Title
Request Retroactive Authorization to Apply for, Accept, and Disburse Federal Funding for the Bridge Investment Program Grant Opportunity for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 - Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding (Ordinance S-53176) - District 8
Description
Request to retroactively authorize the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, to apply for, accept, and, if awarded, enter into an agreement(s) for the disbursement of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Bridge Investment Program (BIP) grant opportunity for Federal Fiscal Year 2026. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. The total grant funds applied for will not exceed $27.1 million, and the City's local match would not exceed $6.77 million for a total of $33.87 million.
Report
Summary
On May 14, 2026, the USDOT issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Fiscal Year 2026 BIP for $2.45 billion for bridge capital projects. The BIP grant offers an opportunity to leverage City funds for cost prohibitive bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection projects that improve safety, efficiency, and reliability for the movement of people and freight over bridges. The BIP funding is intended to improve the condition of bridges that are in poor condition, bridges that are in fair condition but at risk of falling into poor condition within the next three years, or bridges that do not meet current geometric design standards or cannot meet the load and traffic requirements typical of the regional transportation network.
The City is one of a few agencies in the region that currently manage their own bridge inventory program. Inspection of City bridges is conducted with the assistance of the Arizona Department of Transportation; however, the City maintains its own records and prioritizes its bridge inspection and maintenance based on its own asset management system. The Street Transportation Department has conducted technical studies on several bridges that have been identified for either rehabilitation or reconstruction. The 40th and Van Buren streets bridge spanning the Grand Canal was identified for replacement to address structural integrity and future safety concerns.
The Federal Fiscal Year 2026 BIP grant submittal deadline was June 29, 2026.
Financial Impact
The estimated total cost for the project is approximately $33.87 million. The maximum federal participation rate is 80 percent, with a minimum local match of 20 percent of the total eligible project cost. If awarded, the Federal participation would not exceed $27.10 million (80 percent), and the City’s cost would be approximately $6.77 million (20 percent) for the local match.
Funding for the local match is available in the Street Transportation Department's Capital Program budget.
Location
40th and Van Buren streets over the Grand Canal.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Frank McCune and the Street Transportation Department.