Request for Committee Action
A briefing memo explaining the purpose, background, and impact of the requested action.
Grant application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the 2022 Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program for the Phillips Traffic Safety Project (RCA-2021-01271)
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transportation & Public Works Committee | November 10, 2021 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resolution | Grant | Passage of Resolution directing the City Engineer to apply for a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure grant to provide funding for the Phillips Traffic Safety Project. |
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ward 9 | Midtown Phillips |
Background Analysis
Public Works will prepare an application to fund a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) project in the vicinity of Andersen United Middle School, via the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Safe Routes to School State Infrastructure Program. These one-time funds are being made available to communities through a competitive process administered through MnDOT.
The SRTS Infrastructure Program was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2012 and is defined in Minnesota Statute 174.40. The intent of this solicitation is to award SRTS grants totaling up to $8.0 million. The program is open to eligible applicants (i.e. cities, counties, school districts, etc.) across the state.
Grant funding for the SRTS Infrastructure Program does not require a local match. MnDOT makes SRTS funds available to fund standalone projects or provide the local match for infrastructure projects that have received federal bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure funding. The City is recommending the submission of one application for a project that will improve pedestrian and bicycle related safety infrastructure in the vicinity of Andersen United Middle School (project location map attached). The City intends to use SRTS funds to supplement the local match for the Phillips Traffic Safety Project, which was awarded $1 million in federal funding in 2020. The application will maximize the use of state funding, which is capped at $500,000. The project is funded locally out of the City’s Pedestrian Safety Program (BP001), with a budget of $2 million: $1 million federal funds, $500,000 local funds, $500,000 Municipal State Aid (MSA) funds. If the City is successful with this grant application, the project budget would be increased to $2.5 million.
Pedestrian and bicycle improvements near Andersen United Middle School under consideration for this project include, but are not limited to signal upgrades, ADA-compliant curb ramps, bump outs, medians, signage, traffic control devices, bikeway upgrades, and intersection pavement markings.