cover
TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Robert Greene, City Traffic Engineer
DATE: September 16, 2021
SUBJECT:
A resolution financially supporting City Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects in SD129, SD131, SD204 & SD308, if grant is awarded.
PURPOSE:
To execute a resolution in support of the proposed Safe Routes to School projects for SD 129, 131, 204 & 308 with financial commitment.
BACKGROUND:
Safe Routes To School (SRTS) is a federal grant funding program to improve conditions for students walking/biking to school. The grant program is a reimbursable program and serves three main goals:
1. To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school.
2. To make biking and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age;
3.To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety, reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (within 2 miles) of elementary and middle schools (grades K-8).
DISCUSSION:
City staff has identified infrastructure improvements such as elimination of sidewalk gaps & enhance crossing facilities at intersections, to provide safe and continuous routes for students to walk or bike to school, in each of the four school districts:
School district 129: Proposed improvements involve filling sidewalk gaps/adding new sidewalk to connect to existing infrastructure, updating ADA ramps and detectable warning surfaces, pedestrian/bike signage, new pavement markings such as crosswalks and stop bars, all per existing IDOT standards.
School District 131: Proposed Improvements involve extending curbs to shorten pedestrian roadway crossings at identified intersections near schools, filling sidewalk gaps, updating ADA ramps and detectable warning surfaces.
School District 204: Installing solar powered speed radar signs at identified locations, extending curbs and improving overall safety by updating ADA ramps, pavement marking upgrades for crosswalks & stop bars, extending medians and installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons at certain intersections for safe vehicular/pedestrian movement.
School District 308: Proposed improvements involve filling a sidewalk gap, upgrading stop signs, installing flashing beacons, extending curb and gutter and refresh pavement markings at selected locations.
The SRTS grant program requires a City government resolution be executed in financial support of the proposed improvements.
The grant program is a reimbursable 80/20 split program with a funding cap of $250,000.00 and is eligible for construction and construction engineering only. Preliminary engineering is not eligible for the grant and has to be 100% locally funded.
The 2021 Fiscal Year budget provides funds through the following accounts (subject to the amendment):
GB138 Safe Routes to School Projects 203-4460-431-79-99 $100,000.00
GB119 Bike and Pedestrian Enhancements 340-4460-431-73-19 $100,000.00
City's future fiscal year (s) of 2022/2023/2024 currently shows a forecast of $100,000.00 for the above project accounts.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact anticipated.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends execution of this resolution to proceed with project grant submittals.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution financially supporting City Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects in SD129, SD131, SD204 & SD308, if grant is awarded.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, City intends to improve existing infrastructure, fill sidewalk gaps and make necessary improvements and connections to enhance route safety for student bicyclists and pedestrians within the City.
WHEREAS, IDOT/State has announced Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program call for projects-Cycle 2021.
WHEREAS, SRTS uses a multidisciplinary approach to improve conditions which enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bike to school. SRTS makes bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, encouraging healthy/active lifestyle and facilitates planning, development and implementation of projects and activities, to improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity (within 2 mile radius) of elementary and middle schools (Grades K-8).
WHEREAS, SRTS is a federal reimbursable grant program, with federal participation being 80%, and requiring 20% local match from the sponsor/local agency.
WHEREAS, SRTS has a maximum funding limit of $250,000 for one infrastructure project in each school district. These federal funds are eligible for Construction and Construction Engineering only.
WHEREAS, SRTS grant program requires City to provide a resolution of Financial Commitment in support of the proposed projects (one of the grant eligibility criteria) to be part of the SRTS grant application.
WHEREAS, City staff has identified various improvements in each of the four school districts (SD) within a 2-mile radius of the schools in School Districts 129, 131, 204 & 308 (as shown in the attached project location maps).
WHEREAS, if City were to be awarded the Safe Routes to School Funding (award announcements to be made in Spring 2022), City will need to front fund the cost of each project, in each school district, due to the SRTS grant requirements and get reimbursed later after project construction is complete.
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora fiscal year 2021 budget provides funds by way of the following account (s):
GB138 Safe Routes to School Projects 203-4460-431-79-99 $100,000.00
GB119 Bike and Pedestrian Enhancements 340-4460-431-73-19 $100,000.00
City's future fiscal year (s) of 2022/2023/2024 currently shows a forecast of $100,000.00 for the above project accounts.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: The City of Aurora authorizes the Mayor to execute the resolution in support of the identified Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant projects in each of the school district (SD) - SD129, SD131, SD204 & SD308, thereby financially committing to these projects if awarded the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Grant.