Fiscal Note
This resolution authorizes a jurisdictional transfer agreement between the City and the State of Wisconsin. Under the agreement, the City assume ownership of the sections of former US Highway 151 described in this resolution. The State of Wisconsin will make a one-time payment of $37 million to the City to be placed in a new capital fund for transportation projects. The City will assume full responsibility for the current and future maintenance costs and future reconstruction costs of the roads being transferred. The City currently maintains these sections of the connecting highway in the Streets Department Operating Budget and the transfer is not anticipated to require additional budget appropriations. The City will no longer receive state aid for this section of road. There is no cost to the City at this time.
Title
Authorizing a jurisdictional transfer agreement between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the City of Madison for portions of S. Park Street, W. Washington Avenue, Proudfit Street, North Shore Drive, John Nolen Drive, and S. Blair Street; and establishing a special revenue fund for transportation-related revenues and expenditures. (District 4, District 6, District 13, District 14)
Body
WHEREAS, S. Park Street from W. Badger Road to W. Washington Avenue, W. Washington Avenue from S. Park Street to Proudfit Street, Proudfit Street, North Shore Drive, John Nolen Drive from North Shore Drive to S. Blair Street, and S. Blair Street from John Nolen Drive to E. Washington Avenue currently have the status of State Connecting Highways and the designation of US 151, and;
WHEREAS, these roadways are an integral part of the city, playing an important role in moving people and goods, supporting environmental sustainability, fostering economic activity and facilitating a wide array of uses and activities, and;
WHEREAS, the responsibility for these roadways is currently shared between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the City of Madison, with the city performing regular maintenance, the city and the state sharing responsibility for future reconstruction, and the state having authority for approval of any roadway changes under its policies, and;
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation currently pays the city Connecting Highway Aids and would provide funding for a portion of future roadway reconstruction, and;
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has found that the public good will best be served by removing these roadways from the state highway system and rerouting US 151, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has concluded that its residents will benefit from the city having complete control of these roadways, and;
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the City of Madison have reached an agreement to transfer jurisdiction of these roadways, resulting in them being city-controlled streets, and;
WHEREAS, the agreement would transfer all reconstruction, design, operational, and permitting responsibilities to the city, with the city retaining maintenance and rehabilitation responsibilities, and;
WHEREAS, investment in transportation infrastructure, including roadways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and transit equipment and facilities, along with the costs to operate and maintain that infrastructure, is critical to the City’s economy and the well-being of its residents, and;
WHEREAS, allocating revenues toward our transportation needs will help with planning for prudent and effective investments now and in the future, and;
WHEREAS, the agreement includes a Cost to Cure payment to the city of $37,000,000., to help defray the one-time, initial capital and operating costs to maintain these additional system miles and;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Common Council authorizes the Mayor to sign a jurisdictional transfer agreement between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the City of Madison for portions of S. Park Street, West Washington Avenue, Proudfit Street, North Shore Drive, John Nolen Drive, and S. Blair Street, and;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the payment received from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation related to this Jurisdictional Transfer will be deposited to a transportation special revenue fund for the purpose of transportation-related operating costs and Capital improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the North South BRT project (Munis #13665) in the 2026 budget is here by amended to replace the $10,000,000 of WisDOT funding with $15,000,000 of Other Government Payment for Services.