City of Burlington Department of Public Works
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CITY OF BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 645 Pine Street, Suite A Burlington, VT 05401 802.863.9094 VOICE 802.863.0466 FAX 802.863.0450 TTY www.burlingtonvt.gov/dpw November 24, 2020 Scott Robertson, Municipal Assistance Bureau VT Agency of Transportation 219 N Main Street Barre, VT 05641 Re: Fall 2020 VTrans Transportation Alternatives Grant Application Dear Mr. Robertson, The City of Burlington has made significant progress on our walking and biking infrastructure in recent years. The 2020 Transportation Alternatives Grant is an important opportunity that will continue our momentum by advancing a project that is very important to our community: Design / Construct a shared-use path along Lake Street as recommended in the 2020 Lake Street Pedestrian, Streetscape, and Stormwater Feasibility Study . The city is fully committed to providing the local match and future maintenance from our Capital Improvement Program. Burlington was fortunate to receive a Transportation Alternatives grant in fall 2019 for a shared use path through Schifilliti Park. The City remains committed to this project but has not yet executed the grant agreement due to unexpected challenges facing one of our key partners. This project is a partnership between the Burlington Department of Public Works (DPW); Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department (BPRW); and the Burlington School District (BSD). Since receiving the grant award, the Burlington High School has unexpectedly closed and BSD has had to prioritize classroom relocation and facility planning to either remediate or rehome the high school. As a result, BPRW has agreed to take over grant management and BSD has had to reevaluate their financial commitments for anything outside of the high school. At their next meeting, the BSD Facilities Committee will consider the request to still allocate the local match for the 2019 TA grant; pending their decision, if BSD is unable to provide the local match then DPW and BPRW will work to secure the match. The Schifilliti Park path is a very important connection for our community. The city is committed to its construction. The Agency of Transportation’s understanding and patience is appreciated while we navigate these difficult circumstances. The city shares the Agency of Transportation’s commitment to a safe, multi-modal transportation network. Thank you for the opportunity to improve access and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists within our Downtown District. Sincerely, Chapin Spencer, Director Our Mission: To steward Burlington’s infrastructure and environment by delivering efficient, effective, and equitable public services. VTrans Fall 2020 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Grant Application (Note: Most TAP grant projects reach construction in approximately 3 to 4 years) Thoroughly read the Vermont Transportation Alternatives Fall 2020 Application Guide before you begin your application. It includes important program information and step-by-step instructions. Pay particular attention to the application process requirements. Applications are due in hand or by e-mail by Friday November 27, 2020. Please e-mail the completed application to: [email protected] Lake St Sidewalk & Stormwater Management (Project Name/Title) 802-391-6809 (Phone) Nicole Losch (Municipality contact person responsible [email protected] for the management of this project) (e-mail address) Burlington $ 300,000 (Town) Amount of Federal Funds requested (no more than 80% of the project cost estimate). 05401 (Zip Code) $89,344 Amount of Local Match. Example: Federal 645 Pine St Suite A Award = $300,000 (80% of total), Local Match = Burlington VT 05401 $75,000 (20% of total), Total Project Cost = (Mailing Address) $375,000 (100% of the total) County: Chittenden Town/Village/City: Burlington Specific location, street or road: Lake Street Regional Planning Commission: Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission If a linear project, what is the length in feet? 150 Is the project on or intersecting to a State maintained highway? Yes ☐ No ☒ Note: If yes, be sure to include documentation that you have notified the VTrans District Transportation Administrator of the intent to apply for TA funding and have provided them with a brief (one paragraph) description of the proposed project. Project type being applied for: ☐ Scoping ☒ Design/Construction Vermont Transportation Alternatives Grant Application Fall 2019 1 The municipality understands that a typical construction project utilizing Transportation Alternatives Program funds will take roughly three years (min.) in the Design and ROW phases prior to going to construction (as pointed out in the TA Program Application Guide)? Yes ☒ No ☐ Does this project have a previously completed scoping or feasibility study? Yes ☒ No ☐ Note: Attach a map(s) of the project area and clearly show the limits of the project as well as surrounding benefits from the proposed improvement. If the project is within or adjacent to a designated downtown, village or growth center, clearly indicate the relationship of the proposed project to the boundary of the designated area. Color photos of the area are also recommended. Fiscal Information: Accounting System Automated ☐ Manual ☐ Combination☒ DUNS # 603299272 Fiscal Year End Month June Property Ownership: If the proposed project is on private property that will need to be acquired by the Municipality through purchase, easement, or eminent domain (includes temporary construction rights) in accordance with the “Uniform Act”, then the municipality is committed to exercising its right of eminent domain to acquire the rights to construct the project if necessary. Yes ☐ No ☒ Funding: Does this project already have existing funding? If so, please describe. Yes ☐ No ☒ n/a Will you accept an award less than you applied for? Yes ☐ No ☒ If yes, please indicate whether local funds will be used to make up the shortfall, or if the project scope will be reduced. If the project scope is to be reduced, describe what part of the project (please be specific) you would accept partial funding for. n/a A support letter from the governing body of the applicant municipality or organization and an acknowledgement and source of the local match and commitment to future maintenance responsibility for construction projects is requited (must be dated within 1 year of the application). Is a letter of support attached? Yes ☒ No ☐ Regional Planning Commission Letter of Support: In order to apply, the project must have a letter of support from the regional planning commission. Is a letter of support attached? Yes ☒ No ☐ Vermont Transportation Alternatives Grant Application Fall 2019 2 Application Scoring Criteria: 1. Please give a brief description of the project (be sure to indicate the primary facility type being applied for and be concise). (10 points max.) The proposed project will design and construct a 150’ long and 12’ wide shared use path along the northern section of Lake Street, filling a gap in the sidewalk and path network on the north side of Lake Street. Sidewalks exist to the east and west of the project area and a shared use path (the Burlington Greenway) exists immediately south and west, but a well-worn footpath exists where a gap in the sidewalk network fails to connect the Lake Street sidewalks between Depot Street and Penny Lane. This section crosses the New England Central Railroad (NECR) and a feasibility study was completed in 2020 that identified a preferred alternative to fill this gap. The study acknowledges a diagnostic review is needed to determine the level of control at the NECR crossing and assumes a formal crossing will be required for the shared use path. Lake Street is the only north/south street along Burlington’s waterfront, connecting the city’s core to the northern waterfront. Recent improvements include a Lake Street extension, on-street parking, sidewalks, world class skate park, new Burlington Sailing Center, a new Water Works Park, and a realigned Burlington Greenway – Burlington’s most popular attraction and part of the Island Line. Work is currently underway for the Moran FRAME, which is repurposing the former Burlington Electric facility into a public gathering space on the waterfront. The recent improvements to the northern waterfront have increased the volume of people walking and biking in the area. The proposed shared use path will provide a safe and secure connection for people walking and biking on the Burlington Greenway, on Lake Street and Depot Street (restricted to vehicle traffic except private driveways and part of Burlington’s on-road bike network) east of the project area, and with the vast recreational opportunities in the northern waterfront. 2. What is the feasibility of this project? Feasibility (or Scoping) study applications will not be scored on this criterion. Also, please describe the extent of project development completed to date. (10 points max.) A feasibility study was completed in June 2020 and identified the proposed shared use path as a viable preferred alternative. It will require a diagnostic review for the New England Central Rail crossing. Aside from that complexity, it is a relatively straightforward project within the city’s right-of-way. Since completion of the feasibility study, DPW Engineers have refined the project with a detailed construction estimate. The Feasibility Study is available in the city’s online publication library: https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/DPW/Past-Projects 3. Does this project address a need identified in a local or regional planning document? If so, please describe. (5 points max.) Yes, planBTV Walk Bike identifies Lake Street and Depot Street as future bikeways and identifies the Burlington Greenway as an important part of the existing network. In addition, the city’s Transportation Plan and the Sidewalk Management Plan each set a target for a sidewalk on at least one side of every street. The northern waterfront has been identified as an important area for people walking and biking: it is a connection for the Burlington Greenway (Burlington’s segment of the Island Line Trail), it is a major destination for recreation, and it is the only route for vehicle access to the northern waterfront.