Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) accepts low-cost project applications and systemic project applications for funding from its Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) throughout the year. These low-cost applications have the same ten-percent local match requirements as applications submitted during ODOT’s semi-annual HSIP application process; and systemic project applications typically have no local match requirement for construction.
The City of Columbus has been approached by the City of New Albany about submitting a joint systemic project application to request funding to install approximately 4.5 miles of cable barrier on State Route 161. Approximately 2.5 miles of cable barrier would be installed within the City of New Albany, and 2.0 miles of cable barrier would be installed within the City of Columbus. The Department of Public Service intends to request ODOT fund the entire project, and it also intends to request to use ODOT’s existing design contract to design and prepare construction documents. Public Service does not anticipate being required to provide a local match. However, if a local match is required, it would be a ten-percent local match, which would be approximately $50,000.00.
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Service to submit HSIP applications, to execute project related agreements for approved projects, to accept and expend grant funds, and to issue refunds of unused grant funds if necessary after final accounting is performed or upon authorization of the Department of Public Service’s Division of Design and Construction. Matching funds will be in the form of design contracts, right of way acquisition, and/or construction contracts that will be submitted for Council's approval.
2. EXPECTED PROJECTS
The Department of Public Service plans to submit applications for the following projects:
Cable Barrier Installation - SR161. This project will mitigate median crossover crashes. Cable barrier is a proven systematic safety countermeasure for mitigating crossover crashes. The length of the project is approximately 4.5 miles, of which 2.0 miles are within the City of Columbus. The joint funding request is for approximately $500,000.00 to completely fund construction.
Public Service may submit additional applications during the 2019 calendar year for HSIP grant funds at the discretion of the Director of Public Service if other projects are identified as good candidates for being awarded HSIP grant funds.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial participation is required at this time. City funds will be approved in the form of design contracts, right of way acquisition, and/or construction contracts that will be submitted for Council's approval.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the Department of Public Service to submit applications and execute grant agreements as quickly as possible to enhance the safety of the travelling public.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to submit Highway Safety Improvement Program grant agreements to the Ohio Department of Transportation, to execute documents necessary to accept and expend awarded grant funds, and to issue refunds of unused grant funds if necessary for approved projects; to authorize the Director of Public Service to execute documents with the City of New Albany or other government entities necessary to allow joint Highway Safety Improvement Program applications and as needed to allow cooperation on the design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of approved projects; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation is accepting applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, in a joint effort with New Albany, has identified the Cable Barrier Installation - SR161 project as a good candidate to apply for HSIP funds; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service may identify additional projects to submit for HSIP funding, either alone or jointly with other government entities, before the end of the 2019 calendar year; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to submit applications, execute grant agreements, accept and expend grant funds, and issue refunds of unused grant funds if necessary for approved projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to execute documents with New Albany or other government entities necessary to allow joint HSIP applications and as needed to allow cooperation on the design, construction, inspection, and maintenance of approved projects; 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 of Public Service to submit applications and execute grant agreements as quickly as possible to enhance the safety of the travelling public, 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 Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to submit applications and execute grant agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Highway Safety Improvement Program, and to accept and expend the funds for the projects.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to execute any agreements with the City of New Albany or other government entities necessary (1) to submit joint safety applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program funds, (2) and to allow cooperation to complete awarded project design, construction, inspection, and maintenance.
Section 3. That at the end of the grant period, or upon authorization of the Department of Public Service’s Division of Design and Construction, 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 they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 4. 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.