Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Department of Public Service to contribute funding to support activities related to the Columbus to Chicago Passenger & Freight Rail Improvement Project administered by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
Presently, the City of Columbus is the only major city in Ohio and the largest city in the country without passenger rail service; however, a report prepared by Transportation Economic & Management Systems in 2013 found that a high-performance passenger rail serving the Columbus to Chicago corridor is both feasible and economically beneficial and could operate without annual government subsidies. Since that time, MORPC has been working to garner support for the Passenger & Freight Rail Improvement Project, which would establish an intercity passenger rail service traveling speeds up to 110 miles per hour and making 12 daily trips between Columbus and Chicago with Ohio stops in Marysville, Kenton, and Lima, and Indiana stops in Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Plymouth, Valparaiso, and Gary.
Pursuant to that effort, the City has agreed to contribute $250,000.00 to support the completion of an Alternatives Analysis and Tier One Environmental Impact Study (Tier I EIS) required by the Federal Railroad Administration for approval of intercity, high-speed passenger rail corridors. The development of the Columbus to Chicago corridor is estimated to create the equivalent of 26,800 full-time jobs; $2.6 billion in joint economic development opportunities for corridor communities; and $7.1 billion of increased output for corridor businesses over the 30-year life of the project, the construction of which is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2023. The estimated cost to construct the project is $1.285 billion.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $250,000.00 is available in the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund within the Department of Public Service. An amendment to the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary to establish sufficient cash and authority for this expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to facilitate payment of the aforementioned obligation as soon as practicable in order to maintain the current project schedule, which calls for the Tier I EIS to be completed by February 2018.
Title
To amend the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; to authorize the transfer funds between projects within the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to make payment to MORPC to support activities related to the Columbus to Chicago Passenger & Freight Rail Improvement Project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $250,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, drawing upon findings in the Northwest Indiana/Ohio Passenger Rail Corridor Feasibility Study and Business Plan as a basis of action, MORPC is leading a campaign to develop and implement an intercity, high-performance passenger rail serving the Columbus to Chicago corridor; and
WHEREAS, according to that report, the Columbus to Chicago Passenger & Freight Rail Improvement Project would benefit the entire corridor through the creation of 26,800 permanent jobs; $2.6 billion in joint economic development opportunities for corridor communities; and $7.1 billion of increased output of corridor businesses over the 30-year life of the project; and
WHEREAS, the City has agreed to contribute $250,000.00 to support the completion of an Alternatives Analysis and Tier One Environmental Impact Study (Tier I EIS) required by the Federal Railroad Administration for approval of intercity, high-speed passenger rail corridors; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize payment to MORPC to support the aforementioned planning study, 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 2017 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by Ordinance 1124-2017 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this expenditure:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7766 / P530086-100004 / Intersection Improvements - Worthington-Galena & Lazelle (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $118,985.00 / $100,000.00 / $18,985.00
7766 / P530103-100000 / 59-03 Arterial Street Rehabilitation (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $168,630.00 / ($150,000.00) / $18,630.00
7766 / P530106-100001 / Railroad Improvements - Columbus to Chicago (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $0.00 / $250,000.00 / $250,000.00
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies 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, 2017, the sum of $100,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund, Dept-Div 59-12, Project Project P530086-100004, in Object Class 06, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies 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, 2017, the sum of $150,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund, Dept-Div 59-12, Project Project P530103-100000, in Object Class 06, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, within Fund 7766 Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund, from Dept-Div 5912, Project P530086-100004, Object Class 06, to Dept-Div 5912, Project P530106-100001, per the account codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the transfer of $150,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, within Fund 7766 Street and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund, from Dept-Div 5912, Project P530103-100000, Object Class 06, to Dept-Div 5912, Project P530106-100001, per the account codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to make payment to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, 111 Liberty Street, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, to support activities related to the Columbus to Chicago Passenger & Freight Rail Improvement Project.
SECTION 7. That the expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7766 Streets and Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the 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 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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.