Agenda

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ARF- 1840

Regular Agenda Item 2- G

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	06/04/2013
Submitted For:	Steve Sanders
Submitted By:	Steve Sanders, Public Works Division Deputy Director, Public Works Division
Department:	Public Works	Division:	Engineering
Fiscal Year:	FY 14/15	Budgeted?:	Yes
Contract Dates Begin & End:	June 4, 2013 through Dec. 31, 2015	Grant?:	No
Matching Requirement?:	Yes	Fund?:	New

Information

Request/Subject

Adoption of Resolution No. 13-06-01 for Agreement with the Central Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration

Background Information

In 2011, the Tonto National Forest with County support submitted an application into the Forest Highway Program for bridges on the Houston Mesa and Control Road. The Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) administers the Forest Highway Program. At the same time ADOT submitted an application for a box culvert type bridge to be built on SR 288 (the road from Globe to Young). Both submittals were successful and CFLHD bundled the 4 bridges into one project and began design. The only requirement was that the County and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) take ownership and maintenance of the bridges when complete. This was acceptable to the County because we have easements on the Control Road and the Houston Mesa Road.

When the new highway transportation bill Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) was implemented, the Forest Highway Program was dismantled and became part of the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). All projects in FLAP require matching funds. This project requires a match in an amount not to exceed 5.75% of the total construction budget at the time of advertisement for the projects on Houston Mesa Road and Control Road.

Evaluation

Gila County holds easements on the Houston Mesa Road and the Control Road. The Houston Mesa Road serves several communities, private residences, forest use and recreation use in the area. This route is also a commuter route that carries a significant amount of traffic and year round usage is needed. There are two low water crossings on the route that interfere with the year round usage during peak storm events. The water carried in the low water crossings can force temporary closures of the route until the water level is low enough for safe travel across the low water crossings. This project will address those two remaining locations with a replacement structure appropriate for each location.

The Control Road recently had 7 bridges added to replace deficient structures on the route. That project was completed in the Spring of 2012 and was developed and constructed by FHWA through the Central Federal Lands Highway Division. There is one remaining structure (a low water crossing) that is adjacent to Tonto Village. The Control Road serves several communities, private residences, forest use and recreation use in the area. This route is also a commuter route that carries a significant amount of traffic and year round usage is needed. The scope of this project will identify a new alignment for the roadway and a new structure type to accommodate the flows along the channel to alleviate flooding of the area adjacent to the existing structure during significant storm events. This project calls for re-alignment of the existing roadway to a new structure downstream of Tonto Village. This also allows for an improved roadway tie into Johnson Blvd. which is the main access road to the Tonto Village. A severe skew angle at this location is not safe due to the limited sight distance to oncoming traffic. The new alignment will alleviate this problem and increase safety.

Conclusion

It is in the best interest of the County to become a partner in this project with CFLHD and the Tonto National Forest to replace the three low water crossings with bridges and provide the required match for the project. The current engineer’s cost estimate developed using 70% plan submittals is $5,414,637. A 5.75% match is $311,342. It’s probable that as plans near completion there will be a slight increase in the engineer’s estimate. The County's match requirement will come from the Gila County Half-Cent Transportation Excise Tax.

Recommendation

It is the recommendation of the Deputy Director of Public Works that the Board adopt Resolution No. 13-06-01.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to adopt Resolution No. 13-06-01 authorizing the Chairman to sign Project Agreement AZ FLAP64-1(3), 199-1(1) and 288-1(3) with the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration to become a partner in a project with CFLHD and the Tonto National Forest to replace the three low water crossings with bridges and provide a match in an amount not to exceed 5.75% of the total construction budget at the time of advertisement for the project. (Steve Sanders)

Attachments
Resolution No. 13-06-01
Project Agreement
Legal Explanation