National Infrastructure Investments (Tiger 6) Grant ApplicationTHE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER 6) Grant Application
DATE: April 15, 2014
Dubuque
band
AI -America City
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2007 • 2012 • 2013
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos requests City Council approval to submit an application to
the U.S. Department of Transportation for the National Infrastructure Investments
(TIGER 6) Grant in the amount of $11,940,0000 to assist in funding a portion of the 14th
Street Railroad Overpass and the Bee Branch Bike -Pedestrian Railroad Overpass
projects. It is further recommended that the City Manager be named the authorized
representative for the grant application and grant administration for these projects.
The Canadian Pacific Railroad travels through the urban core of the City with numerous
at -grade crossings on local city streets in the downtown area. With an approximate 6-8
trains passing through Dubuque on a daily basis, this impedes the ability for pedestrian,
vehicles, commercial traffic and emergency responders to access the northeast
segment of the City.
As early as 1958, a planning level study was developed for a bridge crossing over the
railroad at 14th Street. The current proposed 14th Street Overpass would provide an
unimpeded elevated crossing over the railroad tracks, thus providing unimpeded access
to the Kerper Boulevard Industrial Park, Dove Harbor Industrial Development, the
redeveloped 16th Street Corridor, the tourism and recreational amenities on Chaplain
Schmitt Island, and also Highway 61/151 into Wisconsin.
The proposed Bee Branch bike/pedestrian bridge over the Canadian Pacific Railroad
will provide an off-street trail between the 26 -mile Dubuque County Heritage Trail and
the Mississippi River that does not exist at this time. The Dubuque County Heritage
Trail links Dubuque to Dyersville. The project will be part of the City's 18 -mile network
of on -street routes and off-road trails connecting the north end of the city with the
riverfront, the downtown area, City parks, and the Mines of Spain State Recreational
Area on the south end of Dubuque. The Bee Branch bike/pedestrian bridge is the
"missing link" that will join with miles of other trails that line Dubuque neighborhoods,
skirt the Mississippi River, and wind through steep hills, all within the city limits. The
trail project will enhance connections to link to public spaces, like Comiskey Park,
regional and national trails like the Mississippi River Trail and the Great River Road.
The Bee Branch bike/pedestrian overpass will provide a safe crossing over the railroad
tracks for families and children in the adjoining neighborhoods.
The Fiscal Year 2014 Appropriations Act appropriated $600 million to be awarded by the
U.S. Department of Transportation for the TIGER 6 Discretionary Grants program.
The total project costs are estimated at $19,900,000. To make the application competitive,
there is a need to minimize the amount of federal grant funds requires. At $5,970,000, the
City would be providing 40% of the project costs (20% is required). The source of City
funds would be Downtown Urban Renewal Tax Increment Financing debt. DMATS would
be providing $1,990,000 in Federal Surface Transportation Funds, as approved at the April
10, 2014 DMATS Board meeting. The remaining $11,940,000 would come from the U.S.
Department of Transportation TIGER grant.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
'fill'41 "
MicKael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
2
THE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manages
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER 6) Grant Application
DATE: April 15, 2014
Dubuque
Cy
1111
2007 • 2012 •2013
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval to submit an application to
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the National Infrastructure Investments
(TIGER 6) Grant to assist in funding a portion of the 14th Street Railroad Overpass and
the Bee Branch Bike - Pedestrian Railroad Overpass projects.
BACKGROUND
The Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad travels through the urban core of the City with
numerous at -grade crossings on local city streets in the downtown area. With an
approximate 6-8 trains passing through Dubuque on a daily basis, this impedes the
ability for pedestrian, vehicles, commercial traffic and emergency responders to access
the northeast segment of the City.
14TH STREET RAILROAD OVERPASS
As early as 1958, a planning level study was developed for a bridge crossing over the
railroad at 14th Street. The current proposed 14th Street Overpass would provide an
unimpeded elevated crossing over the railroad tracks, thus providing unimpeded access
to the Kerper Boulevard Industrial Park, Dove Harbor Industrial Development, the
redeveloped 16th Street Corridor, the tourism and recreational amenities on Chaplain
Schmitt Island, and also the Highway 61/151 into Wisconsin.
BEE BRANCH BIKE - PEDESTRIAN RAILROAD OVERPASS
The proposed Bee Branch bike/pedestrian bridge over the CP Railroad will provide an
off-street trail between the 26 -mile Dubuque County Heritage Trail and the Mississippi
River that does not exist at this time. The Dubuque County Heritage Trail links Dubuque
to Dyersville. The project will be part of the City's 18 -mile network of on -street routes
and off-road trails connecting the north end of the city with the riverfront, the downtown
area, City parks, and the Mines of Spain State Recreational Area on the south end of
Dubuque. The Bee Branch bike/pedestrian bridge is the "missing link" that will join with
miles of other trails that line Dubuque neighborhoods, skirt the Mississippi River, and
wind through steep hills all within the city limits. The trail project will enhance
connections to Zink to public spaces, like Comiskey Park, regional and national trails like
the MRT (Mississippi River Trail) and the Great River Road. The Bee Branch
bike/pedestrian overpass will provide a safe crossing over the railroad tracks for families
and children in the adjoining neighborhoods.
