HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/04/2001 - ITEMS RELATING TO THE MASON STREET TRANSPORTATION AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 18 A-B
• FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: September 4, 2001
STAFF: Kathleen Reavis
SUBJECT:
Items Relating to the Mason Street Transportation Corridor.
j RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and the Ordinance on First Reading.
i FINANCIAL IMPACT:
I
a
See Financial Impact at the end of this Agenda Item Summary.
0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
A. Resolution 2001-109 Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Contract with the Colorado
Department of Transportation for the Design and Construction of the Mason Street
Transportation Corridor Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail Project, First Phase.
B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 139, 2001, Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the
Building Community Choices Capital Projects Fund,Mason Street Transportation Corridor
Project, Prior Year Reserves in the Transportation Services Fund and Authorizing the
Transfer of Appropriations to Be Used for Design and Initial Construction of Improvements
to the Mason Street Transportation Corridor Project South of Harmony Road to the Future
Fossil Creek Trail.
The City has received a funding letter from Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) that
will allow for work to proceed on the design and initial construction for the bicycle and pedestrian
trail on the Mason Street Transportation Corridor,south of Harmony Road to the future Fossil Creek
regional trail. This will be the first design and construction phase for the Mason Street Corridor's
bicycle and pedestrian system.
DATE: September 4, 2001 2 ITEM NUMBER: 18 A-B
BACKGROUND:
The Mason Street Transportation Corridor(MSTC)is a five-mile north-south byway within the City
of Fort Collins which extends from Cherry Street on the north to south of Harmony Road. The
corridor is centered along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe(BNSF)Railway tracks, located a few
hundred feet west of College Avenue (US 287).
There is currently no transportation route through Fort Collins dedicated to the north-south flow of
bikes, transit, and pedestrians. Buses compete with autos on College Avenue, bicycles make
circuitous trips to travel through the city,and pedestrians encounter"unfriendly"vehicle traffic and
unsafe walking conditions.
The MSTC is envisioned as a transportation corridor that will enhance opportunities for pedestrians,
bicyclists, and transit riders. It will also encourage intill development and provide economic
opportunities. It will establish a direct north-south route for bicyclists and faster passenger-trip time.
This can be achieved by using the MSTC's Bus Rapid Transit rather than having to use autos on a
congested College Avenue. It also offers the possibility of future commuter rail service to Denver.
The concept of the transportation corridor began in 1996 when citizens conceived the MSTC as one
possible solution to north-south traffic congestion, as well as safe and convenient travel. In 1997,
voters approved a capital improvement campaign that included the MSTC Master Plan for transit,
bicycle, and pedestrian improvements.
The MSTC Master Plan analyzed a wide range of alternatives,utilizing a portion of the Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Railroad that runs through the City.
On October 3, 2000,the Fort Collins City Council unanimously approved the MSTC Master Plan,
including the Bus Rapid Transit Alternative and bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
The City Council approval was the capstone to 150 public events, including unanimous approval
from the City's Transportation and Planning and Zoning Boards.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total cost of this phase of the project is $330,000 which is being funded from CDOT's
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)Program:
Federal funds(82.79%) $265,250
City's Local Match (17.21% Participating) $ 55,319
(100%Non-participating) 9611
Total Project: $330,000
Previously appropriated in Ordinance No. 93, 2001 (Adopted on May 15, 2001)
Federal Funds S 973
City's Local Match (from Trans Planning) 237
Total $ 1,210
DATE: September 4, 2001 3 ITEM NUMBER: 18 A-B
Remainder to be appropriated:
SFederal Funds $264,277
City's Local Match 64,513
Total $328,790
The remaining local match is to be funded as follows:
Transportation Reserves $ 54,705
Transportation Planning 9,808
Total $ 64,513
s
t
f
RESOLUTION 2001-109
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH
THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASON STREET TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN TRAIL PROJECT, FIRST PHASE
WHEREAS,on October 3,2000,the City Council approved the Mason Street Transportation
Corridor (MSTC) master plan, including the 'Bus Rapid Transit Alternative" and the bicycle and
pedestrian improvements; and
WHEREAS, the MSTC is a five-mile north/south by-way within the City which extends
from Cherry Street on the north to south of Harmony Road and is centered along the Burlington
Northern Santa Fe railroad track; and
WHEREAS, the first phase of the MSTC bicycle/pedestrian trail project extends from
Harmony Road south to the future Fossil Creek Regional Trail; and
WHEREAS,pursuant to the Transportation Equity Act of the 21 t Century of 1998, certain
funds have been allocated for highway projects, under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
(CMAQ)program,that have been proposed by the Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT)
and approved by the Federal Highway Administration; and
WHEREAS, certain CMAQ Project funds are made available only for eligible "congestion
mitigation and air quality improvement' and those activities are defined in §23 U.S.C. 101(a); and
WHEREAS, the City has requested of CDOT that the first phase of the MSTC
bicycle/pedestrian trail project be funded as part of the CMAQ program,as a congestion mitigation
and air quality activity; and
WHEREAS, federal funds have been made available for the first phase of the MSTC
bicycle/pedestrian trail project for the design and construction of the said bicycle/pedestrian trail;
and
WHEREAS,CDOT has presented to the City for execution a congestion mitigation and air
quality contract for the purpose of providing funding for the first phase of the MSTC
bicycle/pedestrian trail project, the total cost of which project is estimated to be $330,000 to be
funded with federal participating funds in the amount of$265,250 and with City participating funds
in the amount of$64,750; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City that the
proposed congestion mitigation and air quality contract as above-described be entered into between
the City and CDOT.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the Mayor be, and hereby is, authorized to execute a congestion mitigation and air
quality contract between the City and the Colorado Department of Transportation for the purpose
of providing funding for the first phase of the MSTC bicycle/pedestrian trail project for the design
and construction of the Project,with said contract to provide federal participating funds in the sum
of TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS($265,250)
and City participating funds in the sum of SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY
DOLLARS($64,750)for atotal amount ofTHREE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
($330,000).
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 4th day of September,
A.D. 2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO. 139, 2001
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE
IN THE BUILDING COMMUNITY CHOICES CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND,
MASON STREET TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR PROJECT,
PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FUND
AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATIONS TO BE USED FOR
DESIGN AND INITIAL CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
MASON STREET TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR PROJECT
SOUTH OF HARMONY ROAD TO THE FUTURE FOSSIL CREEK TRAIL
WHEREAS, on April 8, 1997, the voters of the City approved Ordinance No. 30, 1997,
authorizing the imposition of a quarter cent sales and use tax for the purpose of generating revenues
to construct certain transportation projects described in the`Building Community Choices"("BCC")
capital improvement program; and
WHEREAS, one such project approved for funding by the voters was the Mason Street
Transportation Corridor project, Phases 1 and 2; and
WHEREAS,on October 3,2000,City Council adopted Resolution 2000-124,approving the
Mason Street Transportation Corridor Master Plan, including the design, cost and scheduling
contained therein,and extending the southern boundary of the Mason Street Transportation Corridor
project from Harmony Road to the Fossil Creek Trail,provided that revenues are available for said
extension; and
WHEREAS,the Transportation Board,Planning and Zoning Board and Air Quality Advisory
Board also recommended adoption of the Master Plan; and
WHEREAS,the Colorado Department of Transportation(CDOT)has made available to the
City of Fort Collins, Congestion Mitigation& Air Quality funds in the amount of$265,250, $973
of which was appropriated in the Transportation Services Fund by City Council by adoption of
Ordinance No. 93,2001,to be used for design and initial construction of bicycle and pedestrian trail
improvements, south of Harmony Road to the Fossil Creek Trail, as part of the Mason Street
Transportation Corridor project; and
WHEREAS, local matching funds needed, totaling $64,750, have been identified from
existing appropriations and prior year reserves in the Transportation Services Fund, $237 of which
was appropriated in the Transportation Services Fund by City Council via Ordinance No. 93,2001;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution 2001-109, on September 4, 2001,
authorizing the City to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with CDOT for the receipt of
Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality funds to be used for design and initial construction of
improvements to the Mason Street Transportation Corridor project, from Harmony Road south to
the Fossil Creek Trail; and
WHEREAS,Article V, Section 9, of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins (the"Charter")
permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the
fiscal year,provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations,in combination with
all previous appropriations for that fiscal year,do not exceed the then current estimate of actual and
anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and
WHEREAS,Article V,Section 9,of the Charter also permits the City Council to appropriate
by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be available from
reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that such reserves were not previously
appropriated; and
WHEREAS,Article V, Section 10,of the Charter authorizes the City Council to transfer by
ordinance any unexpended and unencumbered amount or portion thereof from one fund or capital
project to another fund or capital project,provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds
are to be expended remains unchanged; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Council to appropriate the sum of$264,277 in Colorado
Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation&Air Quality funds,and the sum of $54,705
from Transportation Services Fund prior year reserves,and to authorize the transfer of$11,018 from
the Transportation Services Fund to the Building Community Choices Capital Projects Fund to be
used to for the design and initial construction of improvements to the Mason Street Transportation
Corridor project, from Harmony Road south to the Fossil Creek Trail.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue
in the Building Community Choices Capital Projects Fund,Mason Street Transportation Corridor
project,the sum of TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-
SEVEN DOLLARS($264,277)from Colorado Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation
& Air Quality funds, to be used for design and initial construction of improvements to the Mason
Street Transportation Corridor project, from Harmony Road south to the Fossil Creek Trail.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the
Transportation Services Fund,the sum of FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIVE
DOLLARS ($54,705) and authorized for transfer to the Building Community Choices Capital
Projects Fund, Mason Street Transportation Corridor project, and appropriated therein, to be used
for the design and initial construction of improvements to the Mason Street Transportation Corridor
project, from Harmony Road south to the Fossil Creek Trail.
Section 3. That the unexpended appropriated amount of ELEVEN THOUSAND
EIGHTEEN DOLLARS ($11,018) is hereby authorized for transfer from the Transportation
Services Fund 2001 budget to the Building Community Choices Capital Projects Fund,Mason Street
Transportation Corridor project to be used for design and initial construction of improvements to the
Mason Street Transportation Corridor project, from Harmony Road south to the Fossil Creek Trail.
Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 4th day of
September, A.D. 2001, and to be presented for final passage on the 18th day of September, A.D.
2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 18th day of September, A.D. 2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk