Agenda Information Sheet
DEPARTMENT: Transportation
CM/ ACM: John Cabrales, Jr.
Date: February 21, 2017
SUBJECT
Title
Consider adoption of an ordinance of the City of Denton, Texas, approving Amendment No. 1 to an interlocal cooperation agreement between the City of Denton and Denton County, Texas, regarding the construction of Metro Street and Improvements to Corbin Street, terminating the agreement; and providing an effective date.
Body
BACKGROUND
In 2006, Denton County identified $2.4 million to be applied to a proposed mobility enhancement project on the west side of Denton known as the Metro-Corbin Project. Funding was to be applied to engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of Metro Street on a new alignment as a two-lane undivided roadway from the Interstate 35 West service road west to Corbin Road. Additionally, Corbin Road was to be improved from a two-lane undivided highway north of its intersection with Metro Street to its intersection with FM 1515.
The project’s total cost was to be $5 million of which $4.5 million was estimated for construction. On December 6, 2006, the City Council approved Ordinance 2006-350, entering into an interlocal agreement with Denton County stating that the County would provide $2.4 million and the City of Denton would contribute the remaining $2.6 million for the proposed project. After preliminary engineering was completed, the project estimate was revised to $6.5 million. Efforts to fund the additional estimated costs were unsuccessful, thus the Metro-Corbin project was not advanced.
In 2015, the Mobility Committee identified FM 1515 (Airport Road) as a priority project to address growth and development of the industrial area along Airport Road and Western Center Boulevard. The County indicated they would take the lead in advancing the enhancement of FM 1515, an on-system state roadway, and recommended $1.5 million of the funding originally programmed for Metro-Corbin be reprogrammed for the preliminary design to enhance FM 1515 from a rural two-lane undivided highway to a six-lane divided urban roadway to support existing and future growth in the area. The County has developed a request for proposal (RFP) for this design work and will advertise the RFP, once funding is established.
With the recent completion of the US 380 project, expanding the previous two-lane undivided highway to a six-lane urban roadway, it was necessary to seek a signal warrant through TxDOT to improve safety at this intersection. In late 2016, TxDOT notified the County and the City of Denton, that the signal met warrant and was approved, however, the City would be required to fund the signal. Denton County Commissioner Eads has agreed to assist with funding of a newly warranted traffic signal at Cindy Lane and US 380.
The County has submitted a draft interlocal agreement between the City of Denton and Denton County stating the County will contribute up to $250,000 for the signal and that the City of Denton will contribute approximately $150,000 of the remaining funding requirement for implementation of the signal.
Denton County has indicated they will utilize a portion of the remaining funds originally committed to the Metro-Corbin project to fund their portion of the signal.
OPTIONS
1. Adopt the proposed ordinance approving Amendment 1 to the interlocal cooperation agreement to terminate the current agreement and allowing the Denton County to reprogram funds for other mobility and traffic safety enhancements.
2. Do not adopt the proposed ordinance and terminate the current interlocal cooperation agreement with Denton County.
3. Provide staff with additional direction and/or options regarding the existing interlocal cooperation agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Option 1, approving Amendment 1 to terminate the interlocal cooperation agreement
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
If approved, the County will reprogram a majority of the funds within 30 days to provide funding for an RFP for design services for FM 1515. A subsequent interlocal agreement to fund the signal at Cindy Lane and US 380 will be submitted for consideration within six weeks.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
Mobility Committee received a briefing on this proposed ordinance as part of the February 2017 regular meeting.
FISCAL INFORMATION
$1.5 million of the original $2.4 million in County funding will be programmed for preliminary design for the FM 1515 project. $250,000 of County funds will be reprogrammed to jointly fund the recently warranted $400,000 signal for Cindy Lane and US 380.
STRATEGIC PLAN RELATIONSHIP
The City of Denton’s Strategic Plan is an action-oriented road map that will help the City achieve its vision. The foundation for the plan is the five long-term Key Focus Areas (KFA): Organizational Excellence; Public Infrastructure; Economic Development; Safe, Livable, and Family-Friendly Community; and Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship. While individual items may support multiple KFAs, this specific City Council agenda item contributes most directly to the following KFA and goal:
Related Key Focus Area: Safe, Liveable & Family-Friendly Community
Related Goal: 1.6 Collaborate with local, regional, state, and federal partners
EXHIBITS
1. Ordinance 2006-250
2. Ordinance - Amendment 1 to the Interlocal Agreement
Respectfully submitted:
Mark Nelson
Director of Transportation