Carefree Truth

Issue #387, March 30, 2015

 

 

 

The Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program, also known as the Clean Air Act, has made $8.2 million dollars available for bike/pedestrian projects from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015 - FFY 2017.  The Federal program supplies 94.3% of the funding, with the remaining 5.7% coming from local agencies.  The grant was awarded to Cave Creek as the applicant, with Carefree as the partnering agency.      

 

 

 

The entire project involved 2 grants.  The first was for design and the second was for construction.  The design phase has been completed, and the Towns are now utilizing the second grant for the construction phase.  Carefree's part of the project encompasses the section of Cave Creek Road from Scopa Trail to Pima Road, Tom Darlington Drive to Leisure Lane, and Cave Creek Road from just north of Sentinel Rock Road south to Carefree Highway, on the west side of Black Mountain.  The total cost is estimated at $2.5 million, with Carefree's portion being $138,000.  Carefree will utilize HURF funds in the reserve account, which are generated by the State gas tax and are restricted to use for roadway maintenance and improvements. 

 

 

 

The project scope includes widening the existing pavement to accommodate continuous 5' bike lanes in both directions throughout the project limits, with new pavement matching the existing pavement, and re-grading to a 3:1 slope.  The entire surface width will be re-slurried and re-striped, adding new striping to indicate bike lanes.  Existing survey monuments, manholes, and valves will be reset as needed.  The edges of the existing pavement will remain the same.  Medians will be reduced.  Plants will be removed from the medians and salvaged, where practical, to replant.  

 

 

 

At the time of the presentation, 60% of the construction documents were completed, along with cost estimates, and a 95% submittal with cost estimates and a revised budget was awaited.  An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Cave Creek will be formulated, and a Notice of Intent to Clear the Land will be filed with the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

 

 

 

The projected timing of the entire project was 7-14 months for Planning and Programming, 18-24 months for Development and Design (D&D includes Utility and Railroad clearances, Environmental clearances, Right of Way clearances, and Material Report clearances), 6-24 months for Construction, and 1-4 months for Final Acceptance.

 

 

 

The next steps will involve sending out the completed construction documents for bid, revising the IGA with Cave Creek as needed, awarding the construction contract, administration and oversight of the project, and final acceptance.   Carefree anticipates that the construction phase will take 6 months, commencing this July. 

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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