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Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for Surface Transportation Block Grant Program - Direct Attributable Funds in the Amount of $2,304,000 for the Medical Center Drive Sidewalk and Roadway Improvements Project
body
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Department: |
Transportation |
Meeting Date: |
9/1/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Andy Thompson |
Public Hearing: |
No |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-0835 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Resolution; Attachment #2: Map; Attachment #3: WMPO Estimate Tool with Contingency |
PURPOSE:
Attached for your consideration is a resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply to the WMPO for Surface Transportation Block Grant Program - Direct Attributable (“STBGP-DA”) funds in the amount of $1,843,200, with a required 20% local match in the amount of $460,800, to create a contiguous sidewalk network along Medical Center Drive between Carolina Beach Road and South 17th Street, and to construct a dedicated left turn lane at Canterwood Drive.
BACKGROUND:
The WMPO Board adopted the FY26 to FY30 Submittal Guide for STBGP funds on June 25, 2025, announced a Call for Projects on July 7, 2025, and approved funding for five projects at their November 19, 2025, meeting, allocating funding through FY28. A Special Call for Projects was released on June 1, 2026, to award the remaining project funding for FY29 through FY30. Final applications are due on September 18, 2026.
Staff reviewed the previous capital improvement program. This project was previously identified and deemed needed; however, due to fiscal constraints in developing the capital improvement program, it was not selected. This project and other non-selected pedestrian-oriented capital improvement projects were evaluated using the WMPO’s Special Call for Projects scoring rubric, which awards points based on five fundamental goals: Safety, Fairness, Connectedness, Resiliency, and Proactivity. Of the reviewed projects, this project scored favorably and has been selected to submit in this grant application cycle.
This project would provide critical active transportation and multimodal connectivity to the surrounding area by filling sidewalk gaps along both sides of Medical Center Drive, which is included in the WMPO Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan High Injury Network for vehicles and bikes/pedestrians. A complete sidewalk network would improve access to numerous medical facilities, a regional hospital, government facilities, hotels, restaurants, and WAVE Transit bus stops.
The roadway widening for the dedicated left-turn lane would increase safety by eliminating stopped left-turning vehicles in the roadway, which would also improve travel time reliability along the route.
Funding will not be available until federal FY29, which begins on October 1, 2028. Project engineering and design work cannot begin until funding is authorized by the federal government. Therefore, staff estimates the project will take approximately 3 years to complete once authorized to begin.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
The 20% local match, totaling $460,800, is currently available from Motor Vehicle Fee revenue.
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Passage of the resolution is recommended.