Title
143rd Street, Jurisdictional Transfer from Will-Cook Road to Wolf Road - Discussion
History
The Village, its engineering staff, and its engineering consultants have been working to secure construction funding for the widening/improvements of the 143rd Street project for over a decade. The 143rd Street project includes widening and improving the roadway from Southwest Highway to Will-Cook Road from two-lanes (one lane each direction) to five-lanes (two lanes each direction with a center turn lane). The Village has received some funds for engineering studies, but has not received any federal or state funds for construction. The following is a list of efforts that the staff has previously initiated to acquire construction funds:
-Federal TIGER Grants, now known as BUILD grant. The staff will again apply for this grant later this year when the applications open.
-Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds, federal transportation funds administered by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and managed by Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and Southwest Conference of Mayors (SCM)
-Multiple requests over several years by staff to IDOT to include our project in their Multi-Year Program (MYP). The MYP is a five-year program which is used by IDOT to identify transportation projects throughout the state. Inclusion in the MYP guarantees the availability of construction funds by IDOT. Staff proactively reached out to IDOT last year in an attempt to get the 143rd Street project included in the 2020-2025 MYP, but IDOT indicated that they are unable to include the Village’s project in the current program.
Earlier this year, staff learned that IDOT has a program where they give a higher priority for construction funding if a municipality is willing to take ownership of an unmarked section of a state highway. For the 143rd Street project, the roadway section between Will-Cook Road and Wolf Road is an unmarked state highway (refer to the attached map). Staff confirmed with IDOT officials that if the Village makes an official request for jurisdictional transfer, IDOT will consider assigning a higher priority for construction funding.
The Village has completed Phase I and Phase II (90%) engineering studies for the Will-Cook Road to Wolf Road section. This section of the project is as close to a “shovel ready” project as possible. The estimated construction cost is $14M.
The following are the typical steps for a jurisdictional transfer:
1. The Village sends a letter to IDOT indicating its willingness to accept a jurisdictional transfer from Will-Cook Road to Wolf Road, profided that the funding for the improvement is allocated.
2. IDOT reviews and accepts the offer letter and assigns a higher construction funding priority for the project.
3.IDOT allocates funds for the project. This step can be handled in one of two different ways, as detailed below. In either scenario, the Village is responsible for paying ineligible items such as some traffic signals, landscaping, project enhancements, and other items which may be identified by IDOT.
a. IDOT builds the road at its expense and using its resources. This may be a slightly lengthier construction process due to IDOT’s internal procedures. However, the advantage is IDOT is responsible for all cost overruns and addressing any unknown conditions during construction.
b. IDOT provides the estimated construction cost as a lump sum amount to the Village and the Village builds the road using its resources. This may be a quicker way to start and complete the roadway construction process. However, possible challenges with this approach are how to handle, and who pays for, construction cost overruns and unknown conditions uncovered during construction.
4. IDOT and the Village execute an agreement for construction completion and jurisdictional transfer.
5. IDOT or the Village complete roadway construction (based upon 3a or 3b above).
6. After construction completion, the Village takes ownership of the improved roadway and responsibility for maintenance and reconstruction in perpetuity. If IDOT and the Village agree on the 3b approach (above), IDOT may require that the jurisdictional transfer be completed when they transfer construction funds to the Village.
Based on the above discussion, staff believes that the jurisdictional transfer is the best approach to complete 143rd from Will-Cook Road to Wolf Road. A similar approach may be applied, with IDOT’s approvals, at a later date for the Wolf Road to Southwest Highway section. However, this section is a marked highway which will require other changes, including realigning and re-signing Route 7 before a jurisdictional transfer request can be made.
Therefore, staff is recommending that the Village send a letter to IDOT indicating its willingness to accept a jurisdictional transfer for 143rd Street from Will-Cook Road to Wolf Road section, provided an acceptable timeline and cost can be negotiated.
Financial Impact
There are no immediate financial impacts related to this request.
Recommended Action/Motion
Staff is requesting consensus to begin the jurisdictional transfer process by sending IDOT a letter indicating the Village’s willingness to accept a jurisdictional transfer of 143rd Street from Will Cook Road to Wolf Road along 143rd Street.
A motion is not needed for this request. The staff will come back to the Committee of the Whole and to the Board of Trustees when IDOT allocates funds for the project and is ready to negotiate and execute a jurisdictional transfer agreement.