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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Tim Weidner, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: February 16, 2023
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of real estate contracts to purchase properties and appropriating REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds required for the Indian Trail Road Reconstruction and High Street Intersection Project in the amount of $224,700.00.
PURPOSE:
To authorize the purchase of right-of-way for the Indian Trail Road Reconstruction and High Street Intersection Project and to appropriate REBUILD Illinois Bond funds as required by the Illinois Highway Code for Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Section 06-00260-02-PV.
BACKGROUND:
A Phase 1 Study was previously completed on Indian Trail from Mitchell Road to Farnsworth Avenue. The City has already constructed the section of Indian Trail from east of Church Road to Farnsworth Avenue ten years ago with federal funds. This project would complete the section not constructed from east of Mitchell Road to Church Road.
The project has secured federal funds ranging in percentages from 75% to 100%. The funding sources include Surface Transportation Program - Local (STU), Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Funds. The HSIP funds are for the improvement of the Indian Trail at High Street intersection and other funds for the rest of the corridor. A total of $6,481,446.00 in federal funds has been secured for the Construction and Construction Engineering on this project.
The project involves improving the Indian Trail corridor by widening four lanes to five lanes to bring conformity to the corridor. Work will include completing traffic signal plans for the intersection of Indian Trail & High Street (currently stop controlled) and traffic signal modernization plans for the intersection of Indian Trail & Church Road. The intersections will be provided with ADA compliant ramps and Detectable Warnings. The improvements will also include a 5-6 feet wide sidewalk, 8-10 feet wide asphalt bike path and high visibility crosswalk for safe pedestrian/bicyclists crossing. There will be path connections to an existing regional trail (Illinois Prairie Path (Aurora Branch)) at High Street, plus a connection to the existing shared use path on Indian Trail constructed in Stage 1 of the project.
The City continues to work with their consultant, HR Green, on design plans under an agreement approved by City Council in February 2021 (R21-020). The plans are 99% complete and the “Initial Final” Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) were submitted to the IDOT on November 28, 2022. The project is targeting a mid 2023 IDOT letting, subject to the land acquisition being certified by IDOT and the project being authorized to go to letting.
DISCUSSION:
This resolution will provide authorization to proceed with the acquisition of temporary easement and Right of Way. The Corporation Counsel, City Engineer and respective designees shall represent the City in the acquisition of these parcels.
The City has received acceptances from 8 of the 8 owners to the offers made by the City and Contracts to Purchase said properties have been executed or are in the process of being executed by said owners. The 8 Parcels are numbers 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, 0011, 0017, 0018 and 0019. The prices range from $300.00 to $137,000.00 depending on the size and scope of the acquisition. The total amount of those settlements is $224,700.00. The plat of highway is included as Exhibit 'B'.
There are two parcels shown on the plat of highway that are owned by the Fox Valley Park District (FVPD). FVPD agreed to donate the land acquisition needed on both Parcels 0005 and 0010 in exchange for waiving both the meter fee and connection fee for a future water service planned for a splash pad on Parcel 0005. FVPD has been a great partner with the City on a number of federally funded projects when land acquisition is needed, which had helped the City's processing of these projects.
IDOT requires a Resolution to Appropriate the REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds prior to their expenditure for approved projects. The Resolution for Improvement - BLR 09110 (Exhibit ‘A’) appropriating REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds in the amount of $224,700.00 is attached.
The REBUILD Illinois Bond Fund is a grant program using proceeds from general obligation (transportation, series A) bonds authorized in the REBUILD Illinois capital program to provide Local Agencies with the funds for transportation improvement projects. The City has received all the funds, $13,042,322.82 in total, over a 3 year period from 2020-2022. The funds can only be used on bridge and major highway projects that provide an average useful life of greater than or equal to 13 years.
The 2023 City Budget is anticipated to provide for sufficient funds in Account 202-4060-431.79-99 (GB099, E. Indian Trail - Mitchell to Farnsworth #2).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Please forward this to Finance Committee for approval.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the execution of real estate contracts to purchase properties and appropriating REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds required for the Indian Trail Road Reconstruction and High Street Intersection Project in the amount of $224,700.00.
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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, the City seeks to reconstruct Indian Trail from Mitchell Road to Church Road, including a new traffic signal at the intersection of Indian Trail and High Street. The project has a MFT Section Number: 06-00260-02-PV; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora through the Public Works Department has identified eight (8) separate parcels that will need to be acquired for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City has obtained separate appraisals for each identified parcel to be acquired; and
WHEREAS, offers to purchase have been made to all owners of the individual parcels to acquire the parcels required for the Project at the appraised values; and
WHEREAS, the City has received acceptances from various owners to the offers made by the City and Contracts to Purchase said properties have been executed or are in the process of being executed by said owners; and
WHEREAS, it is contemplated that the City will receive further acceptance of its offers to purchase parcels; and
WHEREAS, it may be necessary to negotiate with various parcel owners regarding price to be paid to acquire various parcels, moving and replacement of fences, sheds and other items located on or near said parcels, and replacement of tree and shrubs on or near said parcels; and
WHEREAS, in order to acquire said parcels and negotiate and enter into contracts with the owners thereof, the City Council deems that it is in the best of the City that the City acquire said parcels pursuant to the terms of this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora through the Public Works Department has identified two (2) additional separate parcels that will need to be acquired for the Project from the Fox Valley Park District (FVPD), that FVPD is willing to donate. The City accepts the donation of Parcels 0005 and 0010 in exchange for waiving both the meter fee and connection fee for a future water service planned for a splash pad on Parcel 0005; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to appropriate REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds in the amount of $224,700.00, a copy of which resolution is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 'A'; and
WHEREAS, The 2023 City Budget is anticipated to provide for sufficient funds in Account 202-4060-431.79-99 (GB099, E. Indian Trail - Mitchell to Farnsworth #2).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees are hereby authorized and directed to make the appropriate offer to acquire properties described in Exhibit 'B' Plat of Highways, which is exhibit is make a part hereof; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees shall represent the City in the acquisition of the parcels required for the Project and that they may enter into contracts and acquire said parcels in an amount not to exceed $224,700.00; and further.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees may negotiate and contract with the owners of said parcels to pay for moving and replacement of fences, sheds or other items on said parcels; and further
BE IT RESOLVED that the Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and their respective designees may act for and on behalf of the City of Aurora to do all things necessary to acquire said parcels within the cost as provided herein; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that two hundred twenty four thousand seven hundred dollars and zero cents ($224,700.00) of available REBUILD Illinois Bond Funds, Motor Fuel Tax Section Number 06-00260-02-PV shall be and hereby is appropriated for the purposes set forth in this resolution; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and the Clerk respectively, shall be and hereby are directed to execute all the aforementioned documents on behalf of the City and any other documents required to carry the purposes of this resolution into execution, including, but not limited to the document entitled “Resolution for Improvement Under the Illinois Highway Code, Form (BLR 09110)” attached to this Resolution as Exhibit 'A'..