City Council Meeting Date: September 1, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett Public Works Director/City Engineer
Subject:
TITLE
Consider Resolution Approving MnDOT Local Partnership Program (LPP) Grant Application for 2022/2023 for Trunk Highway (TH) 3 Traffic Signal Modifications.
BODY
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the attached Resolution for LPP Grant Application for 2022/2023 for Trunk Highway 3 Traffic Signal Modifications.
Summary Report:
LPP is a statewide transportation partnership with local agencies that construct MnDOT highway improvements that are mutually beneficial, and are not programmed on State Highways. MnDOT has indicated for 2022/2023 they have $1.3M available ($400,000 in 2022 and $900,000 in 2023).
Staff has identified upgrading the traffic signals on TH 3 with Emergency Vehicle Preemption, Flashing Yellow Arrows, and LED lights as proposed improvements. These signal improvements currently aren’t in MnDOT’s 10-year plan for improvements. Therefore, this grant is an opportunity to make improvements on the Trunk Highway, that will benefit Northfield and MnDOT.
The EVP will decrease response times for police, ambulance, and fire. In decreasing response times, it will benefit Northfield and surrounding rural service area by getting emergency responders to the seen sooner. In addition, EVP’s prewarn the public of emergency responders arriving at signalized intersection therefore allowing the intersection to clear and get emergency responders through. This for example would have reduced the likelihood of a recent squad car crash at a signalized intersection.
The total project cost for this improvement is $540,000. Staff also included the EVP cost for TH 3 at County 1 and TH 3 at Hester St. in Dundas. Those costs are estimated to be $35,000. The local share of that is $20,000. The Rice County Engineer has indicated they will fund their local share.
Total Project $540,000
LPP Grant $290,000
City Share $250,000
The grant application for the LPP program is due September 11, 2020 and selected projects will be notified at the end of October 2020.
If MnDOT would ever program these signal improvements in the future, the City would pay for its local streets that intersect the Trunk Highway. So, for example at Jefferson Parkway, MnDOT would pay for TH 3 signals and the City would pay for the Jefferson Parkway signals.
Alternative Options:
Council could elect not to submit for this grant funding.
Financial Impacts:
Staff recommends the City share of $250,000 come from the Capital Project Fund should the grant application be successful.
Tentative Timelines:
Council Action for Grant September 3, 2020
LPP Grant Application Due September 11, 2020
LPP award notice October 22, 2020