HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-01-27 97-105 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Date: January 2] 1997
Item No. 17-yp5
Item/Subject: Authorizing Grant Application - Maine State Planning Office
Regional Infrastructure Grants
ReeDonaibl< Department Community and Economic Development
Commentary:
The Maine State Planning Office is making available $100,000 for a small number of matching grants to Maine's
85 regional centers for infrastructure planning and preliminary engineering. The grant would he used in fund
Preliminary engineering and surveys necessary to demonstrate physical feasibility for an intermodal monsfamation
facility in the Bangor area. The maximum giant available is$20,OOOrequiringa 20% local match. Becauseofthe
limited availability ofgrentfunds, the proposed application is for 810,000. If received, the $10,000 Same Planning
Office grant will be used to match the local 211 o matching slmre to make available $40," in BACTS (Bangor Area
Comprehensive Transportation System) fonds, which will provide a tans! of $50,000 for the sandy. The BACTSfunds
would provide the local marching funds for Ne State Planning Office grant and therefore it is anticipated that no City
matching Birds will be required. If they are required, FY 1996 Community Development funds allocated for
comprehensive plam irg we available. The Community and Economic Development Committee recommends approval.
Be P rtm ant ad
Manager's Comments:
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City Manager
Associated Information:
Budget Approvals
Finance Director
Legal Approval: (1 -p_ /1
City/Solicitor
Introduced For .k Passage 0 First Reading 0 Referral
Page I of 1
ca-fora
9T-105
a®fined to Councilor Tyler January 27, 1997
p CITY OF BANGOR
VL
(TITLE.) Tber AULEoriaiag OranL Applicata -Maine State
Office Regional Infrastructure Grants
By Us City Council of 94 CiH of Sensate.
ORDERED,
TEAT
WHEREAS, the Maine State Planning Office bas made available$100,000 for a small
umber of matching grants to Maine's 85 regional centers for infrastructure
planning and preliminary engigeering; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor, and partners, are seeking hinds to demonstrate the
physical feasibility for the location of an intermodal transportation facility
that will strengthen Hanger's position a a center of distribution and trade
for Eastern Maine; and
WHEREAS, tie transferring of mad mailers from trucks to rail can requires a large
graded site, mads, rail backs, and a least one loading and creating crane
Wit; and
WHEREAS, engineering for Nese activities will place Honor in a position to receive
foods from the Maine Department of Transportation or construct the
proposed facility; and
WHEREAS, the goals of the project are in strengthen rhe regional tromponation network
which underpins the regional economy of Bangor, to support the
development of Bangor as a regional distribution hub for the
Mame/Maritimes region, and to complement the regional road and port
developments supporting the Bangor economy;
NOW, THEREFORE, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, BE IT
ORDERED, THAT the City Manager is baricity autMrized, on behalf of the City of
Bangor, to submit an application to the Maine Sate Planning Office for Regional Centers
Infrastructure Grant Funds, a copy of which is shouted hereto, and to accept such grant
funds, if awarded, and expend Nem is accordance with state oral federal regulations for the
purposes stated therein;
AND BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, THAT the City Manager is authorized 0 expend
such funds as are necessary to fund the lora] match for said grant funds.
IN CITY COUNCIL
Tanury 27. 1992
Passed
92-105
ORDER
Title, Authorizing Grant Application -
Ga1ns State Planning Office Regional
Infrastructure Grants
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to
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Gowci.lman
97-105
Regional Centers Infrastructure Grant Application
Applicant's name: Project contact:
City of Bangor Rodney McKay
93 Harlow Strut
Bangor ME 04101
phone (207) 945-0400
fax (207) 945-0449
Project rmme:
Bangor Intermodal Engineering Study
Project deseription:
The City of Bangor, all partners, are seeking funds to demonstrate physical feasibility for an
Imermodal facility. The dematM for this facility, documented in a Jum, 1996 aptly by
Stafford At Associates, will strengthen Bangor's position as a center of distribution and trade
for Eastern Maim. The transferring of road trailers from trucks to rail cars requires a large
graded site, roads, rail tracks, and at least one IoadingluNoading, cram unit. Enginuring for
these activities will place Bangor in a position to receive fulls from the Maitre Depar[meat of
Transportation m construct the proposed facility. This will provide benefits to businesses
which support Bre Bangor economy all serve to establish Bangor as a center for distribution in
Eastern Maine end tha Maritimes.
participants:
The applicant for these funds is the City of Bangor. Other participants include the Town of
Hermon, the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System (BACTS), mal the Eastern
Maine Development Corporation (EMDC).
project Goal
The goal of the project is to strengthen the regional transportation network which underpins the
regional economy of Bangor. In the longer tenth, the Intermodal facility, will also support the
developmem of Bangor as a regional distribution bub for the Maine/Maritimes region, all
complement regional road all port developments supporting the Bangor economy.
