Subject:
Title
Bridge Investment Program grant application with the Federal Highway Administration for the replacement of Beckett Bridge in the City of Tarpon Springs.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval to grant the County Administrator authority to sign the Bridge Investment Program grant application with the Federal Highway Administration for the replacement of Beckett Bridge in the City of Tarpon Springs.
• Existing Bridge has reduced capacity due to ongoing deterioration and is classified as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete.
• Proposed new bridge will meet all current safety standards and provide enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
• Requested grant funding is $18,900,000.00 (90%); anticipated County match is $2,100,000.00 (10%).
• County match will be funded through the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Capital Improvement Program Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas).
• Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Chairman to sign the letter of support.
• Request authority for the County Administrator to sign the application on behalf of the BCC.
• Application deadline is September 8, 2022.
County PID: 001037A; Total project cost approximately $21,000,000.00, with anticipated grant funding received being $18,900,000.00; Authorize the BCC Chairman to sign the related letter of support; Authorize the County Administrator to sign the grant application.
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Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.5 Enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety
Foster Continual Economic Growth and Vitality
4.4 Invest in infrastructure to meet current and future needs
4.5 Provide safe and effective transportation systems to support the efficient flow of motorists, commerce, and regional connectivity
Summary:
Summary
The BCC is authorizing the County Administrator to sign the grant application for the replacement of the Beckett Bridge in the City of Tarpon Springs due to time constraints. The application is currently being prepared by the County’s consultant, WSP, Inc., with anticipated completion by mid-August, which is after the agenda deadline for next BCC meeting. The BCC is scheduled for the same day the grant application is due to FHA. The final application will be provided through a future delegated Legistar item.
Grant funding will support the replacement of Beckett Bridge in Tarpon Springs. The existing bridge has reduced capacity due to ongoing deterioration and is classified as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The Bridge is currently posted for legal loads limited to 12-ton single unit trucks and 15-ton combination trucks. The Bridge is founded on karst subsurface conditions with a portion of the Bridge, including the bascule span and one approach span, located over a relict sinkhole. The foundations have a long history of vertical settlement and horizontal movement requiring major repairs. The continued settlement and movement require frequent monitoring, surveying inspections and maintenance.
Recent reevaluation (June 2021) of the Bridge condition resulted in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) rating substructure rating dropping from 6 (satisfactory condition) to 4 (poor condition) on a scale from 0 to 9. This reduction in rating will result in a Sufficiency Rating of 18.1 compared to 48.3 on a scale of 0-100. (Sufficiency Rating is a tool used by the Federal Highway Administration when allocating federal funds for bridge replacement). There are no shoulders on the Bridge. Bridge railings do not meet current standards for pedestrian safety or geometric and crash testing safety standards for vehicles. Approach guardrail and transitions and end treatments also do not meet current safety standards. Sidewalks on the bridge are only 2'2" wide and do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
The proposed new Bridge will meet all current safety standards, provide enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and eliminate the need for frequent repair.
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Background Information:
Beckett Bridge connects areas west and north of the Whitcomb Bayou to downtown Tarpon Springs. Riverside Drive is an extension of Tarpon Avenue which is a designated hurricane evacuation route. Beckett Bridge provides access to major north/south arterials including Alternative U.S. 19 and U.S. 19 for coastal residents during hurricane evacuation. The bridge also provides access for emergency vehicles, including police, ambulance, and fire.
A total of $2.36 billion BIP funds were made available through the FHWA, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that specializes in highway transportation. Funding will be granted to selected projects that involve bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection. The deadline for the grant application to be submitted is September 8, 2022.
Fiscal Impact:
The total cost of the project is approximately $21,000,000.00. Requested BIP funding is $18,900,000.00 (90%). The anticipated County match is $2,100,000.00 (10%). The local match will be funded through the FY 2023-2025 Capital Improvement Program.
The Beckett Bridge replacement project is currently reflected in the proposed budget as primarily Local Infrastructure Sales Tax (Penny for Pinellas) funded.
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelli Hammer Levy, Director, Public Works
Partners:
USDOT
FHWA
City of Tarpon Springs
Attachments:
BCC Letter of Support
Notice of Funding Opportunity
OMB Intent to Apply
Project Location Map