Staff and engineering firm Civil Design Advantage prepared an application to the Iowa Department of Transportation's Revitalizing Iowa's Sound Economy (R.I.S.E) grant program. The application is for the re-alignment of SE Hulsizer Drive, shifting the alignment west to connect with Oralabor Road where a traffic signal can be installed between the current Olive Garden and Perkins restaurants.

Staff has heard from several business located on and near SE Hulsizer Drive that access, specifically the southbound left turn movement off SE Hulsizer Drive onto Oralabor Road, is becoming increasingly difficult as traffic volumes in the area have increased.  As traffic along Oralabor Road and Delaware Avenue continues to increase, drivers are experiencing greater wait times at this busy intersection, making timely delivery of products more difficult.  These wait times are also becoming a safety concern as impatient drivers are making unsafe movements or using cut through alternate routes to avoid this intersection.  This realignment is necessary to warrant a traffic signal at this location, which will decrease wait times and improve safety.

In addition to addressing delays and safety concerns, these improvements support the City's business retention and expansion efforts in this area.  Providing adequate access is critical for the short term and long term viability of the 205 acre Hicklin Industrial Park.  An additional 27.3 acres of M1 zoned property located in the industrial park is available for new development or expansion.  Providing improved access will greatly enhance the marketability of this land, while also retaining the existing businesses and the several hundred employees currently employed in the business park.

A funding decision for this award will be made in late 2017, with design and construction beginning in 2018 or 2019.

This RISE application will not compete with the RISE application submitted by the City on behalf of the Polk County Aviation Authority.  If both projects are eligible for funding, funding will not be reduced for either award due to two applications being submitted by the City for this round of funding.

The engineer's estimate for the project is $2,377,133, of which $1,974,899 would be considered a RISE eligible expense.  If the application is funded, the maximum grant award from the DOT would be $987,449.  The remaining $1,389,684 would be considered local match and would be the City's responsibility.     

Tax increment financing revenues from the recent Kinzler Construction redevelopment and future new development would be used to cover the debt service for the City's local match.  The existing development agreement with Kinzler Construction states that if the City is awarded RISE funding for this project, no rebates will be issued to Kinzler and incremental tax revenues from their project can be used to support this project. 

Action: Consider motion to adopt RESOLUTION endorsing a grant application for funding through the Iowa Department of Transportation's "Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy" (R.I.S.E.) program for the Hicklin Industrial Park Project.