City staff discuss $2.3 million AZ Smart application to design John Wesley Powell extension
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Summary
City staff presented a discussion item describing an AZ Smart grant application requesting $2.3 million to fully fund design for the John Wesley Powell (JWP) extension; staff said design funding would accelerate the project and require pursuing federal construction grants within two years.
City staff presented the John Wesley Powell (JWP) extension as a discussion item and described an AZ Smart grant application submitted about one and a half weeks earlier to fund design for a currently missing segment between the I-17 area and Lake Mary Road.
A staff presenter said the application requests $2,300,000 to cover 100% of design costs for the JWP connection, which would include pedestrian and bicycle facilities, buffered on-street bike lanes and separated multi-use paths. Staff explained that an AZ Smart award funds design and is contingent on pursuing federal construction grants within two years; if the federal grant application is not successful, the city could use CIP funds already programmed in later years.
Staff provided a construction-level estimate for the extension of roughly $24,000,000 for design and construction combined and noted the alignment near the airport had been coordinated with the FAA and appears to have been approved for the proposed alignment. Jeff Baumann (online) indicated CIP funding exists for portions of the JWP Airport work and staff said any AZ Smart design award would improve the project’s prospects for federal construction funding.
No formal action was taken; the item remained a discussion to inform committee members and to solicit comment. Staff said they expected to know in February whether the application would advance to the state transportation board and by March whether funding was awarded.