Camden County Link Trail, Segments 1A and 3
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CAMDEN COUNTY LINK TRAIL, SEGMENTS 1A AND 3 2021 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Application DTOS59-21-RA-RAISE FY 2021 National Infrastructure Investments Location: City of Camden and Pennsauken Township, New Jersey Submitted by: Camden County, New Jersey Amount Requested: $25 million The Honorable Secretary Pete Buttigieg U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 Subject: Camden County LINK Trail Segments 1A and 3 FY 2021 USDOT RAISE Application Dear Secretary Buttigieg: On behalf of the Camden County Board of Commissioners and the over half a million residents of Camden County, I am pleased to be able to submit this Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Application for Segments 1A and 3 of the Camden County LINK Trail for your review. Since 2017 Camden County has been working steadfastly on turning the concept for a 34-mile trail connecting our urban core with our suburban and rural communities into a reality. Starting with a feasibility study to understand the best route and approaches to dedicating more than four million dollars to the design of priority segments, we have built the momentum, community support and enthusiasm and are poised to build and transform our county. Camden County seeks RAISE grant funding to complete these two key segments, located in the City of Camden and Pennsauken Township that consist of over 5.5 miles of the LINK. These important sections of the trail will allow safe transportation alternative for residents, commuters, and visitors by navigating along and across the scenic Delaware River connecting to Philadelphia via the Ben Franklin Bridge and bypassing the heavy traffic of Routes 30, 130, and 676. This application meets all of USDOT’s RAISE grant program criteria. Camden’s median household income is less than $30,000 a year, and 36% of the population lives in poverty. Most of this project is located within Areas of Persistent Poverty and will allow for improvements to the quality of life and economic advantages for city residents by supporting and driving development and employment opportunities and leveraging other investments that state, county, and city governments are making into open space and parks, business districts, transit, and the street network. The quantifiable benefits of this project, per the Benefit Cost Analysis, will be at least 10 times the cost of the project. By reducing emissions through active transportation commutes, incorporating green stormwater infrastructure reducing the burden on the city’s combined sewer system, and connecting residents to a series of urban parks and renewed open space, the trail will be an environmentally sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure investment. The opportunities for residents to commute safely without the need of costly motorized transportation, to easily recreate and travel to many parks and playgrounds and to stimulate the economy by opening and supporting business along the Camden County LINK Trail will transform Camden City and County for generations to come. Thank you in advance for your careful consideration of this valuable project. Once again, we express our strong support for the Camden County application for the RAISE grant. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at [email protected] or 856-225-5466. Jeffrey L. Nash County Commissioner TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover Letter ................................................................................................................................................... i I. Project Description ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Project History ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Transportation Challenges Project Will Address ............................................................................. 6 Other Transportation Infrastructure Investments .......................................................................... 7 II. Project Location ........................................................................................................................................... 9 III. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of all Project Funding ...................................................................... 11 Prior Costs ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Project Costs ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Funding Commitments ....................................................................................................................... 12 IV. Selection Criteria ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Safety ...................................................................................................................................................... 13 Environmental Sustainability .............................................................................................................. 15 Quality of Life ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Economic Competitiveness ................................................................................................................ 19 State of Good Repair .......................................................................................................................... 19 Partnership (Secondary Criteria) ........................................................................................................ 20 Innovation (Secondary Criteria) ......................................................................................................... 21 V. Environmental Risk Review ........................................................................................................................ 22 Project Schedule ................................................................................................................................... 22 Required Approvals .............................................................................................................................. 22 Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies .................................................................. 26 VI. Benefit Cost Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 28 APPENDIX (available at www.CamdenCounty.com/RAISE Password: CityInvincible) Appendix A: Original County Resolution (passed June 17, 2021) Appendix B: Revised County Resolution (posted here after approval on July 22, 2021) Appendix C: Other Funding Letter of Commitment (TA Set-Aside) Appendix D: Letters of Support Appendix E: Segment 1A and 3 Detailed Construction Cost Estimates Appendix F: Segment 1A In-Progress Preliminary Design Plans Appendix G: Segment 3 Concept Design Plans Appendix H: Segment 1A and 3 Detailed Project Schedules Appendix I: Equity Analysis Appendix J: Benefit Cost Analysis Appendix J1: BCA Spreadsheet for Entire Project Appendix J2: BCA Spreadsheet for Segment 1A Only Appendix J3: BCA Spreadsheet for Segment 3 Only Appendix K: Federal Wage Rate Certification Letter Appendix L: NJDOT Coordination Meeting Minutes Appendix M: Full LINK Map of All Segments I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Camden County LINK Trail (herein after referred to as “the LINK”) will be a 34-mile active transportation corridor located across the heart of Camden County, New Jersey. This ambitious plan will involve the construction of a paved, 12’ wide, all ages and abilities shared-use (pedestrian, bicycle, and other personal mobility devices) path that will act as the centerpiece of the County’s bicycle and trail network. The LINK will begin at the recently completed Benjamin Franklin Bridge bicycle/pedestrian ramp in the City of Camden, extend through 16 suburban municipalities, and end in the Winslow Wildlife Management Area at the Gloucester County line. The proposed trail, which is intended for both transportation and recreational use, will connect a diverse population to numerous neighborhoods, businesses, employment opportunities, parks and open spaces, and will bisect the urban, suburban, and rural transect of the county. Camden County seeks Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding to construct two critical segments of The LINK that are a priority to building both connections for local travel and momentum for the complete trail. These are identified asSegments 1A and 3 of The LINK. These two segments (herein after referred to as “the project”) are located in the City of Camden and Pennsauken Township, and consist of about 3.8 miles of new paved shared-use path and multiple complex structures. The construction of these two segments will address the following: • The project will connect Camden County, New Jersey residents to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania via the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and will also extend the regional Circuit Trail network, offering future connections to suburban Camden County and beyond. • The City