Title
U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Relief Funds for 7th Street and Salt River Bridge Repair (Ordinance S-47577)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, and if awarded, enter into agreements for disbursement of federal transportation funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief Program not to exceed $12 million, for the 7th Street and Salt River Bridge Repair project. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item, if awarded.
Report
Summary
Congress authorized in Title 23, United States Code, Section 125, a special program from the Highway Trust Fund to repair damaged roads and bridges, or reconstruct federal-aid highways and roads on federal lands which have suffered damage as a result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from an external cause. On Feb. 28, 2021, the 7th Street Bridge over the Salt River experienced a catastrophic fire which was caused by a ten-inch high pressure natural gas line running under the bridge. Since 7th Street is part of the National Highway System, and because the fire that occurred was a catastrophic failure from an external cause, the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department (Streets) was informed by representatives of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that this project may be eligible for the Emergency Relief (ER) Program.
Critical damage occurred to the north end of the bridge structure as a direct result of the catastrophic fire, requiring the removal and replacement of the northern two spans of the five-span bridge along with the northern most pier and abutment. Streets is actively pursuing repair and rehabilitation of the 7th Street and Salt River Bridge, which has remained closed since the fire occurred. The bridge is anticipated to reopen in September 2021 when replacement of the north two spans, pier and abutment is complete.
Streets is collaborating with federal and state agencies to process the City's intent to apply for and use ER funds. A formal request has been made through ADOT, which will be requesting an Emergency Declaration by the Governor's office on the City's behalf to formally initiate the approval request through the Arizona Division of FHWA.
Financial Impact
One hundred percent of the total project cost is eligible for federal reimbursement up to 180 days from the date of approval. After 180 days, the City's local match would be a maximum of 5.7 percent of the total project cost, or up to $684,000.
If funding is approved, the City's local match requirement will not exceed $684,000 to leverage repair costs up to $12 million in federal funds. The local match is available in Streets' Capital Improvement Program budget.
Location
7th Street, south of University Drive
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.