R2001-234 APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR AGREEMENT

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Page 2 BACKGROUND: The Hubbard Avenue / Rea's Bridge Road Connector is proposed as a three lane road that connects with Hubbard Avenue on the west end and Rea's Bridge Road on the east end (see attached location map). In 1993, the firm of Blank, Wesselink, Cook and Associates (BWC) completed a comdor study to recommend possible corridors for a roadway linking 22nd / 27th Streets with Brush College Road. The study pointed to a connector linking Hubbard Avenue with Rea's Bridge Road, extending through the Caterpillar complex, as the best location for the proposed roadway. In 1995, City staff, with input from Caterpillar,prepared an alignment for the proposed roadway and BWC completed a property survey of the alignment. Preliminary design work for this roadway began in 2000 with final design work in 2001. To date, all right of way has been acquired for the proposed improvement, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have approved the final design and authorized 80% funding on the eligible construction contingent upon City Council authorization of the attached resolutions and ordinances. The project is currently scheduled to be advertised early in 2002 with a bid opening date of March 8, 2002. It is expected that construction will begin in April, 2002 and completed by the end of November, 2002. Associated with the Agreement are two resolutions authorizing agreements with the Illinois Central Railroad and Illinois Power Company along with the standard requirements by IDOT that the City approve, by ordinance, permanent motor vehicle parking restrictions within the project limits; a prohibition of the release of waste water into storm sewers; and the regulation of encroachments into the public right-of-way. The items are described below in the order they appear in your packet. All of these items must be approved for the ultimate City / State agreement to take effect. 1. Resolution authorizing an agreement for Local Agency Railway-Highway G�-ade Crossing Improvements. This resolution authorizes an agreement with the Illinois Central Railroad Company to provide an interconnection between traffic signals proposed to be installed at the intersection of Hubbard Avenue and Route 48. A railroad - traffic signal interconnect enables the traffic signals to respond to train traffic and eliminate any vehicular traffic movements that would conflict with the train. The City / Illinois Central Raikoad agreement is for a total cost of $68,510.00 with a Federal reimbursement of 80% or$54,808.00.