Title
South End Rail Trail/I-277 Bridge Agreement
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the City Manager to execute public/private partnership agreements for the South End Rail Trail/I-277 Bridge, and
B. Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $11,000,000 from public funds and private contributions to the General Community Investment Fund for the South End Trail/I-277 Bridge Project.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Liz Babson, Transportation
Dan Gallagher, Transportation
Explanation
* In 2004, the City of Charlotte removed a planned pedestrian bridge over I-277 from the LYNX Blue Line construction as a cost saving measure.
* Removal of the bridge from the plans created a critical missing Rail Trail link between South End and Uptown.
* The Rail Trail is an important and highly used pedestrian and bicycle route connecting many destinations in South End, Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods.
* Over the past few months, the City has been discussing with Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and private developers' options and funding strategies to close this critical gap.
* The City is taking steps which will result in a public/private partnership to provide funds to construct a pedestrian bridge over I-277 to connect the Rail Trail between South End and Uptown Charlotte.
* This proposal meets many of the City's goals to promote transportation choices through adopted plans including:
* Center City 2020 Vision Plan,
* Transportation Action Plan,
* Charlotte WALKS and BIKES plans,
* Center City Transportation Plan,
* Rail Trail Master Plan, and
* South End Vision Plan.
* The total cost of the pedestrian bridge over I-277 is $11 million and funding commitments are as follows:
* City of Charlotte: $3,103,953,
* NCDOT: $3,288,105,
* Mecklenburg County: $3,100,000, and
* Private, Non-Profit, and Grants: $1,507,942.
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Fiscal Note
Funding: The project will be funded through a combination of City, County, NCDOT, private and non-profit funds an...
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