Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is accepting applications to fund projects that address locations with a history of fatal or injury crashes where low-cost safety improvements have failed to solve the problem. The Highway Safety Improvement Program accepts formal safety applications twice a year, on March 31 and August 31; and it accepts abbreviated safety applications four times a year, on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. These grants require a 10% local match.
This spring, ODOT added a second round of formal safety applications, with a deadline of March 31. For this additional funding round, the Department of Public Service submitted an application seeking funds to construct safety improvements at the intersection of Roberts Road at Frazell Road/Spindler Road.
This ordinance will authorize the Director of Public Service to execute project agreements for approved projects, to accept and expend grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, after final accounting is performed or when notified by the Department of Public Service's Division of Design and Construction that a refund can be issued. Separate legislation authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funds to support the local share of anticipated project costs will be put forth at a later date as needed.
2. EXPECTED PROJECTS
The Department of Public Service submitted applications for the project listed below:
538014-100000 - Intersection - Roberts Rd at Frazell Rd/Spindler Rd: This project includes modifications to mitigate crashes at the closely spaced intersections of Frazell Road and Spindler Road with Roberts Road. The improvement project includes a double roundabout design as well as pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements in the form of shared use path and sidewalk. This is a formal safety application, and the total project cost is approximately $5,713,500.00.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial participation is required at this time. Separate legislation authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funds to support the local share of anticipated project costs will be put forth at a later date as needed.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to execute grant agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the Highway Safety Improvement Program, to accept and expend awarded grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, for approved projects. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) accepts formal applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program funds on March 31 and August 31; and
WHEREAS, ODOT accepts abbreviated applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program funds four times a year, on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service has submitted an application seeking funds to construct roadway and pedestrian safety improvements at Roberts Road’s intersections with Frazell Road and Spindler Road; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to submit applications to, and to execute grant agreements with, ODOT, to accept and expend awarded grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, for approved projects; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service to authorize the Director of Public Service to execute grant agreements with ODOT, to accept and expend awarded grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, for approved projects; NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to submit applications to, and to execute grant agreements, with the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the Highway Safety Improvement Program; and to accept and expend awarded grant funds.
SECTION 2. The Department of Public Service plans to submit applications for the projects listed above. City Council understands and approves that this list may change at the discretion of the Director of Public Service if other projects are found to be good candidates to be awarded these grant funds or if a reason should be found not to submit one of the listed projects.
SECTION 3. The Department of Public Service is authorized to issue refunds of awarded or reimbursed grant funds, if necessary, after final accounting is performed or when notified by the Department of Public Service's Division of Design and Construction that a refund can be issued.
SECTION 4. That any 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 at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which those funds originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.