Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) accepts applications twice a year to fund projects using Highway Safety Improvement Program funds. The Safety Program Committee currently is accepting applications until September 30, 2020. All project costs are eligible for safety funding except for construction inspection costs. These grants require a 10% local match.
The Department of Public Service is preparing applications seeking funds to construct roadway and pedestrian safety improvements at various locations throughout the City. This ordinance will authorize the Director of Public Service to submit said applications, to execute project agreements for approved projects, to accept and expend grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, after final accounting is performed or when notified by the Department of Public Service's Division of Design and Construction that a refund can be issued. Separate legislation authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funds to support the local share of anticipated project costs will be put forth at a later date as needed.
2. EXPECTED PROJECTS
The Department of Public Service plans to submit applications for the projects listed below. This list may change at the discretion of the Director of Public Service if other projects are found to be good candidates to be awarded these grant funds or if a reason should be found not to submit one of the listed projects.
Downtown Crosswalks Project: The purpose of this project is to upgrade existing pedestrian crosswalks on one-way streets at 13 locations in the downtown area to improve pedestrian safety. The improvements were identified through a traffic study completed by the Division of Traffic Management in February, 2020. The various improvements to be constructed pursuant to this project include curb extensions, pavement markings, overhead crosswalk signs, pedestrian scale street lighting and/or pedestrian activated devices.
Flashing Yellow Arrow Project: The purpose of this project is to upgrade existing traffic signals in three corridors to operate a flashing yellow arrow for left turn movements on the major roadway approaches to reduce left turn vehicle crashes. The Division of Traffic Management completed a study of corridors for this improvement which included Bethel Road, Hilliard Rome Road, and Roberts Road. The project will encompass replacing and installing the necessary equipment at each traffic signal to operate the flashing yellow arrow.
Hamilton Road - Sidewalk Project: The purpose of this project is to improve the quality and connectivity of sidewalks and/or shared-use paths (SUP) in the City by providing infrastructure that encourages and enables citizens to walk or ride their bikes along Hamilton Road. This project will install one mile of sidewalk along both sides of Hamilton Road from Dundee Road to Mound Street to improve pedestrian safety. Leawood Elementary School is located at the south end of the project area. Other work will include the installation of curb ramps, drive approaches, retaining walls/curb walls, and bus loading/unloading pads as necessary. The project also will upgrade the traffic signal at Dundee Avenue, which will encompass the installation of backplates and LED signal heads, upgrading from 8” to 12” signal heads on the side street approaches and adding a Leading Pedestrian Interval for the east/west pedestrian phases.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial participation is required at this time. Separate legislation authorizing the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funds to support the local share of anticipated project costs will be put forth at a later date as needed.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to facilitate the preparation, submission, and receipt of the aforesaid grant applications by the stated deadline.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to submit applications to, and to execute grant agreements with, the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the Highway Safety Improvement Program, to accept and expend awarded grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, for approved projects; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is accepting applications for Highway Safety Improvement Program funds until September 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is preparing applications seeking funds to construct roadway and pedestrian safety improvements at various locations throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to submit applications to, and to execute grant agreements with, ODOT, to accept and expend awarded grant funds, and to issue refunds, if necessary, for 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 to submit applications to, and to execute grant agreements with, the Ohio Department of Transportation in order to facilitate the preparation, submission, and receipt of the aforesaid grant applications by the stated deadline, 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 to, and to execute grant agreements, with the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the Highway Safety Improvement Program; and to accept and expend awarded grant funds.
SECTION 2. The Department of Public Service plans to submit applications for the projects listed above. City Council understands and approves that this list may change at the discretion of the Director of Public Service if other projects are found to be good candidates to be awarded these grant funds or if a reason should be found not to submit one of the listed projects.
SECTION 3. The Department of Public Service is authorized to issue refunds of awarded or reimbursed grant funds, if necessary, after final accounting is performed or when notified by the Department of Public Service's Division of Design and Construction that a refund can be issued.
Section 4. At the end of the grant period, 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 those funds originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. 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.