Regular 11.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 08/27/2012
- TITLE
- 2009 Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan Amendment
- PRESENTED BY:
- Candi Beaudry
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
Information
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
In June of 2010, the Policy Coordinating Committee approved an update to the Billings Urban Area Long-Range Transportation Plan. Identified in this plan was the Billings Bypass Project that constructs a 2-lane highway from approximately the I-90/I-94 interchange to Highway 312. This construction includes a new Yellowstone River crossing. At the time of plan approval, the estimated cost of the bypass was $63 million. The current cost of the project is estimated to be $89 million. With the increased cost and the need to fiscally constrain the project, additional funding needs to be identified.
An amendment to the Transportation Plan is needed to show the updated cost of the Billings Bypass project as well as the redirection of all future Surface Transportation Program (Urban Funds) and Montana Air & Congestion Program (MACI) funding to fiscally constrain the project. The future redirection of all Urban and MACI funds will impact other long and short term projects identified in the Transportation Plan now and in the future. The funding sources of long and short range transportation projects currently allocated with Urban and MACI dollars will be redirected to the Billings Bypass project and therefore could delay construction of these projects. Further, consideration of new projects not yet identified also could be affected by allocation of Urban and MACI dollars to complete the Billings Bypass project.
The City Council may recommend to the Policy Coordinating Committee to redirect future Urban and MACI funding to fiscally constrain the Billings Bypass project which would require the Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan amendment, or the Council may recommend a “no build” of the project and not commit local funding through 2020.
An amendment to the Transportation Plan is needed to show the updated cost of the Billings Bypass project as well as the redirection of all future Surface Transportation Program (Urban Funds) and Montana Air & Congestion Program (MACI) funding to fiscally constrain the project. The future redirection of all Urban and MACI funds will impact other long and short term projects identified in the Transportation Plan now and in the future. The funding sources of long and short range transportation projects currently allocated with Urban and MACI dollars will be redirected to the Billings Bypass project and therefore could delay construction of these projects. Further, consideration of new projects not yet identified also could be affected by allocation of Urban and MACI dollars to complete the Billings Bypass project.
The City Council may recommend to the Policy Coordinating Committee to redirect future Urban and MACI funding to fiscally constrain the Billings Bypass project which would require the Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan amendment, or the Council may recommend a “no build” of the project and not commit local funding through 2020.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
1. Recommend approval of the Transportation Plan amendment to the Policy Coordinating Committee.
2. Recommend a “no build” of the North Bypass project therefore recommending denial of the Transportation Plan amendment to the Policy Coordinating Committee.
1. Recommend approval of the Transportation Plan amendment to the Policy Coordinating Committee.
2. Recommend a “no build” of the North Bypass project therefore recommending denial of the Transportation Plan amendment to the Policy Coordinating Committee.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There may be significant financial impacts to other identified short and long term transportation projects during the time frame of obtaining the necessary financing for the Billings Bypass. The future redirection of all Surface Transportation Program (Urban Funds) and Montana Air & Congestion Program (MACI) dollars towards the bypass project until approximately the year 2020 could delay construction of other identified transportation projects.
BACKGROUND
The Billings Bypass project has evolved over the course of more than 10 years from a larger project of national significance for transportation infrastructure to a project to provide an additional river crossing and access in and out of the Billings Heights area and the potential to redirect some truck traffic around downtown Billings. The Billings North Bypass Feasibility Study, completed in 2001, investigated a bypass in the Billings area as part of the Camino Real International trade corridor connecting Canada to Mexico. The study used a five-mile wide corridor north of Billings in order to assess the feasibility of a bypass route connecting the I-90/94 interchange area east of Billings with N-53 (MT 3) west of Billings. This study area was selected by a consultant team and approved by the project steering committee. The study concluded that a bypass was feasible from an economic and engineering perspective, and should be advanced for environmental analysis and refinement.
MDT in cooperation with the FHWA initiated the preparation of an EIS for a proposed bypass route north of Billings. The proposed project involved the development of a bypass route connecting the I-90/94 interchange area east of Billings with MT 3 northwest of Billings. Subsequently, the project team completed scoping, developed preliminary alternatives, and met with the general public twice to obtain input.
