HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 117 - Fed Funding - 97 at Wickiup ProjectDeschutes County Board of Commissioners
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AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT
For Board Business Meeting of September 23, 2009
Please see directions for completing this document on the next page.
DATE: September 11, 2009
FROM: Tom Blust ROAD 322 -7105
TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM:
Consideration of Board signature of Resolution 2009 -117, Declaring Deschutes County's Support to
seek Federal Funding for the US 97 at Wickiup Junction Project.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? NO
BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
The Oregon Department of Transporatation is partnering with Deschutes County, the City of La Pine,
Bureau of Land Management, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to develop a solution to
address the safety and congestion problems at US 97 and Wickiup Junction in La Pine. The proposed
project to solve the at -grade rail crossing and Burgess Road intersection problems is to realign US 97 to
the east of its current location and build a railway overcrossing and new connections for Burgess Road.
ODOT, the County and other partners do not have adequate resources to construct the proposed project.
ODOT has indicated their intention to seek federal earmark funding for the US97 at Wickiup Junction
project through the upcoming federal surface transportition funding reauthorization bill. The intent of
the Resolution before the Board is to declare Deschutes County's support for the project and support in
seeking federal funding for construction.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. It is estimated that the US97 / Wickiup Junction project will cost $31 million to construct.
Deschutes County will likely be a partner with ODOT in funding this project. However, this
Resolution does not commit any county funding to the US 97 / Wickiup Junction project.
RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED:
The Road Department recommends Board signature of Resolution 2009 -117.
ATTENDANCE: Tom Blust
DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS:
Wanda Kunz, Road Department (Road Department will distribute copies to the Central Oregon Area
Commission on Transportation, the Oregon Transportation Commission, and congressional delegation
members).
REVIEV4D
tA_ ( I( -
LEGAL COLINSEL
For Recording Stamp Only
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
A Resolution Declaring Deschutes County's
Support to Seek Federal Funding for the US
97 at Wickiup Junction Project.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2009 -117
WHEREAS, US 97 is a critical part of the State's transportation system, and is classified as an
expressway in the Wickiup Junction /La Pine area, and
WHEREAS, the at -grade railway /highway crossing on US 97 at Wickiup Junction is the only at
grade crossing on US 97 in the entire state. Drivers on US 97 who are not familiar with the area do not
anticipate having to stop for trains. Nor are they anticipating have to stop for school buses and vehicles
carrying hazardous materials that are required to stop at all railroad crossings, and
WHEREAS, this at -grade crossing creates an extremely unsafe situation on the highway, and
WHEREAS, This safety problem has forced local school buses to avoid this section of the
highway and to have to travel out -of- direction to complete their routes. and
WHEREAS, the traffic volume on Burgess Road at its intersection with US 97, immediately sou :h
of the railway crossing, is approaching capacity making access from Burgess Road on and off US 97
hazardous, and
WHEREAS, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is partnering with Deschutes
County, the City of La Pine, Bureau of Land Management, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to
develop a solution to address the safety problems at US 97/Wickiup Junction, and
WHEREAS, the proposed project to solve the at -grade rail crossing and Burgess Road
intersection problems is to realign US 97 to the east of its current location and build a railway
overcrossing and new connections for Burgess Road, and
WHEREAS, ODOT, Deschutes County, and the City of La Pine do not have adequate resources
to fund the proposed US 97 at Wickiup Junction project, and
WHEREAS, the upcoming federal surface transportation funding reauthorization provides an
opportunity to submit highway program earmark requests, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES
COUNTY, OREGON, as follows:
Section 1. That the County hereby supports ODOT's proposed project for the railway
overcrossing and Burgess Road connection at US 97/Wickiup Junction.
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PAGE 1 OF 2- RESOLUTION No. 2009-117
Section 2. That the County hereby supports efforts to seek federal funding assistance for the US
97 at Wickiup Junction project.
Section 3. That this resolution be presented to the Central Oregon Area Commission on
Transportation and to the Oregon Transportation Commission.
Section 4. That this resolution be presented to Oregon's congressional delegation members.
Dated this of , 2009 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF DESCHUTES COUNTY , OREGON
ATTEST:
TAMMY BANEY, CHAIR
DENNIS R. LUKE, VICE CHAIR
Recording Secretary ALAN UNGER, COMMISSIONER
PAGE 2 OF 2- RESOLUTION No. 2009-117