TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Adam Lindsay, ICMA, NCCCMA, PELA, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Sheila Thomas-Ambat, PE, CCM, CSM, CFM, Public Services Director
Kimberly Leonard, MPA, Budget and Evaluation Director
DATE: January 8, 2024
RE:
Title
Approval of a Municipal Agreement with NCDOT for the update to the Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Executive Summary:
Staff is requesting that City Council approve a Municipal Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for the update to the Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan. The estimated cost of the Project is $142,500 with a 50% cost share from the City of $71,250. All costs that exceed the estimated total cost of $142,500 would be the City of Fayetteville responsibility. Council adopted the FY2024 Budget Ordinance on June 21, 2023, which appropriated $100,000 in the general fund for the pedestrian and bicycle project.
Background:
City Council’s adopted FY2016 Strategic Plan included a Target for Action to implement pedestrian safety initiatives. To meet this direction, staff researched opportunities and learned that NCDOT was accepting grant applications for pedestrian and bicycle planning studies. On December 14, 2015, Council approved Resolution 2017-075 authorizing an application for grant funding through the NCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. On March 4, 2016, staff received notification of grant approval from the NCDOT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation.
On February 9, 2023, NCDOT issued a call for grant applications to develop and/or update a bicycle and pedestrian transportation plan. On April 11, 2023, staff submitted a NCDOT application. On April 24, 2023, Council approved Resolution R2023-016 to apply. On May 24, 2023, the FAMPO Transportation Advisory Committee completed a resolution to support. On July 6, 2023, the City of Fayetteville was notified of selection. On August 14, 2023, the City of Fayetteville was notified of award. On October 12, 2023, NCDOT notified the city of award amount and coordinated the Municipal Agreement.
The update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan will be an integral part of developing and executing a more complete pedestrian transportation system and will guide local and state efforts to improve pedestrian infrastructure network. The update will help develop priorities of sidewalk projects, recommend positive changes to local policies and guidelines develop awareness initiatives, and identify opportunities for the implementation of education and safety programs.
The update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan will be developed by NCDOT in coordination with City of Fayetteville staff. The total estimated project cost is $142,500, with a required City funding match of $71,250 to be submitted to the NCDOT upon execution of the Municipal Agreement. All costs that exceed the estimated total cost of $142,500 would be the City of Fayetteville responsibility. Council adopted the FY2024 Budget Ordinance on June 21, 2023, which appropriated $100,000 in the general fund for the pedestrian and bicycle project to complete the update and cover any costs that exceed the estimated project total.
Issues/Analysis:
NCDOT requires the execution of the Municipal Agreement to initiate the update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan development.
Budget Impact:
The City’s local match for this update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan was anticipated and funded in the Adopted FY 2024 General Fund budget for the Public Services Department.
Options:
1) Adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Municipal Agreement with the NCDOT for the update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
2) Do not adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Municipal Agreement with NCDOT for an update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that Council move to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Municipal Agreement with NCDOT for the update to the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
Attachments:
• Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fayetteville to apply for an NCDOT Pedestrian Planning Grant to update the Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
• Resolution to support an application by the City of Fayetteville for an NCDOT Multimodal Planning Grant from FAMPO.
• Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Letter of Support
• NCDOT Municipal Agreement for the update to the Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan