Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager |
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FROM: |
Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer |
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CC: |
Chuck Soules, Public Works Director Britt Crum-Cano, Economic Development Coordinator/Planner |
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Date: |
October 12, 2011 |
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Re: |
Letter of Support TIGER III Federal Grant Application Bob Billings Parkway and K-10 Interchange
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Introduction
Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that $527 million will be available to continue the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant Program for the third round (termed as TIGER III). The first round of TIGER Grant began under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The second round (commonly known as TIGER II) of this grant program came around in 2010.
TIGER is a competitive grant program for construction of large scale transportation projects that create jobs and would have a significant impact on the nation, a region or a metropolitan area. According to the US Department of Transportation, projects for TIGER III will be selected based on their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, improve transportation safety and improve livability of communities through increased transportation choices.
Project Summary
The proposed interchange at K-10 and Bob Billings Parkway will eliminate the current at-grade intersection by constructing a bridge over K-10, extending Bob Billings Parkway to this bridge and re-aligning the County Road E 1500 (see attached concept sketch). When completed, BBP and County Road E 1500 will be connected via the bridge over K-10; as a result, east-west traffic on BBP and E 1500 will move safely without having to negotiate the high speed traffic on K-10. There will be on and off ramps similar to the existing interchange at K-10 and US -40/West 6th Street enabling safe transition and movement of traffic in all four directions. The project would also include decorative lighting, bike lanes and sidewalks connecting with the existing bike lanes and sidewalks on BBP, continuing over the bridge/interchange and to the west past K-10.
The areas west of K-10 are prime locations for new residential, commercial and industrial development. In the “West of K-10 Area Plan” approved by both the City and County commissions, this interchange was identified as a critical infrastructure in order to accommodate westward growth in Lawrence/Douglas County. The projected growth and development in the area west of K-10 will add new jobs to the region’s economy in the long term; in the short term, this project will create a good number of high paying construction jobs.
In addition to the positive economic impact, this project will also reduce congestion at the existing interchange at K-10 and US-40. By attracting a lot of the KU traffic, this project will generally help reduce congestion on 6th Street and Iowa Street as well. Reduced congestion means reduced green house gas emissions and higher energy efficiency. With improved connectivity, this project will further contribute to improved energy efficiency by reducing travel time.
This project will tremendously improve traffic flow and safety in this corridor by eliminating the existing at-grade intersection. With the completion of the South Lawrence Traffic Way / K-10 Highway (a $200 million dollar project funded as part of the T-WORKS, the 10 year comprehensive transportation program passed by Kansas Legislature in 2010) in 2016, it is anticipated that traffic on K-10 will increase at a higher than usual rate. The increased traffic on K-10 would further emphasize the need for the construction of the proposed interchange.
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Project Cost / Funding |
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Total Construction Cost |
$18.4 million |
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City of Lawrence* |
$100,000.00 |
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Douglas County* |
$100,000.00 |
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KDOT |
$13.6 million |
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Total (KDOT, City and County) (75%) ______ |
$13.8 million |
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TIGER III Grant Application (25%) |
$4.6 million |
*Already approved by respective commissions.
Staff has been working to obtain letters of support from various community organizations and elected officials, including the US Senators, House of Representatives, the Chancellor of KU and the Governor of Kansas.
By approving city contribution of $100,000.00 for the construction of this project, the City Commission has already expressed strong support for this project. However, a letter from the Mayor will further bolster city’s commitment to this project. The County Commission is preparing a letter of support for this project as well.
Staff strongly recommends that the Mayor sign a letter of support for this project.
Application deadline for the TIGER III is October 31, 2011. It is anticipated that the Grant Award will be made public by the end of 2011. If awarded the TIGER III grant, construction of this project will begin in late 2013 /early 2014 with anticipated completion in 2015.
Action Requests
If appropriate, authorize Mayor to sign a letter of support for the TIGER III application for the interchange at K-10 highway and Bob Billings Parkway.
Exhibits