Title
Street Transportation Department Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2023-24 Through 2028-29
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee with an update on the Street Transportation Department's proposed Fiscal Years 2023-24 through 2028-29 Capital Improvement Program and an update on the Capital Improvement Program projects for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
The Street Transportation Department (Streets) regularly provides the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning (TIP) Subcommittee with information about the condition of the City's streets, including an overview of programs, funding sources, and challenges, as well as a report on future capital infrastructure needs.
Streets' funding sources include State of Arizona Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF), Transportation 2050 (T2050), Federal and Local Aid, Capital Construction Funds, and Development Impact Fees. The passage of Proposition 104/T2050 in August 2015 provided an additional funding source for street improvement projects starting Jan. 1, 2016. City staff has worked with the Citizens Transportation Commission, TIP Subcommittee, and City Council to identify, program, and execute projects that meet the goals of T2050 and set priorities for projects moving forward. In November 2023, Phoenix residents approved a General Obligation (GO) bond initiative that will add another funding source to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) over the next five years.
Streets utilizes five major areas to guide capital funding investments:
Pavement Maintenance.
Major New and Expanded Streets.
Mobility/ADA Improvements.
Technology/Safety Enhancements.
Storm Water Improvements.
These prioritized areas are designed to assist Streets to best address public expectations, support traffic and travel demands, facilitate commercial and residential development, advance transportation safety improvements for all road users, and work on local and regional drainage needs throughout the City.
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 preliminary expenditure estimate for the Streets' CIP is approximately $194,352,942. The final preliminary expenditure estimate for FYs 2023-24 through 2028-29 are estimated at $1,240,852,218.
Project Overview
Some of the major transportation projects currently underway and/or programmed within the CIP include:
Pavement Maintenance
The pavement maintenance portion of the CIP includes major maintenance activities, including pavement restoration and refurbishment, bridge rehabilitation and inspection, and other major activities focused on keeping the City's street transportation network in a state of good repair. Projects programmed for maintenance in the FYs 2023-24 through 2028-29 CIP include the pavement preservation program (crack seal, slurry/micro seal, and asphalt overlay), bridge preventive maintenance (rehabilitation, maintenance, and inspection), cool pavement program, cool corridors, alley dust proofing, street sweeper equipment purchases, landscape maintenance and upgrades, and storm damage repairs.
Major New and Expanded Streets
The following Major New and Expanded Streets projects are anticipated to begin design and construction in the years noted below. The goal is to build streets out to their ultimate cross-sections (widths) with the following types of improvements where applicable or feasible: pavement rehabilitation; curb, gutter, sidewalk, and bridge improvements; bicycle infrastructure enhancements; landscaping improvements; and traffic signal, intersection, and storm drain improvements.
Van Buren Street: 7th to 24th streets - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Dobbins Road: SR 202L to 27th Avenue - Design planned for FY 2024-25.
Happy Valley Road: 67th to 35th avenues - Construction planned for FY 2024-25.
35th Avenue: I-10 to Camelback Road (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development [BUILD] grant) - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Streetlights at 13 locations - Design in progress with construction planned for FY 2025-26.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Shade Structures - Design in progress with construction planned for FY 2025-26.
64th Street: Mayo Boulevard south 1,400 feet - Design in progress with construction planned for FY 2025-26.
43rd Avenue: Dove Valley Road to Carefree Highway - Design in progress with construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Buckeye Road: 67th to 59th avenues - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Lower Buckeye Road: 27th to 19th avenues - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2026-27.
Re-visioning Indian School Road (Safe Streets and Roads for All [SS4A] grant): 91st to 37th avenues - Design planned for FY 2024-25 and construction planned for FY 2027-28.
Also included in the Major New and Expanded Streets portion of the CIP is the following partnership project with the Maricopa County Department of Transportation:
Southern Avenue: 51st to 37th avenues - Design in progress with construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Mobility Improvements
Recognizing the multimodal use of the City's roadways, pedestrian and bicycle mobility projects support efforts to increase the safety, mobility, and accessibility of City streets for all users. The term active transportation has evolved to encompass alternative modes of transportation that typically were referred to as bicycle and pedestrian modes to reach expanding multimodal users on the City's public roadways.
The Mobility Improvements portion of the CIP includes projects focused on moving the City towards delivery of more active transportation projects that create a connected low-stress and low-volume bicycle and pedestrian network. Some of these projects, listed below, are also leveraging other local and federal funding.
32nd Street: Cheryl Drive to Cholla Street - Design complete and construction planned for FY 2024-25.
Villa/Fillmore Bike Boulevard - Design in progress and construction to be programmed.
Colter Street: 15th Avenue to 20th Street - Design in progress and construction planned for Phase 1 (15th Avenue to 7th Street) for FY 2025-26.
