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Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Request Additional Federal Direct Attributable Funding from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization in the Amount of $431,200, with a Required $107,800 Local Grant Match from the City for the Downtown Trail Phase 1 Design Project
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Department: |
WMPO |
Meeting Date: |
3/18/2025 |
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Contact Name: |
Abby Lorenzo |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-7890 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Resolution |
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to authorize the City Manager to request additional federal Direct Attributable (“DA”) funding from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization ("WMPO") for the Downtown Trail Phase 1 Design Project.
BACKGROUND:
The Downtown Trail was identified in the New Hanover County/City of Wilmington Comprehensive Greenway Plan in 2013 as a 5.9-mile, multi-use path providing connection between Downtown Wilmington, and the parks and neighborhoods east of downtown to Forest Hills. Ranked as the top priority project within this plan, benefits of the proposed trail include a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facility that will provide a safe means of connectivity to transit and other Downtown amenities for traditionally underserved communities within the Northside and Love Grove Neighborhoods.
Phase 1 of the Downtown Trail is an approximately 1.7-mile segment beginning at 3rd Street in the Downtown within the NCDOT-owned rail corridor to McRae Street; abutting the Dorothy B. Johnson Elementary School western parcel line; traversing east along CSX right-of-way to Archie Blue Park; and continuing north through Archie Blue Park, parallel to the creek, and terminating at the Love Grove Bridge multi-use path facility.
The project was federally funded in 2022 with the WMPO’s direct allocation of Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (“CRRSAA”) funds. These one-time allocated funds were granted at 100% federal share with no local matching contribution required of the City. The project began in late 2022 with necessary coordination with the railroad owners of property, NCDOT Rail and CSX, whose proposals regarding the trail resulted in a nearly 2-year pause on the design effort. Additionally, new design elements (including the moving of a retaining wall in the “Gulch” corridor) have been identified as conditions for the future trail’s location within NCDOT’s owned property.
The two-year delay and new design elements have caused a significant increase to the cost to complete the design project. Because the previously funded portion of the design was funded with the WMPO’s federal DA funding, the City is eligible to request additional funding for the project outside of the organization’s annual call for project applications. The WMPO’s annual allocation of federal DA funds are awarded at 80% federal share, and require 20% local matching funds. The additional total estimated design costs, plus contingency, provided by the project design consultant WSP, totals $539,000. This request will increase the DA funding from the WMPO in the amount of $431,200, and require a $107,800 local grant match from the City. The City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee has recommended providing the $107,800 local match funds.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
Local match funding totaling $107,800 is being requested, recommended to be funded by the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Passage of the resolution is recommended in order to complete the design of Phase 1 of the Project.