STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Transportation & Infrastructure
AGENDA DATE: August 14, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 1, 4
DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation
EXECUTIVE: Dev Rastogi
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize (1) the acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the FY 2021 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant (Grant No. 693JJ32440109, Assistant Listing No. 20.933) in the amount of $900,000.00 to support planning, design, and engineering for projects surrounding the Southern Gateway Park from the effective date of award through September 30, 2027, which has an estimated total project cost of $1,375,000.00; (2) the receipt and deposit of funds in an amount not to exceed $900,000.00 in the Connecting Communities in the Southern Gateway - RAISE Grant Fund; (3) the establishment of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $900,000.00 in the Connecting Communities in the Southern Gateway - RAISE Grant Fund; (4) provide matching funds in the amount of $69,090.91 from General Funds; (5) the receipt and deposit of funds in an amount not to exceed $388,636.37 from the Dallas Zoo in the Transportation Special Projects Fund; (6) the receipt and deposit of funds in an amount not to exceed $17,272.72 from the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation in the Transportation Special Projects Fund; (7) the increase of appropriations in an amount not to exceed $405,909.09 in the Transportation Special Projects Fund; (8) execute the grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation and all terms, conditions, and documents required by the agreement; and (9) execute a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Dallas, the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation and the Dallas Zoo - Not to exceed $1,375,000.00- Financing: Connecting Communities in the Southern Gateway - RAISE Grant Fund ($900,000.00), General Fund ($69,090.91), and Transportation Special Projects Fund ($405,909.09)
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BACKGROUND
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program funds eligible surface transportation projects that have a significant local or regional impact, and advance safety, equity, sustainability, and good job creation. A direct successor to the TIGER and BUILD grant programs, the RAISE program is funded by a combination of appropriations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and regular annual appropriations from Congress.
The City of Dallas partnered with the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation and the Dallas Zoo to submit the Connecting Communities in the Southern Gateway application, which will fund planning, design, and engineering for a series of mobility projects that will enhance connectivity throughout the historically underserved neighborhoods surrounding the future Southern Gateway Park and renovated Dallas Zoo plaza, and ensure safe connections into the Park and Zoo Plaza.
First, Connecting Communities in the Southern Gateway will create a comprehensive master plan for projects connecting the surrounding neighborhoods in Oak Cliff into the Southern Gateway Park and Dallas Zoo plaza. In addition, funding will provide for design and engineering for five projects that increase safety and accessibility:
1) Pedestrian and ADA bridges from the Zoo’s new parking garage and surface lot parking facilities across the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail tracks at Clarendon Drive to safely move pedestrians from the Zoo DART Station and future parking garage to the Zoo’s entrance and public green space.
2) Pedestrian improvements and improvements to the street grid at Lancaster and 12th Street to link the Southern Gateway Park to neighborhoods west of Interstate Highway (IH)-35E.
3) Pedestrian improvements at Ewing and the IH-35E northbound service road.
4) Moving the current zoo entrance further north along the northbound frontage road will improve pedestrian safety in a variety of ways.
5) A new exit from the zoo’s parking garage to Marsalis.
RAISE grants require a minimum of 20% in local matching funds be provided, with additional funding scoring higher. The City will provide $69,090.91 in matching funds towards the master plan, and the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation and Dallas Zoo will provide $17,272.72 and $388,636.37 respectively for design and engineering. To facilitate the partnership, a Memorandum of Understanding has been drafted that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner, which includes the transfer of matching funds to the City.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
This item has no prior action.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2024 |
FY 2025 |
Future Years |
|
Connecting Communities in the Southern Gateway - RAISE Grant Fund |
$45,000.00 |
$ 810,000.00 |
$45,000.00 |
|
Transportation Special Projects Fund |
$20,295.00 |
$ 365,319.09 |
$20,295.00 |
|
General Fund |
$ 3,454.54 |
$ 62,181.83 |
$ 3,454.54 |
|
Total |
$68,749.54 |
$1,237,500.92 |
$68,749.54 |
Council District Amount
1 $ 68,750.00
4 $1,306,250.00
Total $1,375,000.00
MAP
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