DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
title
Discussion Of And Direction On City Cost Share For Joint Powers Agreement With Inver Grove Heights For 117th Street Reconstruction, County Project 32-65
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Discuss City cost share for a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the City of Inver Grove Heights (City) for the construction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 32 (117th Street), County Project (CP) 32-65.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system, the City of Inver Grove Heights, in cooperation with Dakota County, is proceeding with CP 32-65. The project will reconstruct 117th Street East from CSAH 71 (Rich Valley Boulevard) to the Trunk Highway (TH) 52/117th Street Interchange. The purpose of the project is to meet 10-ton design standards, enhance transportation system efficiency and mobility, reduce access points, improve pavement conditions, and facilitate the phased development of an essential east-west transportation corridor within the region. An additional objective is to provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities on the 117th Street corridor for future connection to the Mississippi River Greenway (MRG) east of TH 52 (Attachment: Project Location).
The 117th Street corridor is part of the broader CSAH 32 network in Dakota County that connects Interstate 35W in Burnsville to TH 52 in Inver Grove Heights. The corridor serves a high volume of freight traffic. The primary traffic movement through this corridor is southbound to eastbound and westbound to northbound at the T-intersection of 117th Street and CSAH 71 (Rich Valley Boulevard). Both 117th Street and CSAH 71 are Tier 1 regional truck corridors.
The preferred alternative is a two-lane, median-divided roadway for a one-mile segment of 117th Street between Rich Valley Boulevard and the Flint Hills Resources Refinery access, just west of the TH 52/117th Street Interchange. There will be pavement preservation improvements (mill and overlay) between the Pine Bend Refinery access and Courthouse Boulevard (excluding the TH 52 bridge).
The City received federal funding of $8.0 million through a federal freight grant to cover a portion of utility relocation and construction costs as part of the project. The City of Inver Grove Heights and Dakota County had independently requested state bonding money for their respective cost share through legislative bonding in 2023. The governor signed Chapter 72--H.F. No. 669 on June 1, 2023, which included the City’s requested state bonding money of $5.0 million.
The adopted County cost participation policy, Cost Participation Involving Federal and State Funds F.5, subtracts from the County-eligible project costs funds received from regional federal solicitation, Trunk Highway Fund, Trunk Highway Jurisdictional Transfer Fund, or federal or state grants, with the balance of remaining costs divided according to applicable County policies.
To proceed with the project, the City has requested that state bonding be fully applied to City costs, which deviates from the cost-share policy. Staff seeks direction from the County Board on the City’s request to fully utilize the bond funds on City costs for a joint powers agreement with the City.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Information only; no action requested.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
Information only; no action requested.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: John Sass