Coversheet

Board Action Request
17-0016

Item Description:
Amd 1 to Master Funding Agmt A142418 to include funding elements of the base the Green Line Extension LRT project; negotiate various agreements for local improvements to be constructed by the Green Line Extension LRT Project, 7/1/17–12/31/19, total combined NTE $4,343,077

Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Amendment 1 to Master Funding Agreement A142418 with the Metropolitan Council for increased flexibility to provide funding for elements within the scope of the Green Line Extension Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project; and that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the amendment on behalf of the county; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Subordinate Funding Agreement A166577 with the Metropolitan Council for IT Community Connectivity-eligible (CP 1000325/1002166) installation of fiber optic infrastructure along the entire length of the Green Line Extension LRT corridor and for Community Works-eligible (CP 0031805) local improvements to be constructed for a new trail along CSAH 61 (Flying Cloud Drive) from Technology Drive to Valley View Road in the City of Eden Prairie by the Green Line Extension LRT Project, during the period July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019, with a not to exceed amount of $3,943,077; that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Agreement PW 71-49-16 with the City of Eden Prairie for maintenance of improvements constructed by the Green Line Extension LRT Project, at no cost to the county; and that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate Agreement PW 72-40-16 with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for cost participation, maintenance and operation of two traffic control signal systems reconstructed by the Green Line Extension LRT Project on CSAH 61 (Flying Cloud Drive) in the City of Eden Prairie, with a not to exceed amount of $400,000 to be funded through the Southwest Light Rail Transit Partnership Participation capital project (CP 2999968); that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.


Background: History: Resolution 14-0515 (adopted December 16, 2014) authorized negotiation and execution of Master Funding Agreement A142418 with the Metropolitan Council. The Master Funding Agreement (MFA) is an umbrella agreement and requires negotiation and execution of Subordinate Funding Agreements (SFAs) for any identified local projects in connection with the Metropolitan Council’s Green Line Extension Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. As executed, that agreement did not anticipate that the county would be funding elements of the base project, but the county has subsequently agreed to fund various items eligible under various county programs such as the Environmental Response Fund and Community Works. Accordingly, this Board Action Request clarifies that elements in the base project are also eligible to be funded through the MFA. Further, to take advantage of anticipated construction activity for the Green Line Extension LRT project and to minimize public disruptions due to multiple construction projects by different agencies along the corridor, Hennepin County has the opportunity to pay for the inclusion of local capital improvements that are not funded by the base LRT project but serve a direct county purpose. The improvements include: 1. Laying fiber optic infrastructure to expand the county’s access to high-speed, redundant communication lines, which would lower operating costs and support the organization’s growing need for high quality, reliable broadband network connections. 2. Constructing a new trail along CSAH 61 (Flying Cloud Drive) from Technology Drive to Valley View Road which would connect two existing trails on Hennepin County right of way in Eden Prairie. 3. Reconstruction of the traffic control signal systems at the intersections of Flying Cloud Drive/TH 494 North Ramp and Flying Cloud Drive /Valley View Road by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Hennepin County capital projects CP 1000325 and 1002166 (IT Community Connectivity) includes funding for the installation of fiber optic infrastructure along the entire length of the Green Line Extension LRT corridor. Resolution 15-0109 (adopted March 31, 2015) authorized design by the Green Line Extension LRT project office. Agreement A166577 will support construction and installation in conjunction with the Green Line Extension LRT project. Total project cost is approximately $2.4 million. Hennepin County capital project CP 0031805 (Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) Community Works) includes funding for construction of a new trail along CSAH 61 (Flying Cloud Drive) from Technology Drive to Valley View Road in conjunction with the Green Line Extension LRT project. Resolution 15-0087 (adopted March 17, 2015) authorized design by the Green Line Extension LRT project office. Agreement A166577 will support construction of the trail in coordination with the Green Line Extension LRT project. Total project cost is approximately $1.9 million. These local improvements would be constructed between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019. Additionally, this request seeks authorization to negotiate and execute Agreement PW 71-49-16 with the City of Eden Prairie establishing each party's maintenance responsibilities for improvements to be constructed by the Green Line Extension LRT Project, including the new trail along Flying Cloud Drive, at no cost to the county. Finally, to accommodate the Green Line Extension LRT Project, it is necessary for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to reconstruct the existing traffic control signal systems at the intersections of Flying Cloud Drive/TH 494 North Ramp and Flying Cloud Drive/Valley View Road. Proposed Agreement PW 72-40-16 with MnDOT establishes each parties’ cost participation, maintenance and operational responsibilities for the two traffic control signal systems, at an estimated county cost of $400,000. Funding for the county’s estimated cost participation will be from the Southwest LRT Partnership Participation capital project (CP 2999968). Current Request: This request amends the Master Funding Agreement A142418 to include elements of the base project, to negotiate and execute agreements with the Metropolitan Council for installation of fiber optic infrastructure along the entire length of the Green Line Extension LRT corridor and construction of a new trail along CSAH 61 (Flying Cloud Drive) from Technology Drive to Valley View Road, and also to negotiate an agreement with Minnesota Department of Transportation for reconstruction of existing traffic control signal systems at the intersections of Flying Cloud Drive/TH 494 North Ramp and Flying Cloud Drive/Valley View Road, to be implemented by the Green Line Extension LRT contractor as part of the overall Green Line Extension LRT project. Impact/Outcomes: The authorization of this request allows for the county to benefit from the mobilization of the contractor in the Green Line Extension LRT corridor and to minimize construction impacts to the public. The direct benefit to the county includes lower communications operating costs while supporting the organization’s growing need for high quality, reliable broadband network connections as well as creating an uninterrupted trail and improve accessibility to future Green Line Extension LRT stations in the City of Eden Prairie.