CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: August 1, 2022 Action Required: Council Approval Presenter: Christine Jacobs Executive Director Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), Ryan Michkles Regional Planner III TJPDC Staff Contacts: Sandy Shackelford Director of Planning & Transportation TJPDC Chuck Protor Culpeper District Planning Manager Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Jeanette Janiczek, UCI Program Manager Title: Resolution of Support for four (4) TJPDC / MPO Grant Applications (1 reading) Background Virginia’s SMART SCALE (§33.2-214.1) is a grant process where transportation projects are scored and funded based on an objective, outcome-based process that is transparent to the public. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) continues to refine the process in each round, with this being the fifth round. Eligible projects include newly constructed facilities that increase capacity, provide safety elements or improve operations for vehicles, transit, bicyclists and/or pedestrians. Project applications must also meet an identified need in the Commonwealth’s long-range transportation plan – VTrans2040 - under one or more of the following categories: • Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS) – certain key multimodal corridors • Regional Networks – certain multimodal networks that serve urbanized or intraregional travel areas • Urban Development Areas (UDA) – areas of identified concentrated growth and development • Transportation Safety Needs – Statewide safety needs identified in VTrans2040 Each project in the Culpeper District is scored by six (6) factors and their weighted basis: • Safety – 20% • Congestion Mitigation – 15% • Accessibility – 25% • Environmental Quality – 10% • Economic Development – 20% • Land Use – 10% Once a project is scored, that score is divided by its submitted budget/estimate to create its final ranking/funding priority. Even if a project has many benefits, if the cost of implementation is too high, it will receive a low final ranking/ funding priority. One method of improving a project’s score is to commit additional funding to lower the amount of funding being sought, or cost of the project for the SmartScale application. Next Steps: VDOT will evaluate all applications received and will issue a Recommended Funding Scenario for projects to receive funding in January 2023. From February to April 2023, public meetings will be held to discuss Funding Scenario to inform the Commonwealth Transportation Board's adoption of the Six Year Improvement Plan (SYIP) which finalized awards to projects in the Funding Scenario in June 2023. Discussion The Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Organization (CA-MPO) and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) have the opportunity to submit Smart Scale applications in addition to the applications submitted by localities. The projects addressed herein are competing for VDOT’s High-Priority Projects funds against projects across the state due to the estimated benefits in providing capacity on a Corridor of Statewide Significance and regional network. These four grant applications would not be competing against the City’s grant applications. Letters of Resolution have been provided for these three grant applications by the Charlottesville- Albemarle MPO as well as County of Albemarle and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Since these grant applications impact land located within the City, a Resolution of Support is being sought from the Charlottesville City Council tonight on all three projects. The following projects were identified as critical needs in previous planning documents (Hydraulic Small Area Plan, Long Range Transportation Plan 2045, Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan). Each project has been evaluated to ensure it meets Smart Scale eligibility as well as address the 6 scoring factors. 1) Avon Street Multimodal Improvements Preliminary Cost Estimate (with contingency) $9.4 million Application Project Manager Ryan Mickles, TJPDC Scope – This project includes multiple elements to improve safety and mobility. The project will develop a package of multimodal transportation improvements along Avon Street between Druid Avenue and Fifth Street Station Parkway. Improvements include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and roadway widening on the west side of Avon Street among other improvements. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement –A public webinar was held in February 2022 to obtain feedback from the community. Additional Details– Improvements were identified in the Avon Street Corridor Study. 2) District Avenue (at Hydraulic Road) Roundabout Preliminary Cost Estimate (with contingency) $10.3 million Application Project Manager Ryan Mickles, TJPDC Scope – The project will improve vehicular movement at the intersection with Hydraulic Road/Cedar Hill Road, along with the provision of bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility accommodations. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement – A public webinar was held in February 2022 to obtain feedback from the community. Additional Details–The city is working with VDOT on how to best accommodate the residents of the Cedar Hill neighborhood regarding access and mitigating residential impacts. 3) Fifth Street Multimodal Improvements Preliminary Cost Estimate (with contingency) $9.4 million Application Project Manager Ryan Mickles, TJPDC Scope – The project will address capacity issues along a major local roadway between Harris Road and the Moores Creek Trail, facilitate vehicular movement and help provide for accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement – A public webinar was held in February 2022 to obtain feedback from the community. Additional Details– Improvements were identified in the Fifth Street Corridor Study. 4) Rivanna River Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge Crossing Preliminary Cost Estimate (with contingency) $34.2 million Application Project Manager Sandy Shackelford, TJPDC Scope – This project improves bicycle and pedestrian bridge access across the Rivanna River at East Market Street in Woolen Mills, connecting two important development areas on either side of the river. An additional shared use path will be constructed from the eastern landing site in Pantops to connect the bridge to the transportation network at the intersection of Peter Jefferson Parkway and State Farm Boulevard. Current Plan Development Status and Public Engagement – A public webinar was held in February 2022 to obtain feedback from the community. Public comments have been recorded and filed at the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (Charlottesville-Abemarle MPO). Additional Details – In May 2022, VDOT provided the MPO with a bridge design concept/rendering that would reduce the final cost once determined. Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan Approval of these agenda items upholds the City’s commitment to create “a green city", “America’s healthiest city", and “a connected community” by expanding sustainable and healthy transportation options and improving regional transportation efficiency. Furthermore, these projects expand transportation options that will be available to residents “of all ages and incomes". Community Engagement Provided in the Discussion Section for each project proposal. Budgetary Impact No funding is requested from the City of Charlottesville for these projects. Recommendation Staff recommends approval of the attached Resolutions of Support for the 4 projects Suggested Motion: "I move the RESOLUTION endorsing the submission of Smart Scale (House Bill 2) Applications Requesting transportation funding by the Charlottesville Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization" Alternatives 1. Avon Street Multimodal Improvements 2. District Avenue (at Hydraulic Road) Roundabout 3. Fifth Street Multimodal Improvements 4. Rivanna River Bycycle and Pedestrian Bridge Crossing Remove one or all of the projects from the Resolutions of Support so that support from the City of Charlottesville would not be included with the grant applications, which may impact the ability of the project(s) to receive funding. Attachments 1. RESOLUTION ENDORSING MPO _ TJPDC SMART SCALE SUBMISSIONS 2. 2022-07-2 0 CAT Support Letter 3. Visuals_MPO project as of 07-13-2022 Proposed Concepts