97-105
Expected products:
The following products and estimated costs are expected as a result of this grant and the
BACTS funding:
Site search analysis
It 7,000
Property aM Topographic survey
$ 9,000
Wetland survey
$ 8,000
Soil survey
$ 8,000
Phase 1 enviro nscand survey
$15,000
Traffic study (if required)
$ 3.00(1
TOTAL
$50,000
Dollar amount requested: Proposed completion dale:
October 31, 1997
Funding is requested, as follows:
BACTS - $40,000
SPO - $10 ON)
Total $50,000
Please provide month and year when the applicant's comprehensive plan was round
consistent with the Growth Management Act and locally adopted or, is the community
currently drafting a comprehensive plan ?
The City of Bangor has received a grant and is currently updating their comprehe sive plan to
become consistent with the Gmwlh Management Act.
How does the project meet grant criteria (see Grants Program description):
The Grants Program material provides four (4) criteria. These are addressed below:
a) enhance coawanity and etonomlc capacity of center communities or solve regional
problems
The City of Bangor serves as the regional economic hub for Eastern Maine. Thus, Me
strength of the greater region directly contributes to Bangor's economic health. The
benefits of increased commerce, in local and regional farms draw upon the greater
Bangor area for services, aM as these same fnms provide jobs and incomes an their
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employees, whom in tum draw upon the area for services, provides a two fold ben dfit.
The proposed facility, with its associnad mil service, will have several impacts: i) a
continuing impact on regional employment and incomes through the operation of the
facility and the train set string the facility, ii effects on the regional and state trucking
industry and freight patterns, and on freight -sensitive industries; and in) long-term
indirect effects on the overall growth mm of the region, through the establishment of
businesus both servicing and served by a regional intermodal hub.
While items i) and h), above represent significant economic potential to Bangor, item
Bi) represents to greatest economic bencht. According to Stafford and Associates,
investment in an Intermodal facility represents the single greatest transportation
investment for the Bangor area. Due to current trucking Names resulting in a large
amount of outbound traffic, but little inbound traffic, transportation Costs are
particularly high in tine Pastern Maim area. The proposed Intermodal facility is
expected to reduce, for example, hoods to the Midwest by $200Arader, resulting in at
least 5,000 annual outbound truckload equivalents in yea 3 of the operation, This will
directly create 200 paper industry jobs, according to the analysis and have secondary
job impacts of 957 jobs, according to Maine's Regional Output Simulation Model.
In short, creation of rhe Intermodal facility will have the eff«t of moving Bangor closer
W Midwest markets by the trucking equivalent of 200 miles. In freight terms, Bangor
will cease to be the metaphorical 'end of the line' when it becomes in reality the
intentional 'end of dm line'.
b) meet the land use planning goals of Maine's Growdh Management Act.
The vision of the working committee for this project is m locate the facility as close in
Proximity to the existing infrastructure p-95,1-395, and the Bangor and Aroostook
Railroad i s possible. Matcher the area that is being considered for this facility already
has regional warehousing and industrial. This facility would foster growth in an area
already dedicated for this activity.
e) suggest a strong likelihood of success bared on the quality of the proposal, the
project's feasibiGly and the community's experience with simi/arprojects.
The report by Stafford Associates, issued in lune, 19% Immediately created optimism
within the Bangor area. A Committee was forced to pursue funding and develop an
organizational structure m seek public funds for the investment. This Committee,
comprised of representatives from the City of Bangor, the Town of Herman, Eastern
Maine Development Corporation, BACTS, Bangor and Aroostook Railroad and MDOT
has met regularly since lune.
Funding was sought from the Mame Department of Transportation, resulting in a letter
of commitment from the Maine DOT to place the project in the 1998-1999 Biennial
Transportation Improvement Plan. Bangor's City lawyer has drafted by-laws for a
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local non-profit to manage the facility. In the meantime, a trailer lifter has been
purchased by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad to run an small interim facility using
available backs at Northern Maine function.
The BAM has placed $40,000 in their current budget to fund additional studies for
the project. Pending Ne availability of $10,000 in 8P0 foods, there are sufficient funds
to provide the necessary engineering to move this project to the funding stage.
d) ideadfied as capital hnprovemertt prioehles in community comprehensive plans or
capltN hnprovement plans and for which conununides have established capita(
reserves.
The City of Bangor has included the Intermodal Facility in its drab Transportation
Element as part of the Comprehensive Plan Revision presently underway.
Implementation of this proposal will be included in the Plans Capital Improvement
Plan.
Expected sources of construction funding.
Project is to be included in the MDOT's PY-1998-1999 Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP). The TIP documents where MDOT was eamwarked spending for construction during the
two year period.