Western Canal: 4th Avenue to 24th Street - Design nearing completion and construction planned for FY 2024-25.
Grand Canal Phase III: 75th to 47th avenues - Construction underway FY 2024-25.
Grand Canal Multi-Use Trail: Indian School Road to 16th Street - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Durango Street Mobility/Low Impact Design - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
North Park Central Streetlights - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2024-25.
Broadway Heritage Streetlights - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2024-25.
16th Street: Dobbins Road to South Mountain Avenue - Construction planned for FY 2023-24.
56th Street: Thomas to Camelback roads - Design in progress and construction for Phase 1 (Thomas to Indian School roads) planned for FY 2025-26. Construction for Phase 2 (Indian School to Camelback roads) planned for FY 2026-27.
20th Street: Grand Canal to Highland Avenue - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Van Buren Street: 7th to 24th streets - Design in progress and construction planned for FY 2023-24.
Rio Reimagined Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge - Design planned for FY 2022-23 and construction planned for FY 2025-26.
Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI): Railroad crossing improvements at 19th Avenue and McDowell Road, and 43rd Avenue and Camelback Road - Design planned for FY 2024-24 and construction planned for FY 2026-27.
3rd Street: Rio Salado to Jefferson Street - Design planned for FY 2024-25 and construction to be programmed.
In addition to projects, the following mobility programs are included in the CIP:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Improvements: This program installs, replaces, or improves ADA ramps Citywide that are non-existent or in need of upgrades to meet ADA requirements. Ramp improvements will lead to a more accessible transportation system for persons with disabilities. Funds are programmed for ramps in all years of the FYs 2023-24 through 2028-29 CIP. To better report and monitor these improvements, the City is initiating an ADA Transition Plan that is set to kick off next year in FY 2024-25, funded with the ADA Ramp 12-Year Retrofit Program.
Active Transportation Plan Update: With Council approval of the Active Transportation Plan in 2023, staff is engaged in a multi-year implementation phase of the Phoenix Connected Active Neighborhoods (PhxCAN) program. A robust public engagement process is underway with two village boundary areas: Central City and South Mountain, prioritizing active transportation infrastructure including sidewalk, ADA ramps, landscape and shade, and bicycle infrastructure among other mobility improvements. Staff is gearing up for the next two village boundary areas: Alhambra and Maryvale. The PhxCAN has had a great inaugural year. Staff is working with the Office of Environmental Programs to leverage federal funding under the Environmental Climate and Community Change (EJCC) Grant through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Technology Enhancements
Technology Enhancement projects are intended to implement technology solutions to improve traffic operations and safety, while achieving efficiencies in the operation and maintenance of the City's street network.
Some of the major technology enhancement projects currently underway and/or programmed within the proposed CIP include:
Intersection Technology: Signal system upgrades involve the latest technology tools needed to support the City's growing traffic signal technology and infrastructure, which include signal controllers and cabinets, software, cameras, message boards, wireless radios, servers, and other related devices necessary to support and improve the traffic signal network and the Traffic Management Center (TMC). With the increased emphasis on utilizing real-time data analytics from field devices, these upgrades are critical to improve the efficiency and monitoring of the 1,187 traffic signals. Use of the data provides additional support for special events, traffic management, and other traffic improvement initiatives. Program funding is included in the Streets' CIP, allowing for the upgrade of three to five intersections per year.
Advanced Detection: Two recent grants will 1) add technology to Indian School Road from 91st Avenue to 37th Avenue (SS4A grant), and 2) add advanced detection for bicycles and pedestrians along the Grand Canal and include enhancements at 20 intersections bounded by Bethany Home Road to Northern Avenue, and 7th Avenue to SR 51 (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation [SMART] grant). This program is augmented by the investments in the CIP under the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Advanced Detection Program that add similar advancements to selected small segment arterial corridors across Phoenix based on funding availability. Other CIP projects and a recent federal BUILD grant are funding the conversion of the legacy TransSuite Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to a state-of-the-art KITS ATMS that more fully integrates with the technologies being deployed at new signals and signal rebuilds.
Fiber Communications/Enhanced Program: Fiber communications is integral to data communication citywide. Expanding fiber enhances operations at intersections and allows signals to be managed more efficiently by staff at the TMC. The CIP budget provides federal match funding for fiber projects funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Recent projects near completion included 12 miles of fiber on both Indian School and Baseline roads. Additional federal funding has been received to install fiber on 7th Street from Deer Valley Road to Paradise Lane and on 91st Avenue, extending existing fiber at 83rd Avenue and I-10 west to 91st Ave and south on 91st Avenue to Lower Buckeye Road. Both of these projects are in design with an anticipated construction in late 2025 or early 2026.
