HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8666INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8666
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 8, 2005
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SUBJECT: Lancaster Avenue Funding
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TxDOT has taken bids and is in the process of awarding the Lancaster Avenue reconstruction project.
The contractor plans to start work on the site in early to mid April 2005.
The City has already paid its costs for design and has paid TxDOT for a share of construction based on
TxDOT's determination of local participation. However, there are still remaining costs for the project. The
estimates for these remaining costs are:
$900,000 for right -of -way acquisition
• $1,500,000 for median treatments (art, landscaping, lights)
• $50,000 for engineering during construction ($250,000 total — 80% to be reimbursed from Federal
funds)
• $2,450,000 Total
The remaining balance in the project account is approximately $200,000, leaving a deficiency of
$2,250,000.
A principal reason for the deficiency is that the total Federal and State funding currently obligated for the
project is $2,110,000 less than included in the Local Project Advance Funding Agreement executed by
the City and TxDOT in February 2002. Staff met with the Director of Transportation for the North Central
Texas Council of Governments ( NCTCOG) regarding the matter and he is actively checking into potential
solutions.
Another major reason for the deficiency is that TxDOT declared $1,600,000 of construction costs to be
ineligible for Federal and State funding. Staff is protesting that decision and has also discussed this
matter with the Director of Transportation for NCTCOG. There appears to be precedent for the City's
position that Federal and State funding should be available for all elements of the construction and Staff is
optimistic that monies already paid to TxDOT for these items will be refunded. Staff is scheduling follow -
up meetings with NCTCOG and TxDOT to resolve this funding discrepancy.
However, to avoid delaying the construction contract, we must proceed with the final right -of -way
acquisition and funding of construction engineering. Within the next month, M &Cs totaling approximately
$900,000 for three right -of -way takings, and for a $180,000 contract amendment for construction
engineering, will be presented for approval.
To this end, Staff proposes to use balances from January 2002 and March 2003 Certificate of Obligation
accounts. These balances had been earmarked for other under - funded projects. The plan is to replace
s nces when-.I a dditional Federal and State funding, as described above, is received.
Charle R. Bo
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS