Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution authorizing the amendment of an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Highway Safety Improvement Program lighting projects on Bluff Springs Road from William Cannon Drive to Slaughter Lane and McNeil Drive from US 183 to Parmer Lane for a total estimated revised cost of $1,244,794 with the City’s share of the revised costs estimated to be $357,992 plus any cost overruns.
De
Lead Department
Transportation and Public Works Department
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Transportation and Public Works Department.
Prior Council Action:
Resolution No. 20230518-038 authorizing negotiation and execution of an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Highway Safety Improvement Program lighting projects on Bluff Springs Road from William Cannon Drive to Slaughter Lane and McNeil Drive from US 183 to Parmer Lane for a total estimated cost of $1,244,792 with the City’s share of the costs estimated to be $530,000 plus any cost overruns was approved on consent on an 11-0 vote.
For More Information:
Richard Mendoza, Interim Director, 512-974-2488; Anna Martin, Assistant Director, 512-974-7105; Yvette Mendoza, Capital Improvement Program Manager, 512-974-2491; Gilda Powers, Administration, 512-974-7092.
Additional Backup Information:
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a federally funded program, administered by States, to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads through the implementation of infrastructure-related highway safety improvements. The Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) staff worked with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) District Offices to identify potential Austin projects for this program. Based on local crash data, TPW submitted Bluff Springs Road and McNeil Drive Lighting projects to the TxDOT area offices.
Projects were selected and awarded with the initial cost of $1,244,792 of federal funds for construction. Aside from the grant funds, TxDOT is separately contributing contract administration costs. Funding for all non-construction aspects of the projects is available from the 2018 Bond, Proposition G, Vision Zero funds. Construction cost overruns will be the City’s responsibility. Previously, the federal participation cost shares included 90% of costs contributed by TxDOT and 10% of costs contributed by the City. Recently, TxDOT has agreed to fund 100% of federal participation costs. The City is responsible for the design and cost overruns but TxDOT is now contributing 100% of the construction portion of federal participation cost, which lowers the City’s participation cost to $357,992
Safety lighting is an important part of a roadway safety program. According to the HSIP documentation, safety lighting can have a crash reduction factor of 49%, one of the highest benefit-to-cost ratios in the suite of available safety improvements. The Bluff Springs lighting project was submitted by the Vision Zero team after a crash data analysis revealed a relatively high number of crashes that listed “dark” conditions on the crash reports.
Construction cost overruns will be the City’s responsibility. TPW is working with TxDOT to secure the necessary state and federal authorizations to bid on the projects in early 2024. TPW is coordinating with Austin Energy to implement these lighting projects in the Summer of 2024.