ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Advanced Funding Agreement between the City of Houston and TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION for Transportation Alternatives Program Project for the Buffalo Bayou Heritage Corridor - DISTRICT H - CISNEROS

This item should only be considered after passage of Item 29 above

On June 13, 2001, City Council approved Resolution 2001-28 authorizing the nomination of the Buffalo Bayou Heritage Corridor (the Project) for funding consideration in the statewide Transportation Enhancement Program (“TEP”) administered by Texas Department of Transportation (“TXDOT”).  The project was selected for funding, but in 2014 it was withdrawn from the program due to multiple unforeseen delays. TxDOT continued to develop plans and specifications and has worked with Buffalo Bayou Partnership to complete acquisition of right-of-way.

In January 2015 TxDOT submitted the Project for funding consideration in the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) 2015 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Call for Projects. In August, 2015 TxDOT requested and HPARD agreed to serve as the eligible project sponsor. On September 25, 2015, the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council approved Federal funding for the project through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) administered locally by TxDOT. As an eligible TAP project partner, TxDOT will provide a portion of the required share of the local funding contribution and construction plans as well as bid and contract for construction services. The Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) will provide the Local Government Participation in the amount of $370,000. HPARD will request separate Council Action to approve a funding agreement with BBP prior to approval of the Advance Funding Agreement with TxDOT. 

The scope of work for Project consists of the addition of retaining walls and railing to the existing ten foot wide, concrete trail on the north bank of Buffalo Bayou from McKee Street to the Strauss Trunnion Bridge, rehabilitation of the abandoned Strauss Trunnion Bridge over Buffalo Bayou for pedestrian and bicycle use, construction of a ramp to McKee Street and construction of a ten foot wide, concrete trail on the south bank of Buffalo Bayou from Strauss Trunnion Bridge to west of the UPRR bridge. Additional improvements include landscape materials, pedestrian furniture and way finding signage. The purpose of the Project is to create a safe and convenient link between existing paths on the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou and to bring bike/ped facilities to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design guidelines.

Director's Signature:

______________________________________

Joe Turner, Director

Luci Correa 832-395-7057

Luci.Correa@houstontx.gov