TIGER GRANT FUNDING
The FY 2014 Appropriations Act appropriated $600 million to be awarded by DOT for
the TIGER 6 Discretionary Grants program. As in previous rounds, the FY 2014 TIGER
Discretionary Grants are for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure,
and are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant
impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. Projects that are eligible for
TIGER Discretionary Grants ("Eligible Projects") for capital projects include, but are not
limited to: (1) Highway or bridge projects; (2) public transportation projects; (3)
passenger and freight rail transportation projects; (4) port infrastructure investments;
and (5) intermodal projects.
BUDGET IMPACT
The planning level cost projections for the 14th Street Railroad Overpass and the Bee
Branch Bike - Pedestrian Railroad Overpass projects is summarized as follows:
14th Street Railroad Overpass
Bee Branch Bike - Pedestrian Railroad Overpass
Total - Planning Level Cost Projection
The project funding summary is as follows:
Fund Description
TIGER 6 Discretionary Grant
Local - DMATS Surface Transportation Funds
Local - City Funds
Total Project Funding
Estimate
$ 15,400,000
4,500,000
$ 19,900,000
Percentage Fund Amount
60 % $ 11,940,000
10 % 1,990,000
40 % 5,970,000
100 % $ 19,900,000
At the April 10th, 2014 DMATS meeting, the Policy Boards approved $1,990,000 in
DMATS Surface Transportation Funds for the project.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend City Council approval of the following actions:
1. Submit an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for $11,940,000
in TIGER 6 Discretionary Grant funding to assist in funding a portion of the
2
proposed 14th Street Railroad Overpass and the Bee Branch Bike - Pedestrian
Railroad Overpass projects.
2. Establish the City's authorized representative for the grant as the City Manager
regarding the grant application and grant administration for the proposed 14th
Street Railroad Overpass and the Bee Branch Bike - Pedestrian Railroad
Overpass projects.
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request that the City Council adopt the attached resolutions:
1. Approving the City's application for $11,940,000 in National Infrastructure
Investments (TIGER 6) Discretionary Grant funding for the proposed 14th Street
Railroad Overpass and the Bee Branch Bike - Pedestrian Railroad Overpass
projects;
2. Establishing the City Manager as the City's authorized representative regarding
the grant.
Prepared by Robert Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
Teri Goodman, Assistant City Manager
Don Vogt, Public Works Director
Bob Green, Water Department Manager
Chandra Ravada, ECIA
3
Prepared by: Robert Schiesl, City Hall, 50 W 13th Street, Dubuque IA 52001 563-589-4270
RESOLUTION NO. 123-14
APPROVING APPLICATION FOR NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
(TIGER 6) DISCRETIONARY GRANT FUNDING FOR THE PROPOSED 14TH
STREET RAILROAD OVERPASS AND THE BEE BRANCH BIKE - PEDESTRIAN
RAILROAD OVERPASS PROJECTS
Whereas, the Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad travels through the urban core of the
City with numerous at -grade crossings on local city streets in the downtown area; and
Whereas, an approximate 6-8 trains passing through Dubuque on a daily basis,
impedes the ability for pedestrian, vehicles, commercial traffic and emergency
responders to access the northeast segment of the City; and
Whereas, the City's Long Range Transportation Plan includes a proposed elevated
bridge overpass over the railroad at -grade crossing at 14th Street; and
Whereas, the Bee Branch bike/pedestrian bridge will provide a safe crossing over the
CP railroad tracks that will join miles of trails throughout Dubuque neighborhoods to the
Mississippi River; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque will submit a TIGER 6 grant application for
$11,940,00.00 that will connect people to jobs; and
Whereas, the Application requires that the City Council agree to provide and make
available up to $5,790,000.00 in local funding to be used for the local match
requirement of the TIGER 6 grant application; and
Whereas, the City must establish an authorized representative able to execute on
behalf of the City of Dubuque for the proposed 14th Street Railroad Overpass and the
Bee Branch Bike/Pedestrian Railroad Overpass Project.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Approving the City's application for $11,940,000 in National Infrastructure
Investments (TIGER 6) Discretionary Grant funding for the proposed 14th Street
Railroad Overpass and the Bee Branch Bike/Pedestrian Railroad Overpass projects.
Section 2. Establishing the City Manager as the City's authorized representative
regarding the grant.
Passed, approved and adopted this 21st day of April, 2014.
Attest:
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
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