Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10083 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10083 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 9, 2018 P�Tk$q 0EV o Page 1 of 2 SUBJECT: GATEWAY MONUMENT SIGNS 1675 The purpose of this Informal Report is to respond to the City Council's recent request for information on gateway monument signs. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provides guidelines for the installation of gateway monument signs within TxDOT right-of-way. The North Texas Tollway Authority does not allow gateway monument signs. The attached map depicts conceptual locations for six signs at Fort Worth's highway gateways along 1-30, 1-35W, and US 287. The attached map also depicts the location of the current gateway public art project on SH 121. This project was originally proposed for 1-30 in East Fort Worth. Construction documents were substantially complete when the City and TxDOT were notified that the Federal Highway Administration was revoking previously-granted permission to allow the nonconforming design on 1-30. Currently, the project awaits revisions to the final design to fit the new TxDOT approved site on SH 121. Based on recent gateway monument sign installations in Arlington and Bedford, staff estimates a cost of $400,000 for the design and construction of one 20-foot tall sign (maximum height), and a cost of approximately $2,400,000 for six signs of the same size. There will be additional costs for project management and contingencies. Staff has identified three funding options: Option 1 : Use the 1% for Public Art from Proposition A, Transportation. It is possible that the 1% Public Art Funds from the 2018 Bond Program, Proposition A (Streets and Transportation), currently estimated at $2,555,000, be formally designated by City Council as being for the gateway monument signs. This approach would give the City flexibility when working with TxDOT to determine feasible sites along 1-30, 1-35W and US 287 for the six signs. It should be noted, however, that taking this approach would mean that no bond funds will remain for other public art projects associated with Streets and Transportation projects in the 2018 Bond Program, Proposition A. If City Council desires to designate these funds for gateway monument signs, a formal City Council action is required to express the intent to use the Proposition A public art funds for the gateway monument signs. This action can be included in the M&C in which the City Council takes action to amend the City Code and reduce the public art allocation from 2% to 1% for Proposition A, or it can be done as a separate action item. If these funds are used for design, engineering, and construction of the gateway monument signs, it is appropriate for an artist to be selected in accordance to the Council-adopted Fort Worth Public Master Plan Update. The artist's design will need to comply with TxDOT's guidelines and can be used at all six locations. The signs should be designed and constructed such that they can be ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10083 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 9, 2018 P5;Tk$q 0EV o Page 2 of 2 SUBJECT: GATEWAY MONUMENT SIGNS 1675 relocated due to future highway and rail projects. Funds for operation, maintenance, as well as any future relocations of the signs, will need to come from another source since these are not allowable expenditures for bond funds. Option 2: Use pay-go funding incrementally and seek grant funds from the State as they become available. The City could allocate a portion of the annual Pay-go funding for gateway sign funding and wait for additional funds to be allocated by the State or Federal Government to add the gateway monument signs incrementally. Each year the sign projects would compete with other capital projects for annual funding. Option 3: No Action. Option 3 would be to take no action on the gateway monument signs proposal. This would leave the 2018 Bond Program as currently proposed and the art program funded according to the 1% for public art proposal for proposition A Streets and Transportation. Public art projects would be completed in conjunction and in proximity to streets and transportation projects in the bond program. An amendment to the public art ordinance is still needed to reduce the 2% for public art to 1% for public art in Proposition A Streets and Transportation. A recommendation from staff will be forthcoming and the decision making process will be concluded prior to finalizing the 2018 bond program. Staff intends to work with TxDOT to identify possible feasible gateway monument sign locations and potential installation timeframes. With all of the options, staff recommends proceeding with the existing gateway public art project on SH 121 , which is already funded. For more information, please contact Randle Harwood, Planning and Development Director, at 817-392-6101 . David Cooke City Manager Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS Potential Gateway Sign Locations tt/ P 28 r B I ° 121 287 Proposed Gateway Public Art N 0 2.5 5 10 Miles Potential I I I I I I I I I Gateway Sign