Manayunk Trail Bridge • Project Update • Background • Funding • Timeline • Maintenance Agreement • Recommendation Background • Township has worked to extend the CHT across the Manayunk Bridge into Philadelphia 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 (Schuylkill River 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 .