Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to contribute funding to Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad BRT project.
In 2019, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, and COTA formed a collaborative relationship for the purpose of facilitating the design and construction of certain public infrastructure improvements to accommodate predicted population growth in key regional growth corridors through denser development and coordinated investments in “high-capacity transit”.
The Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project, which is being administered by COTA, is a 9.3-mile mobility infrastructure project to improve transit service along the Broad Street corridor, consisting of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and up to seventeen (17) enhanced BRT stations between Rockbrook Crossing Avenue/Doherty Road and Washington Avenue, including segments off Broad Street along Cleveland Avenue, Long Street, and Washington Avenue. This effort is aligned with other City-led projects in the area.
This legislation seeks to authorize the execution of a contribution agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, between the Department of Public Service and COTA and the expenditure of up to $5,500,000.00 to facilitate the design of the aforementioned improvements.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for COTA is CC004318, which expired on July 2, 2021. COTA will be required to become contract compliant prior to the execution of the requisite contribution agreement.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project is available as follows: $5,300,000.00 is available within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and $200,000.00 within the Storm Bond Fund. A transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and between projects within the Storm Bond Fund also is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to facilitate the execution of the requisite contribution agreement by the parties on or before October 1, 2024, so as to maintain the project schedule established by COTA.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and between projects within the Storm Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and provide funding to the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $5,500,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Storm Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($5,500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is administering the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project, described as a 9.3-mile mobility infrastructure project to improve transit service along the Broad Street corridor, consisting of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and up to seventeen (17) enhanced BRT stations between Rockbrook Crossing Avenue/Doherty Road and Washington Avenue, including segments off Broad Street along Cleveland Avenue, Long Street, and Washington Avenue; and
WHEREAS, that effort is aligned with other projects being administered by the Department of Public Service; and
WHEREAS, the City has agreed to contribute up to $5,500,000.00 to support the design of the aforementioned public infrastructure improvements; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance seeks to authorize the execution of a contribution agreement, and any amendments and modifications thereto as may be necessary, between the Department of Public Service and COTA and the expenditure of capital funding relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and between projects within the Storm Bond Fund also is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, an expenditure within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and within the Storm Bond Fund also is needed for the project; 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 Director to enter into agreements with COTA in order to facilitate the execution of the requisite contribution agreement by the parties on or before October 1, 2024, so as to maintain the project schedule established by COTA, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $5,050,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531080-100000 (Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531042-100002 (Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad BRT), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5913 ( ), Project P531042-100000 (Roadway-LinkUS-East-West Corridor), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531042-100002 (Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad BRT), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 6204 (Storm Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 6015 (Storm Sewers), Project P610762-102019 (General Engineering Services - Storm - 2019), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 6015 (Storm Sewers), Project P611009-100001 (Stormwater System Improvements- W Broad BRT), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contribution agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary with Central Ohio Transit Authority and provide funding to the same relative to the to facilitate the completion of the LinkUS - East-West Corridor project, also known as the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad BRT project.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $5,300,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531042-100002 (Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad BRT), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 6204 (Storm Bond Fund), Dept-Div 6015 (Storm Sewers), Project P611009-100001 (Stormwater System Improvements - W Broad BRT), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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 10. 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.