STAFF REPORT

Operations Committee, October 2, 2008

Budget Adjustment – Morris Branch Pedestrian Tunnel Project (PR09-10)
Consideration of a budget adjustment to provide additional funding for the design and construction of a pedestrian tunnel for the future Morris Branch Greenway

Speaker:  Mr. Doug McRainey
 

From:  Mary G. Henderson, Director, PRCR
Prepared by:  Doug McRainey, Parks Planning Manager

Approved by:  William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager

Approved by:  Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager

This staff report is for a request for Council to consider a budget adjustment to fund the design and construction of a pedestrian tunnel under Green Level to Durham Road for the future Morris Branch Greenway.

The Engineering Department is currently in the process of designing the widening of Green Level to Durham Road (SR1625) from McCrimmon Road to a point 200 feet south of the intersection of Green Level to Durham Road and Carpenter Fire Station Road, a distance of approximately 3,000 linear feet.  The Parsons Transportation Group is the consultant for this project.

The Morris Branch Greenway, as proposed in the 2003 PRCR Facilities Master Plan, is to extend from NC 55 to Amberly Lake. It is proposed to cross Green Level to Durham Road within the limits of the Green Level to Durham Road project. The Master Plan also included a recommendation to extend a multi-use trail along the east side of Green Level to Durham Road, also within the limits of the road project. 

To date, a total of $520,000 has been appropriated to capital project PR1098 for both the design and construction of the Morris Branch Pedestrian Underpass.  As a result, the Engineering Department and PRCR have been working together to include the pedestrian tunnel and multi-use trail as part of the road widening project.

Fiscal Impact:  The Green Level to Durham Road Widening project is expected to be completed in May of 2010.  Longer term operating impacts include operation and maintenance of the tunnel by Public Works and staff at the time of project completion.

Funding for the greenway pedestrian tunnel is budgeted within PR1098 – Morris Branch Greenway Underpass.  A total of $520,000 has been budgeted for both its design and construction. No funds have been encumbered or expended in PR1098 to date.  There is no specific funding appropriated for the construction of the multi-use trail.

The Parsons Transportation Group has submitted a cost estimate of $746,000 to complete these projects.  This cost estimate includes the following:

In order to construct the Morris Branch Greenway Underpass, $464,000 in additional funding will be required.  Staff has reviewed existing projects to identify funds to make up the difference and recommends that additional funds be allocated from PR1099 – Nancy Branch Greenway Underpass project.  A total of $520,000 has also been appropriated to date to PR1099.  No funds have been encumbered or expended in PR1099 to date.

This proposed Nancy Branch pedestrian underpass is located .82 miles to the north of Morris Branch Greenway and will also cross Green Level to Durham Road.  The current road widening project stops short of this crossing.  There is currently no schedule nor budget for the next phase of widening for the Green Level to Durham Road.  Therefore, funding within the PR1099 – Nancy Branch Greenway Underpass project is available to complete the Morris Branch project.  Although the Nancy Branch project will have a reduced balance, there will still be remaining funding ($56,000) to initiate the design of the Nancy Branch Pedestrian Greenway Underpass when the next phase of the road widening project gets underway.  Construction funds for the Nancy Branch greenway underpass would be requested in a future capital improvements budget/plan based on the phasing of the road widening project.

Staff Recommendation:  Staff recommends the following:

●       Authorization for the use of funding from PR1098 – Morris Branch Pedestrian Greenway Underpass to fund the construction of 3,000 linear feet of multi-use trail along Green Level to Durham Road

●       Authorization for the transfer of $464,000 from PR1099 – Nancy Branch Pedestrian Greenway Underpass to PR1098 – Morris Branch Pedestrian Greenway Underpass.  The transfer of these funds will result in an adjusted budget of $56,000 in the PR1099 Nancy Branch Pedestrian Greenway Underpass project and $984,000 in the PR1098 Morris Branch Pedestrian Greenway Underpass project.  The $464,000 transferred to PR1098 should be budgeted within the construction account for expenditure purposes.