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Staff outlines three options after federal RAISE grant warnings for North Avenue project
Summary
Engineers flagged right‑of‑way impacts and federal eligibility concerns for the approved North Avenue design; staff offered three options — seek a federal grant conversion to planning, redesign to avoid right‑of‑way impacts, or proceed and risk losing RAISE funds if Congress does not grant an extension.
Staff from Transportation and Public Works reported on a feasibility study for the North Avenue corridor and told the commission that the current design would likely fail federal funding obligation deadlines unless Congress extends those deadlines.
Steven Bailey summarized the consultant (AECOM) findings and said the five‑lane typical section in the approved Comprehensive Development Option (CDO) would require significant right‑of‑way acquisition. “AECOM completed survey ... and found 49 parcels that would be impacted and need right‑of‑way acquisition,” Bailey said, and added that right‑of‑way work would add at least 12 months to the project schedule.
Bailey said Federal Highway Administration staff informed county project staff that the extent of change from the previously approved concept could trigger new public engagement requirements and that a decorative screen wall near Bridal Street may not be eligible for federal grant funding and could raise safety concerns within the roadside clear zone.
Staff presented three paths for the commission to consider: (1) attempt a grant conversion—convert the awarded construction grant into a planning grant to retain awarded funds for design and planning and pursue construction funding later (or cancel the grant and stop construction efforts); (2) redesign the project to avoid all right‑of‑way impacts — which would limit design options and likely remove streetscape elements such as lighting, street trees and full bike facilities but could shorten the schedule; or (3) continue with the currently approved design and rely on Congress to approve a deadline extension — a high‑risk approach according to staff.
Commissioners asked about partial solutions (for example, pursuing the bridge and interchange elements first) and expressed frustration that the commission had not been presented with the current risk assessment earlier. Staff said the county has spent about $400,000 to date on design and that if the grant is canceled the county’s remaining local exposure would likely be to repay that design cost. Staff said they will prepare an agenda item for the commission as soon as possible to direct next steps.
