputs for a cooperative study, identifying data and analysis necessary to make decisions, identifying a process for developing an implementation plan and monitoring, developing a model scope of work and identifying candidate study areas. This process is estimated to cost not more than $80,000.00, commence on or about August 1, and be completed in approximately one (1) year.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, in its role as an intergovernmental clearinghouse and promoter of regional coordination and cooperation, is uniquely qualified to provide the services associated with these three contracts. Accordingly, these contracts are being awarded under the sole-source provisions of City Code Section 329.07(c). MORPC's contract compliance number is 31-1009675 and does not expire.
Fiscal Impact: City Council amended the 2005 budget to earmark funds for "effective service" initiatives for use toward policy studies and policy development as represented by the efforts described above. The entire cost of these contracts - $220,000.00 - is eligible for funding from the Finance Department's citywide General Fund account. This ordinance transfers these funds to the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund, appropriates them there, and authorizes their expenditure for this purpose.
Emergency action is requested to facilitate the execution of these contracts and because pedestrian safety and safer thoroughfares is important in all areas of Central Ohio.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $220,000.00 from the General Fund to the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $220,000.00 within the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund; to authorize Public Service Director to enter into contract with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to undertake three studies dealing with the Columbus Mean Streets project, the Columbus Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan, and Protocols for Cooperative Traffic Studies for the Transportation Division and to authorize the expenditure of $220,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary from the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($220,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Transportation Division and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) have identified the need to engage in studies dealing with the Columbus Mean Streets project, the Columbus Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan, and Protocols for Cooperative Traffic Studies, and
WHEREAS, funding for this purpose exists in the Finance Department's citywide General Fund account; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual operations of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Service Director to enter into contract with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to undertake three studies dealing with pedestrian and traffic safety, 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 City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to transfer $220,000.00 from Fund 010, the General Fund, to Fund 265, the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund, as follows:
TRANSFER FROM
Fund / Dept. No. / Object Level One/Three Codes / OCA Code
010 / 45-01 / 10/5501 / 904508
Total Transfer From: $220,000.00
TRANSFER TO
Fund / Dept. No. / Object Level One/Three Codes / OCA Code
265 / 59-09 / 80/0886 / 599138
Total Transfer From: $220,000.00
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated balance of Fund 265, the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, the sum of $220,000.00 be and hereby is appropriated to the Transportation Division, Department No. 59-09, Object Level One Code 03, Object Level Three Code 3336 and OCA Code 599138.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing SECTION 2 shall be paid upon order of the Public Service Director and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That the Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to enter into contracts with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, 285 East Main Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 to engage in three studies dealing with the Columbus Mean Streets project, the Columbus Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan and Protocols for Cooperative Traffic Studies in amounts not to exceed $70,000.00, $70,000.00 and $80,000.00, respectively (total $220,000.00), all to be completed not later than June 30.
SECTION 5. That these contracts are awarded consistent with the provisions of Section 329.07(c) of the Columbus City Code, 1959.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $220,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary be and hereby is authorized to be expended from Fund 265, the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 03, Object Level Three Code 3336 and OCA Code 599138 to pay the cost of said studies.
SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.