Title
Northwest Light Rail Extension Phase II Project Design and Construction Funding Agreement (Ordinance S-44625)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a design and construction funding agreement with Valley Metro for the Northwest Phase II Light Rail Extension Project. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse funds in an amount not to exceed $25 million throughout the life of the contract.
Report
Summary
Northwest Light Rail Extension Phase II is a 1.6-mile light rail project extending west on 19th Avenue to 25th Avenue, then northward to Mountain View Road, then to a terminus west of Interstate 17 adjacent to the Metrocenter Mall. The project will include three new stations, two park-and-ride lots (one end-of-line, one co-located with Rose Mofford Park), and a relocated and expanded Metrocenter transit center. The project will include an elevated structure over Interstate 17 and will terminate just west of the freeway.
The Northwest Light Rail Extension Phase II is scheduled to open in 2023. In June 2017, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved Valley Metro's request to enter Project Development phase under the New Start Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. An Environmental Assessment and preliminary engineering are currently underway and are expected to be completed by summer 2018.
Valley Metro awarded a contract for pre-construction services to Kiewit-McCarthy Joint Venture in September 2017. A systems design contract to support this project was awarded to PGH Wong Engineering in September 2017. Valley Metro also awarded public art services contracts in November 2017. A contract for final design services is anticipated to be awarded by summer 2018.
Valley Metro intends to begin final design this summer. Prior to initiating this next phase of the project, it is necessary for Valley Metro and Phoenix to formalize a funding, design and construction agreement. This agreement defines the relationship between Phoenix and Valley Metro regarding the management, administration, funding, design and construction of the project.
Funding from the City of Phoenix is needed for Valley Metro to complete professional design and pre-construction services for the project. This would include: final design services; agency project management; preparing legal descriptions of right-of-way, permits, insurance, and other legal documentation as required; community relations support throughout design; and other surveys, testing, and inspections as necessary.
Future Council action will be needed to amend the agreement to include additional funding once real estate and construction costs are better defined. The agreement will terminate upon completion of the project.
Upon receiving City Council approval, the City of Phoenix will provide $25 million to fund the final design and pre-construction activities required as part of the New Starts Engineering phase as defined by FTA.
Financial Impact
The estimated total cost to complete the professional design and pre-construction services and all other FTA New Starts Engineering Phase activities is $25 million. These activities will be funded with City of Phoenix T2050 revenues, which are eligible for federal reimbursement under the pre-award authority granted by FTA.
FY2019 FY 2020* Total
$19,794,046 $5,205,954 $25,000,000
*Estimated funding needed for FY2020 represents a partial year and does not include construction or other activities that would be initiated with a New Starts Full Funding Grant Agreement.
Funding is available in the Public Transit Capital Improvement Program.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
On April 26, 2018, the Citizen Transportation Commission, by a vote of 10-3, voted to recommend Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee and City Council approval of a funding, design and construction agreement with Valley Metro for an amount not to exceed $25 million for the Northwest Phase II Light Rail Extension Project.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee recommended approval of this item by a vote of 3-0 on May 8, 2018.
Location
Extends west on 19th Avenue to 25th Avenue, then northward to Mountain View Road, then to a terminus west of Interstate 17 adjacent to the Metrocenter Mall.
Council Districts: 1, 3, and 5
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.