Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The United States Department of Transportation has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity to apply for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. This program has replaced the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 made available $1.5 billion for National Infrastructure Investments, otherwise known as BUILD Transportation Discretionary grants, through September 30, 2020. For this round of BUILD Transportation grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million, and no more than $150 million can be awarded to a single state, as specified in the FY 2018 Appropriations Act. FY 2018 BUILD Transportation grants are for investments in surface transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. BUILD funding can support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, or intermodal transportation.
Eligible applicants for BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants are state, local, and tribal governments, including U.S. territories, transit agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and other political subdivisions of state or local governments. Joint applications are permitted. Applications are due by July 19, 2018.
The City meets the criteria to be eligible to submit a BUILD Transportation Discretionary grant application. The Department of Public Service is working with the Department of Development, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding a potential BUILD Transportation Discretionary grant application in support of the ongoing I-70/I-71 Columbus Crossroads project and related local projects. The precise scope is still being finalized, but it would likely include the following phases: Phase 4R, which will improve the I-70 eastbound approach and ramps into Downtown and rebuild the Front Street Bridge; Phase 4B, which will complete the South Innerbelt Trench, rebuild the Third Street Bridge, and rebuild the Fourth Street Bridge; and Phase 4H, which will rebuild the High Street Bridge. The Ohio Department of Transportation is the lead agency responsible for completing these three phases.
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Service to formally apply for a Build Transportation Discretionary Grant. It also authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with USDOT, ODOT, or others in connection with the application for the grant, the award of the grant, the expenditure of grant funds, and the return of unspent grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants may be used for up to eighty percent (80%) of project costs. No financial participation is required at this time. The encumbrance and expenditure of City funds will be approved in the form of design contracts and/or construction contracts that will be or have been submitted for Council approval.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to apply for a BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant from the United States Department of Transportation; to authorize the execution of grant agreements providing for the acceptance and administration of said grant award by the Department of Public Service; and to authorize the expenditure of any awarded funds and the refund of any unused funds. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary program, which is a grant program to be awarded on a competitive basis; and
WHEREAS, USDOT is accepting applications for the FY 2018 funding round through July 19, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to partner with other interested stakeholders, including the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), to submit a funding application for the I-70/I-71 Columbus Crossroads project and related local projects; and
WHEREAS, the City is working with other interested stakeholders, including the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), to identify the most appropriate lead applicant and primary award beneficiary; 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 a joint application for a grant from USDOT’s BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant program; accept said grant, if awarded; and to execute a grant agreement and any other documents necessary to effectuate said application, acceptance, or agreement on behalf of the Department of Public Service.
SECTION 2. If the final scope of the application involves work where the Ohio Department of Transportation is the primary agency responsible for construction, the Director of Public Service is authorized to identify ODOT as the primary recipient of the BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant award, and to execute any agreement or other documents necessary to effectuate designating ODOT as the primary award recipient.
SECTION 3. If a more appropriate lead applicant is identified to submit an application for the I-70/I-71 Columbus Crossroads project and related local projects, the Director of Public Service is authorized to execute any agreement or other documents necessary to effectuate said application.
SECTION 4. If awarded grant funds, the Department of Public Service is authorized to expend the funds in accordance with the grant condition, and to refund unused funds if there should be unused funds at the end of the grant period.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earlies period allowed by law.