RESOLUTION NO. ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A BUSINESS READY COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY READINESS GRANT APPLICATION TO THE WYOMING BUSINESS COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF CHEYENNE FOR THE CHRISTENSEN RAILROAD OVERPASS AND CORRIDOR PROJECT. WHEREAS, Christensen Railroad Overpass and Corridor Project will provide a critical bridge and road connection (with non-motorized facilities) on the eastern edge of our growing community; and WHEREAS, the proposed project will improve economic competitiveness through reliable and timely access to employment centers, service and other basic needs by workers. It will also expand business access to markets; and WHEREAS, this investment will revitalize the eastern edge of Cheyenne, maintain and expand transit, and improve the efficiency of public works investments; and WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the City of Cheyenne recognizes that this project will make improvements in our community to emergency response as well as overall transportation for all modes; and WHEREAS, the City of Cheyenne desires to participate in the Business Ready Community, Community Readiness Grants Program; and WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the City of Cheyenne requests assistance in funding the Christensen Railroad Overpass and Corridor Project with a grant of $3,000,000 from the Wyoming Business Council; and WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the City of Cheyenne will match the requested Business Ready Community, Community Readiness Grant with $7,000,000 from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant (pending), $1,500,000 STP-Urban funds, $894,400 local water & sewer fees, $383,000 local sales tax revenue, and $375,000 from private in-kind contributions, unless other funding is secured to substitute for all or some of these sources. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF CHEYENNE, WYOMING, that a Business Ready Community, Community Readiness Grant application be made to the Wyoming Business Council, requesting $3,000,000 toward the construction of the Christensen Railroad Overpass and Corridor Project. Further, that the Mayor is authorized to sign the grant agreement, and associated documents, with the State of Wyoming. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT if awarded this grant funding, the City will follow State Procurement Standards Inclusive of W.S. ss 15-1-113 and W.S. ss 16-6-101, et seq., and further, that the City acknowledge that the Wyoming Preference Act (Wyoming State Statute 16-6- 201 through 16-6-206) will be adhered to throughout the project and all related state statutes will be adhered to for the project. PRESENTED, READ AND ADOPTED this 9th day of June 2014. (SEAL) Richard L. Kaysen, Mayor ATTEST: Carol A. Intlekofer, City Clerk WBC BRC14 Res Christensen.wpd
Christensen Railroad Overpass & Corridor Project I-25 Project Area I-25 Laramie County, WY I-25 Cheyenne, WY Colorado Nebraska
Christensen Railroad Overpass & Corridor Project CHRISTENSEN US 30 E PERSHING CHRISTENSEN TATE RD Lowe's Distribution Center COMMERCE CIRCLE LEADS Business Parkway CHRISTENSEN CAMPSTOOLVENTURE 0 0.125 0.25 Miles
Building the Christensen Project would complete a missing link in the Cheyenne area street and transportation system, remove some traffic from the congesting College Drive UPRR overpass, safely accommodate current and projected multi-modal use, shorten emergency vehicles response times, improve Cheyenne Transit route options, shorten travel times for many users as they commute to work or other destinations, and decrease crashes. The proposed project would greatly benefit the entire urban area of Cheyenne, especially the 30,000 residents of the eastern side of the urban area. The total population of the Cheyenne area is approximately 86,000 which is 89.8 percent of the 95,809 population of Laramie County. The Christensen Railroad Overpass and Corridor Project begins at Commerce Circle, which is near Interstate 80 in the center of the Cheyenne LEADS Business Parkway (Business Park). The project crosses the Union Pacific Railroad mainline, and then continues north to East Pershing Boulevard, where a modern roundabout is planned. From there, new construction continues north to the Intersection of U.S. Highway 30 (US 30). The completed project will represent one of only three arterials that connect Interstate 80 to US 30 in the Cheyenne urban area. The two other railroad crossings are collectors. In eastern Cheyenne, UPRR crossings are few and far between. The busiest crossing is at College Drive with volumes of 23,000 ADT. Over 4.5 miles to the east of College Drive is the next crossing at the deficient and narrow bridge, built in 1928, on E. Pershing. Beyond that is the Archer Interchange which is approximately 6.5 miles from College Drive and far outside the urban area. The proposed project would build a 1.25 mile corridor between Commerce Circle and US 30 which would complete a direct connection between I-80 and US 30. Once the Christensen Project is complete, the distance between I-80 and US 30 will be 1.85 miles. No other crossings of the UPRR east of I-25 are envisioned (PlanCheyenne). The multitude of past planning efforts speak to how important this corridor is to the entire Cheyenne urban area. During the development of The East Dell Range/US 30 Corridor Study and The Christensen Railroad Overpass Plan, which was prepared by the consultant Felsburg Holt & Ullevig (FHU) in 2008, public involvement and support was substantial. As a testament to the collaboration on this project, the City and County Governing Bodies both supported the $2 million which was placed on the proposed 6th Penny Specific Purpose and Use Tax ballot (in Group 4) to be used toward this project. The measure was put to a vote and approved by Laramie County citizens on August 21, 2012. With the potential award of the TIGER FY 2014 Discretionary Grant, the viability and project financing package for this project is assured. The City of Cheyenne requested $7,242,000 from the TIGER FY 2014 grant. The estimated cost of the project is $13.4 million. On April 10, 2014 the design and environmental consultants for the Christensen Project submitted a draft categorical exclusion (CE) to WYDOT. The impacts are summarized in the draft CE and there is, with all construction projects, a potential for minimal and temporary impacts associated with construction of the project. The approval of the CE by WYDOT and FHWA are expected shortly. Design is currently at the 60% level. WBC15 Chrstn Project summary.docx