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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0004) IR 21-10592 - Gateway Monument SignsINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10592 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 8, 2021 Page 1 of 2 a SUBJECT: GATEWAY MONUMENT SIGNS r Yn 1@7% The purpose of this Informal Report is to respond to the City Council's recent requestfor 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. Although the project has been delayed by a number of factors, including a change of location prompted by the future widening of 1-30, the Fort Worth Arts Council is finalizing an Advance Funding Agreement with TxDOT that will clear the way for the sign's installation on SH 121. The estimated cost for the project is $405,000 and is being funded in part by a Governor's Community Achievement Award. Assuming no further delays, the project is expected to be completed in 2022. Based on recent gateway monument sign installations in Arlington, Bedford, and Rowlett staff estimates a cost range of $350,000 to $450,000 for the design and construction of one 20-foot tall sign (maximum height), and a cost range of $2,100,000 to $2,700,000 for six signs of the same size. Staff has identified three funding options: Option 1: Use the 1 % for Public Art from a future bond program. It is estimated that the streets and transportation proposition in the planned 2022 Bond Program will generate enough Public Art funding to cover the cost of designing and constructing six gateway monument signs. City Council could formally designate a portion of those future Public Art funds to fund the signs. It should be noted, however, that dedicating Public Art funds for this purpose would necessarily limit funds available for other public art projects. This approach would, however, give the City flexibility when working with TxDOT to determine feasible sites along 1-30, 1-35W and US 287 for the six signs If City Council desires to designate these funds for gateway monument signs in the future, a formal City Council action would be required at that time to express the intent to use public art funding for this purpose. If bond 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 be required 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 relocated due to future highway and rail projects. Cost associated with operating, maintaining, and relocating the signs are not eligible for bond funding and, therefore, must come from another source. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 21-10592 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 8, 2021 Page 2of2 a SUBJECT: GATEWAY MONUMENT SIGNS r Yn 1@7% Option 2: Use pay -go funding. 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. Under this option, the signs would not be classified as public art and, therefore, would not be subject to the public art approval and commissioning process. Option 3: No Action. Take no action on the gateway monument signs proposal. This would leave any public art funding from the future 2022 Bond Program available for other allowable projects. Public art projects would be completed in conjunction and in proximity to streets and transportation projects identified in the Streets and Transportation proposition of the bond program. A recommendation from staff will come in conjunction with the finalization of the 2022 Bond Program. Staff intends to work with TxDOT to identify possible feasible gateway monument sign locations and potential installation timeframes. Regardless of which option Council prefers, staff recommends proceeding with the existing gateway public art project on SH 121, which is essentially funded. For more information, please contact Mark McAvoy, Planning & Data Analytics Director, at 817-392-6222. David Cooke City Manager Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS Potential Gateway Sign Locations V. 0 2.5 5 10 Miles u o� Proposed Gateway Public Art Potential Gateway Sign