Explanation
The Public Service Department, Transportation Division, is engaged in the Morse Road improvement project. This roadway improvement project is designed to promote neighborhood livability, pedestrian friendliness and business retention and expansion. This project provides for landscaping, median, pavement and drainage improvements; bike lanes; sidewalks; mast arm traffic signals; traffic control signing/striping; street lighting; new curbs and other improvements on Morse Road between I-71 and Cleveland Avenue.
This consent legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to accept a federal SAFETEA-LU grant of eighty percent (80%) of the total eligible costs up to a maximum amount of $728,000.00 for the Morse Road Phase II, Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue project and to modify an existing agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to accept this grant. This phase of the Morse Road Project extends from Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue. Its construction is estimated to cost approximately $9,000,000.00 and is scheduled to be bid in early 2008. This federal grant is in addition to the $1,491,150.00 grant from the Federal Highway Administration appropriated by the Omnibus Transportation Act passed in 2004 for this project. This legislation also authorizes the Service Director to modify an existing a consent agreement that outlines the responsibilities of each respective party.
Fiscal Impact: The City will assume and bear one hundred percent (100%) of the total cost of the project not covered by the federal appropriations. The City will be the lead agent for this project. No financial participation is required by the City at this time, however; a city-funded match of $190,000.00 will be required at the time the project is bid.
Emergency action is requested to keep this project on schedule and budget.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to modify an existing agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the City to accept additional Federal funding up to a maximum amount of $728,000.00 for the Morse Road Phase II, Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue project for the Transportation Division and to declare an emergency. ($728,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has identified the need for and proposes the improvement of a portion of public highway which is described as follows:
Morse Road Phase II, Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue project - which includes landscaping, median, pavement and drainage improvements; bike lanes; sidewalks; mast arm traffic signals; traffic control signing/striping; street lighting; new curbs and other improvements
with portions of said highway within the municipal corporation limits being hereinafter referred to as the improvement; and
WHEREAS, the City further desires cooperation from Ohio Department of Transportation in the design and construction of said improvement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to provide consent for this project so it can proceed according to the established timelines, 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 Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized on behalf of the City to modify the existing agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to accept an additional federal appropriation of $728,000.00 for the Morse Road Phase II, Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue project.
SECTION 2. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby 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 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.