Storm Water Improvements
Storm water projects in the City of Phoenix aim to reduce and mitigate the risk of flooding by constructing regional and local facilities such as basins and storm drain pipes. These projects generally are implemented in partnership with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County (FCDMC), the CIP, and the Small Project Assistance Program (SPAP). Typically, the City of Phoenix and the FCDMC share the cost of these projects as detailed in a project-specific Intergovernmental Agreement. The County requires 35 percent City matching funds for these projects.
In addition to regional projects, the Floodplain Management Group also manages several other program funds, including projects funded with ARPA, Local Drainage Mitigation, 2023 General Obligation Bonds, including the Hohokam Drainage Program and the Laveen Flood Mitigation Program, the Storm Drain Replacement program, and Local Drainage Solutions program.
Several capital projects are currently underway and programmed within the FYs 2024-25 through 2028-29 CIP, and they are listed below:
27th and Olney Avenues Storm Drain: This project is in partnership with FCDMC. The project construction began in October 2022 and is estimated to be completed in spring 2024.
Rawhide Wash Flood Hazard Mitigation Project: This project is in partnership with the FCDMC and the City of Scottsdale. Construction began in October 2022 and completion is anticipated in summer 2024.
19th Avenue and Dobbins Road Storm Drain Project: This project is in partnership with FCDMC and the Water Services Department. The project design is nearing completion, and construction is expected to start in fall 2024 with completion anticipated in spring 2025.
Paradise Ridge Channel: This project is in partnership with FCDMC. It is currently at the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) development stage. Design is expected to start winter 2024, construction planned to start winter 2024 and completion anticipated summer 2026.
The ARPA Local Drainage Mitigation Program: This program, made possible by ARPA, is a significant step in our efforts to address storm-related flood complaints by Phoenix residents. It provides the City with the opportunity to invest federal funding into 13 separate local drainage mitigation projects throughout the City. The City identified and verified these locations, and the mitigation projects include adding drainage ditches, storm drain lines, catch basins, inlets, and other flood mitigating structures. The designs are complete, and construction is planned for summer 2024 with completion anticipated in fall 2025.
3rd Avenue and Thomas Road Drainage Improvements: This project is in partnership with FCDMC’s SPAP and Dignity Health. The project is under design with completion expected in winter 2024 and construction completion anticipated in summer 2025.
35th Avenue and Dobbins Road Storm Drain: This project is in partnership with the FCDMC. It is currently in the IGA development stage and expected to start design in winter 2024 with construction anticipated in winter 2026.
20th Street and Lookout Mountain Storm Drain: This project is in partnership with FCDMC SPAP. It is under design with completion expected in winter 2024 and construction completion anticipated in summer 2025.
2023 GO Bond Program (GBP): These projects are in partnership with the FCDMC. GBP will provide 35 percent funding to implement several components of the Hohokam Area Drainage Master Plan Study and the Laveen Area Drainage Feasibility Study. These studies, which were created in collaboration with the FCDMC, will involve the design and construction of eight storm water mitigation projects in the Hohokam area with four projects in Laveen.
Local Drainage Solutions Program: Consists of several projects and studies to investigate flooding concerns by local residents.
Challenges
Several current and ongoing funding challenges include:
HURF is the primary funding source for Streets' CIP. The effectiveness and long-term sustainability of this fund has, and is expected to continue to be, diminished over time as a result of increased electric vehicle utilization, improved vehicle fuel efficiencies, use of alternate modes of transportation, and lack of any fuel tax increase since 1991. At the same time, Phoenix is responsible for growing a number of street network miles, and its existing street inventory ages, which results in increasing maintenance costs. Although HURF revenues are trending in a positive direction, the impacts of inflation are clearly evident with significantly rising labor and materials costs.
Capital Construction Fund is a telecommunications-based revenue source related to the use of City right-of-way. This fund has been declining for several years due to shifts in telecommunications technology to activities that are not taxable under current law. This fund continues to decrease and is expected to decline further in future years.
Opportunities
Streets continues to pursue all funding opportunities whenever solicitations are made through the local regional transportation organization, state agency, or federal agency when notice of funding and/or call for projects are announced that align well with the City’s transportation goals and objectives. This past year, Streets submitted several competitive grant applications and was successful in securing close to $25 million in funding for planning, design, and/or construction of transportation projects that help leverage City dollars programmed in Streets' CIP.
Streets continues to be excited about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and staff is monitoring grant funding opportunities and will pursue them as they are made available through this historical funding platform. These opportunities will increase the City’s ability to start and complete more transformative transportation projects that benefit the growing community needs, including projects that improve safety, technology, active transportation, resiliency and equity.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Alan Stephenson and the Street Transportation Department.