DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Approval Of Grant Application Submittals For 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure With Sustainability And Equity Grant Program
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Approve projects to be submitted to U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program.
SUMMARY
The Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the RAISE program, a competitive grant program to provide funding for surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic benefits, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation. Staff is proposing to submit two County-led rural planning projects and one County-led rural capital project to the RAISE grant program through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Staff is also requesting support for one additional city-led urban capital project. For fiscal year 2023, the RAISE grant has $1.5 billion available for funding across the nation, with not more than half of that amount available to rural projects. Elements of all proposed projects are included in the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Program or previously adopted Capital Improvement Programs. Projects for the grant were selected for planning or capital project category based on ability to best meet the grant criteria and project readiness.
Project descriptions and grant funding request amounts for the County-led projects are as follows:
• The Mississippi River Greenway construction in Rosemount to complete the 2.4-mile gap along Pine Bend Trail roadway and improvements to the trail between South St. Paul and Hastings that include improved safety crossings, new rest areas at overlooks and natural resource improvements . Staff is requesting to submit a capital funding application for $9,550,000 to the RAISE capital grant program. Letters of support will be sought the from City of South St. Paul, Rosemount, City of Inver Grove Heights, City of Hastings and the Dakota County congressional delegation.
• County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 54 (County Project 54-11) Reconstruction between Hastings and the Prairie Island Indian Community. Funding would also be used to update the related Mississippi River Greenway: Hastings to Red Wing Master Plan, last completed in 2009. The grant would cover preliminary design of road improvements, including an off-road trail that would serve as the eventual Mississippi River Greenway extension to Prairie Island and Red Wing. The estimated cost for planning and preliminary design requested through the RAISE rural planning program would be $600,000. Letters of support will be sought from the Prairie Island Indian Community, City of Hastings, City of Red Wing, and the Dakota County congressional delegation.
• Trunk Highway 52 Interchange at or near the intersections with County Road (CR) 62 or CR 66. Throughout the planning process, staff has presented the complexity of the study area, including the need to balance transportation safety/mobility objectives with the area’s valued natural resources and community features. The estimated request amount to the RAISE rural planning grant program would be $1,500,000 to support further planning, environmental reviews, and engineering design. Letters of support will be sought from MnDOT, Vermillion Township, and the Dakota County congressional delegation.
Project description(s) for the City-led support requested project(s) are as follows:
• Trunk Highway 13 and Nicollet grade separation. The City of Burnsville is requesting Dakota County’s support for the RAISE urban capital grant program. The City has applied to the RAISE program in past solicitations with support from the Dakota County Board.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends submittal of three RAISE program applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation, support for one city-led project and requests for letters of support from the affected cities, the Prairie Island Indian Community and the Dakota County congressional delegation.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation is requesting project submittals for Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program; and
WHEREAS, the RAISE federal grant program in rural areas funds up to 100 percent of project costs; and
WHEREAS, federal funding of projects reduces the burden on local taxpayers for regional improvements; and
WHEREAS, safety, mobility and connectivity issues in the area along the Mississippi River Greenway corridor between South St. Paul and Hastings will be addressed by constructing the 2.4-mile trail gap along Pine Bend Trail roadway; and
WHEREAS, planning and preliminary design work will identify safety and modern design improvements for County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 54 and integrate pedestrian facilities between Hastings and Red Wing; and
WHEREAS, safety, environmental and community impacts need to be further evaluated through engineering design to select an interchange location and design details for US 52 at County Road (CR) 62 and or CR 66; and
WHEREAS, the proposed interchange at Trunk Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue in Burnsville thus improves safety and the overall operations for commuters, freight, transit, pedestrians, and cyclists throughout the transportation network; and
WHEREAS, elements of all projects proposed are included in the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Program or previously adopted Capital Improvement Programs; and
WHEREAS, project submittals are due on February 28, 2023; and
WHEREAS, subject to federal funding award, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners would be asked to consider authorization to execute a grant agreement for county-led projects at a future meeting.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the following County-led projects for submittal to U.S. Department of Transportation for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program:
• Construction for the Mississippi River Greenway trail gap along Pine Bend Trail roadway and safety, connectivity, and user support features between St. Paul and Hastings.
• Planning and preliminary design for the County State Aid Highway 54 corridor and Mississippi River Greenway Master Plan update between Hastings and Red Wing.
• Planning and engineering design work for the proposed US 52 and County Road 62 or County Road 66 interchange.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby approves requesting letters of support from cities the projects are located in, the Prairie Island Indian Community and the Dakota County congressional delegation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby supports the city-led Trunk Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue grade-separated intersection project in Burnsville for submittal to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the RAISE urban capital grant program.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Mississippi River Greenway Location
Attachment: CSAH 54 (CP 54-11) Project Location
Attachment: TH 52 and CR66 CR62 Project Location
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Barry Becker