SUBJECT: Advance Funding Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing an Advance Funding Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program. The Department also requests City Council authorize the Director or their designee to act as the City’s representative with the authority to accept and expend federal STBG funds if and as obligated by the State and Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) and to extend the term and/or budget and project period.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: The proposed Agreement between the City and TxDOT is for the design, preliminary engineering, and environmental documentation for the future construction of pedestrian and bicycle connections at various locations along the Waugh Drive corridor. The proposed project includes connections over Memorial Dr. and Buffalo Bayou as well as trail connectivity through Spotts Park and Buffalo Bayou Park to improve safety and provide alternative routes for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling along Waugh Dr. and across the Waugh Dr. at Memorial Dr. interchange. The agreement does not include funds for construction.
The City has received a commitment of $2,500,000.00 from the Houston-Galveston Transportation Policy Council (TPC) to develop the proposed project, including an award of 500,000 transportation development credits to fulfill the required non-federal cost share.
The City previously prepared a design concept report for the reconstruction of the Waugh Drive at Memorial Drive interchange, and has sought federal funding through several discretionary programs and the TPC to advance the planned improvements. The current agreement would enable the development of bid-ready plans and specifications for the proposed trail connections, which are a portion of the overall interchange scope, and make the project more competitive for future construction funding opportunities.
Under the Agreement, the City is responsible for the design of the improvements. HPW is working with the Strategic Purchasing Division to procure professional engineering services to perform the work and will request Council approval following selection and negotiation.
LOCATION: There is one proposed location:
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Council District
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Project Location
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Proposed Improvements
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C, H
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Waugh Drive at Memorial Drive
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Design, preliminary engineering, and environmental documentation
for the future construction of pedestrian and bicycle connections at
various locations.
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FISCAL NOTE: No fiscal note is required on grant items.
No significant Fiscal Operating Impact is anticipated as a result of this project.
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Randall V. Macchi, JD
Director, Houston Public Works
WBS No. N-100010-0003-7; CSJ# 0912-72-796