Title
LYNX Blue Line Extension Pedestrian Bridge Agreements
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Pedestrian Bridge Agreement with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and
B. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Pedestrian Bridge Agreement with Carolinas Healthcare System.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
John Muth, CATS
Danny Rogers, CATS
Brad Thomas, City Attorney’s Office
Explanation
§ As a result of cost savings achieved on the Blue Line Extension (BLE) project, City staff has identified improvements that would provide significant benefit for long-term capacity, safety, and connectivity for certain properties impacted by the BLE project.
§ One of the improvements includes extending the current design of the pedestrian bridge at the JW Clay Boulevard/University of North Carolina Charlotte Station to cross over the northbound lanes of North Tryon Street (Pedestrian Bridge Extension).
§ The new design will require an extended bridge walkway and a new tower to be constructed on the property currently owned by the Foundation of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Foundation).
§ On August 24, 2015, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an amendment to the State Full Funding Grant Agreement to expend additional scope to cover among other improvements, the JW Clay Pedestrian Bridge Extension.
§ On September 3, 2015, the North Carolina Board of Transportation approved the proposed Amendment to the State Full Funding Grant Agreement that included partial funding for the Pedestrian Bridge Extension.
§ The Pedestrian Bridge Agreement with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) will include key terms such as:
- UNC Charlotte will make a financial contribution of $600,000 towards construction of the Pedestrian Bridge Extension.
- The City will own and maintain the Pedestrian Bridge Extension.
- The Foundation will grant the City the required easements to build the improvements.
- UNC Charlotte will be permitted to have branding on the approved sections of the structure.
- The City will permit UNC Charlotte’s development plans to include a connection to the tower or plaza (The City and the University would work together on design and engineering).
§ The Pedestrian Bridge Agreement with Carolinas Healthcare System will include key terms such as:
- Carolinas Healthcare System will make a financial contribution of $600,000 towards the construction of the Pedestrian Bridge Extension.
- The City will own and maintain the Pedestrian Bridge Extension.
- Carolinas Healthcare System will be permitted to have branding on the approved sections of the structure.
Fiscal Note
Funding: CATS Community Investment Plan and Contributions from UNC Charlotte and Carolinas Healthcare System