Memorandum

Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	David L. Corliss, Diane Stoddard, Cynthia Boecker
FROM:	Charles F. Soules
CC:	Scott McCullough, Todd Girdler, Shoeb Uddin
Date:	February 24, 2009
RE:	Stimulus February 24, 2009 City Commission Agenda Item

KDOT announced that the State will receive approximately $348 million for road and bridge projects. Of that, approximately $70 million will be shared with City and Counties. Kansas City and Wichita will receive approximately $38 million. The remaining $32 million will be distributed to Kansas communities.

Lawrence is in District #1 which will receive approximately $11 million. Submitted projects will be competitive with other projects in the district (District #1 includes Emporia, Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence, Gardner, DeSoto, and other Kansas City metro communities; however, those Kansas City communities are included in the $38 million that Kansas City and Wichita will split).

Projects must be submitted by March 13, 2009 with certification that the project can be obligated by December 1, 2009. Obligated is defined as having environmental clearances, right-of-way obtained, and historical review completed. The City has two projects that can meet these criteria:

2nd & Locust - Ready to bid. Right-of-Way is owned by the City. Environmental and historical review completed. The project was cleared. Estimated cost is $2.5 – $3 million. Non-participating items include replacement of the water main in the intersection (approximately $200,000). It would be recommended that this project be the City’s first priority (including the water main; but we may be told that the water main is non-participating).

Kasold Drive, 31^st Street to Clinton Parkway – While staff is currently in the process of consultant selection, this project is a reconstruction of existing infrastructure. The project will not have any right-of-way to acquire and should qualify for a categorical exclusion under environmental review. This project could be ready for the KDOT December 1 deadline. Estimated cost is around $6 million and may not get fully funded. However, we should submit a second project “just in case”.

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT

The State will also receive approximately $10.4 million in Transportation Enhancement dollars. These funds will be awarded to projects meeting the requirements (attached). There are three categories: Historical, Pedestrian and Bicycle, and Scenic and Environmental.

Staff met with KDOT Monday to discuss the attached list. Transportation Enhancement projects must be ready in 120 days.

KDOT has requested a preliminary list of potential projects by Friday to evaluate the needs of the State. They will turn around and request applications within a short time frame – possibly next week.

Staff is recommending submittal of the following projects in priority order:

Historic: