Manayunk Trail Bridge

• Project Update • Background • Funding • Timeline • Maintenance Agreement • Recommendation

Background

• Township has worked to extend the CHT across the Manayunk Bridge into with: – City of Philadelphia – Montgomery County – Manayunk Development Corp. (MDC) – PennDOT – Septa – DVRPC

Background

• Manayunk Bridge Trail viewed by regional funders as necessary link to creating a continuous, paved trail from Philadelphia to Valley Forge and beyond ( Trail- SRT).

• Lower Merion section of the trail would by- pass Manayunk by utilizing the Manayunk and Pencoyd bridges and the CHT.

Background

• Township awarded $40,000 DVRPC planning grant to determine feasibility of linking the two bridges via a trail through the steeply sloped Connelly property.

• In 2012 Lower Merion negotiated an amendment to its lease with Septa for the CHT to extend the trail approximately one-third mile across the surface of the Manayunk Bridge.

Background

• As with original lease and two previous amendments, ultimate responsibility for the trail rests with the Township.

• In 2012 Philadelphia negotiated its own lease agreement with Septa for the Ivy Ridge Trail, that will link to the Manayunk Bridge and the SRT.

• City also agreed to re-allocate $1.3 million in PCTI Funds that were awarded to the City for the trail’s construction.

Background

• DVRPC and William Penn Foundation awarded MDC $450,000 for the completion of design and construction documents for the bridge trail.

• In 2012, representatives from many agencies worked with DVRPC, MDC and the consulting team of Whitman, Requardt & Associates to develop the design and construction documents.

Background

• Manayunk Bridge Trail Partners: – Lower Merion – Philadelphia – MDC – Septa – DVRPC – PA Bicycle Coalition – PA Environmental Council

Funding

• $1.3 M – Philadelphia (PennDOT PCTI) $1.1 M – Philadelphia (PennDOT PCTI) $0.5 M – Lower Merion (DCNR) $.25 M – Lower Merion (Capital) $.20 M – Montgomery County (CMAQ) ------$3.35 M – Committed

$3.60 M – Estimated necessary to advertise

Funding

• $250,000 Funding gap $190,000 construction $60,000 – construction inspection

• City of Philadelphia applying for $250,000 DVRPC Regional Trails grant to make up funding gap.

• June 2013: Award notification Project Schedule

• June 2013: Upon notice of grant award; project will proceed.

• Construction anticipated to begin in late 2013 and will extend into 2014. Maintenance Agreement

• Concurrent with the design process, the Township and the City worked together to develop a joint agreement for shared maintenance of the trail once completed.

• Township’s goal: – Keep maintenance responsibilities and tasks consistent with those currently performed on the CHT.

Maintenance Agreement

• Term of agreement the same as CHT lease (initially 30 years).

• Identifies various tasks and responsibilities and the party responsible for completing them.

• Requires both parties to jointly: – Conduct annual inspection of the bridge trail – Complete annual review of agreement – Maintain maintenance records for five years

Tasks & Responsibilities

Lower Merion Philadelphia

• Signage • Daily opening and • Trash collection closing of gates • Graffiti removal • Railing repairs • Unanticipated repairs- • Trail surface repairs Shared • Unanticipated repairs- • Significant repairs / Shared improvements- Shared • Significant repairs / improvements - Shared

Tasks & Responsibilities

• In 2012, staff estimates 200 man hours (25 days) collecting trash, cleaning graffiti along CHT.

• 500 man hours (63 days) to complete other maintenance activities, including, but not limited to: – Lock and gate repairs – Material delivery, debris and brush collection in support of workdays – Trail repairs – Herbicide applications Tasks & Responsibilities

• Labor estimates do not include mowing, which was completed by County Prison work crews and community service workers.

• Once bridge trail is open, estimate trash collection will add approximately 15 – 30 minutes per collection.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Graffiti has become more of a concern on CHT.

• P & R working with Police and FOCHT to address issue.

• Estimate 2 employees @ 1 day per month to remove graffiti on entire trail, including the bridge.

• These are estimates…until the trail is open, cannot know the full impact on P & R’s operation.

• Bridge trail was designed with maintenance in mind.

Recommendation

• Recommend that Board of Commissioners authorize execution of this agreement.

• Maintenance agreement a necessary part of PUC review.

• PUC review must be completed before project can proceed.

End of Presentation