Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus is engaged in a project identified as the North High Street - Flint Road to County Line Improvement Project. The purpose of this project is to widen High Street by one lane in each direction, add ADA compliant sidewalks and curb ramps, improve drainage and update the traffic signals from Flint Road north to the Delaware County line.
The original scope of this project identified 17 right-of-way acquisition parcels. Due to changes in scope to comply with updated ADA requirements, and due to plan errors that have since been corrected, the total number of right-of-way acquisition parcels is now 22. Prior legislation authorized the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to acquire those rights-of-way needed to complete the project and to expend $409,000.00 or so much thereof as needed.
The City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, has completed acquisition of 18 of the parcels needed for this project. The City is currently investigating the possibility of converting this project to a federally funded project, which will cause a slight change in some of the acquisition procedures for the remaining parcels to comply with all the Federal and State rules, regulations and guidelines associated with right-of-way acquisition. Based upon professional appraisals of those parcels that still need to be acquired and the potential federalization of this project the City Attorney's office has notified the Division of Design and Construction that an additional $150,000.00 will be needed to complete acquisition of all the rights-of-way for this project.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Additional acquisition related expenses are currently estimated to be $150,000.00 for this project. Monies to pay for these costs are available in the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund due to cancellation of encumbrances from completed projects.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation must be complete...
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