In 2010, due to concerns from several land owners about the long-term plan to create a road corridor across private property between Highway 87 and Highway 3, and due to Federal requirements to fiscally constrain projects, the Policy Coordinating Committee decided to truncate the project and move forward with a local road connection between the I-90/94 interchange area east of Billings and Highway 312 in the Billings Heights.
Funding
The project initially received $21 million in earmark dollars and approximately $3 million has been spent to complete the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The remaining $18 million is available for engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) are requesting a firm decision of commitment from the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the completion of this project.
It is currently estimated that approximately $89 million is needed to construct the entire project. Due to FHA’s need for a fiscally constrained project (all funding in place), additional funds need to be identified and allocated prior to construction. Working with MDT, it has been determined that a redirection of all future allocations of Surface Transportation Program (Urban Funds) and Montana Air & Congestion Initiative Guaranteed Program (MACI) until approximately the year 2020 may fiscally constrain the project. The break-down of funding is as follows to fiscally constrain the project using Urban and MACI funds:
$18,000,000 (Remaining Secured Earmarks)
$46,500,000 (National Highway, Interstate Maintenance, Highway Bridge Funds)
$25,000,000 (Urban, MACI, Local funding)*
$89,500,000 Total**
* $2.6 million annual Urban Fund allocation, $1.0 million annual MACI allocation – local commitment of funding through 2020 after funding Bench Boulevard Phase II project (2014).
** This funding summary does not account for the possibility of funds from grants or other sources that could develop in the future for the community. This funding summary addresses only known funding sources that are expected to exist into the future.
The City Council may recommend to the Policy Coordinating Committee to redirect future Urban and MACI funding to fiscally constrain the Billings Bypass project which would require the Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan amendment, or the Council may recommend a “no build” of the project and not commit local funding through 2020.
MDT in cooperation with the FHWA initiated the preparation of an EIS for a proposed bypass route north of Billings. The proposed project involved the development of a bypass route connecting the I-90/94 interchange area east of Billings with MT 3 northwest of Billings. Subsequently, the project team completed scoping, developed preliminary alternatives, and met with the general public twice to obtain input.
In 2010, due to concerns from several land owners about the long-term plan to create a road corridor across private property between Highway 87 and Highway 3, and due to Federal requirements to fiscally constrain projects, the Policy Coordinating Committee decided to truncate the project and move forward with a local road connection between the I-90/94 interchange area east of Billings and Highway 312 in the Billings Heights.
Funding
The project initially received $21 million in earmark dollars and approximately $3 million has been spent to complete the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The remaining $18 million is available for engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) are requesting a firm decision of commitment from the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the completion of this project.
It is currently estimated that approximately $89 million is needed to construct the entire project. Due to FHA’s need for a fiscally constrained project (all funding in place), additional funds need to be identified and allocated prior to construction. Working with MDT, it has been determined that a redirection of all future allocations of Surface Transportation Program (Urban Funds) and Montana Air & Congestion Initiative Guaranteed Program (MACI) until approximately the year 2020 may fiscally constrain the project. The break-down of funding is as follows to fiscally constrain the project using Urban and MACI funds:
$18,000,000 (Remaining Secured Earmarks)
$46,500,000 (National Highway, Interstate Maintenance, Highway Bridge Funds)
$25,000,000 (Urban, MACI, Local funding)*
$89,500,000 Total**
* $2.6 million annual Urban Fund allocation, $1.0 million annual MACI allocation – local commitment of funding through 2020 after funding Bench Boulevard Phase II project (2014).
** This funding summary does not account for the possibility of funds from grants or other sources that could develop in the future for the community. This funding summary addresses only known funding sources that are expected to exist into the future.
The City Council may recommend to the Policy Coordinating Committee to redirect future Urban and MACI funding to fiscally constrain the Billings Bypass project which would require the Billings Urban Area Transportation Plan amendment, or the Council may recommend a “no build” of the project and not commit local funding through 2020.
STAKEHOLDERS
A public hearing is scheduled for the August 28, 2012 Planning Board meeting to receive public input on the Transportation Plan amendment. The City Council is not required to conduct a public hearing but may accept public comments at its meetings.