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March 28, 2017 <br /> <br />17 - 147 - Adoption of an ordinance to accept a Transportation Alternatives Program <br />grant in the amount of $900,000 from the Virginia Department of Transportation and <br />to appropriate said funds to the Rail to Trail Project to be established in the FY 2017 <br />Capital Improvement Program Budget for the construction of a Rails to Trails <br />pathway. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The Commonwealth Railway Mainline Safety Relocation Project, completed in <br />2010, moved rail operations from neighborhoods of Portsmouth and Chesapeake to the <br />median of Route 164. <br /> <br /> The Commonwealth Railway currently owns the 1.82 miles of abandoned track in <br />Portsmouth that extends northeast from the city line on High Street to the intersection of <br />Old Coast Guard Blvd. with West Norfolk Road. <br /> <br /> The Portsmouth portion is part of the envisioned 41 mile South Hampton Roads <br />Trail between Suffolk and Virginia Beach. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> Rail to trail projects increase property values and boost economic development. <br /> <br /> Conversion of the rail to trail will provide Portsmouth residents a linear recreation <br />and alternative transportation facility. <br /> <br /> The city received the grant award in FY2015. The rail to trail project will be <br />designed and constructed with funds from this award. <br /> <br /> Staff has been working with the Port of Virginia and Commonwealth Railway on <br />the transfer of the abandoned rail property to the city since the grant award. The <br />assessed value of the rail property will ultimately be used as the local match. <br /> <br /> The city anticipates completing acquisition of the Commonwealth Railway property <br />this spring. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> The total project cost is $1,125,000. The grant award covers 80% of the cost <br />($900,000). The city is responsible for the 20% local match ($225,000). <br /> <br /> City Council previously committed $225,000 in CIP funds as a placeholder for the <br />local match until the acquisition of the abandon Commonwealth Railway Property. The <br />value of the property will serve as the city’s local match requirement. <br /> <br /> Upon completion of the acquisition, the CIP funds will be released from the match <br />obligation; therefore, no actual city funds will be spent on this project. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> Complete the acquisition of the abandoned rail property and start the project <br />design. The city anticipates advertising for construction bids in October 2017. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Clark, to adopt the following ordinance, <br />and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT A TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM <br />GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $900,000 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF <br />TRANSPORTATION AND TO APPROPRIATE SAID FUNDS TO THE RAIL TO TRAIL <br />PROJECT TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE FY 2017 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT <br />PROGRAM BUDGET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILS TO TRAILS <br />PATHWAY.” <br /> <br />Ayes: Cherry, Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Rowe <br />Nays: None <br /> <br />17 - 148 - Adoption of a resolution authorizing parcel reconciliation for the Martin <br />Luther King Freeway Extension Project through the conveyance of various <br />interests in rights of way and other residual properties between the City of <br />Portsmouth and the Commonwealth of Virginia. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />