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Support a RAISE Grant Application for a Feasibility Study for Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town Manager |
Manager’s Office |
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Britany Waddell, Planning Director |
Planning |
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Bergen Watterson, Transportation Planning Manager |
Planning |
Overview: Town staff are preparing an application to the 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program. Of the $12.1 billion available for the RAISE program this year, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has allocated up to $115 million for planning grants. In pursuit of implementing the Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways element of the Complete Community framework, Town staff have identified a network of key greenway and off-road facility corridors to submit for a feasibility study. This network of priority corridors was chosen from the to-be-adopted Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways Plan, which is a combination of existing projects in the Town’s Mobility Plan <https://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/agendas/2020/10/28/20201023_Mobility_and_Connectivity_Plan.pdf> and the recommended greenway locations that came from the Keesmaat Group’s Complete Community <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/businesses/complete-community> framework. Grant consultant Iona Thomas, an experienced greenways planner with ample experience with RAISE grant applications, is providing guidance and support to staff to navigate the grant process and submit a compelling project application.
If awarded, the RAISE grant would require at least a 20% local match. Staff estimates a high-quality feasibility study of the greenway network would cost $1.3 million. Our grant consultant recommends requesting a $1 million grant, for which the Town would provide a $300,000 (23%) local match. Providing a higher than minimum local match may increase the chances of receiving funding. The grant application is due on February 28, 2023.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council adopt the resolution supporting the 2023 RAISE grant application.
Key Issues:
• If awarded, this funding would support a key step towards implementing Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways.
• It can often take several attempts for a jurisdiction to be awarded a RAISE grant.
• The local match is not required unless the funding is awarded.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: If awarded a $1 million grant, the Town would need to provide a $300,000 (23%) local match. This funding, if needed, could come from the final issuance of the 2015 Streets and Sidewalks General Obligation Bonds, which the Town is in the process of issuing and are scheduled to close in early March 2023. The Town received unanticipated federal funding through the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) for the Fordham Sidepath project, freeing up bond monies that can now be allocated to this project if needed.
Where is this item in its process?
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING a RAISE Grant Application for aN EVERYWHERE TO EVERYWHERE GREENWAYS FEASIBILITY STUDY (2023-02-22/R-5)
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is soliciting applications for the 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, under which $12.1 billion will be made available to fund infrastructure projects across the country; and
WHEREAS, USDOT will allocate up to $115 million of RAISE funds for planning grants; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill is submitting a 2023 RAISE application for a feasibility study for a network of priority greenway and off-road facility corridors; and
WHEREAS, this network of priority corridors comes from the (to-be-adopted) Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways Plan and is an element of the Complete Community framework; and
WHEREAS, a complete feasibility study would make the greenway projects ready for implementation and competitive in state and federal funding processes; and
WHEREAS, greenways will improve access and create more transportation choices for all residents and visitors to Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the RAISE grant requires at least a 20% local match, and the Town will use 2015 Streets and Sidewalks General Obligation Bonds for this purpose.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council supports a 2023 RAISE Grant Program application for an Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways feasibility study.
This the 22nd day of February, 2023.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
By adopting the resolution, the Council supports a 2023 RAISE Grant Program application for an Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways feasibility study.