HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/7/2023 Item 6d, Rands (2)
Barry Rands <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:March 7 Council Meeting Item 6d
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Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I just noted that the Public Works Director issued updated information addressing some of the comments received from
the public and other issues related to the North Chorro Greenway Project. I am pleased to hear that the estimated cost
savings for eliminating the "middle section" cycle tracks could be between $300 to $500 thousand. That would have
been my guess, as well, and it is not an insignificant amount. He does not advise this alternative, however, as he claims it
"could" result in the loss of the Urban Greening Grant funds. Why has this not been determined? It seems to me that a
very strong argument could be made to the granting agency that the change was made because of cost considerations
and that the total of eligible expenses still remains well above the grant amount. The letter states "Specifically, the items
eligible for grant reimbursement include site preparation for and related to all greening elements, including new trees,
landscaping and stormwater management facilities, and all work associated with constructing the bicycle facilities"
The bid results show the following numbers for these items:
Traffic Control: $538,000
Clearing & Grubbing $50,000
Class 1 Bike Path $138,000
Concrete Bike medians: $354,000
Bike related signs and markings: ~$70,000
Bike path lighting: $637,000
Stormdrain elements: ~$200,000
Greening elements ~ $750,000
TOTAL: over $2.7 million.
(These are just some clearly identifiable elements, but I am sure that there are more items that would be eligible)
So even if $500 thousand in expenditures were removed, grant eligible expenses still exceed $2 million, well above the
$1.7million grant amount.
Bottom line is that the decision to remove the dangerous and costly cycle tracks from Chorro should not be predicated
on a conjecture that can and should have been verified before tonight's meeting.
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My suggestion is to ignore the remote possibility of losing grant funding and make your decision independently. If I were
the granting agency I would do whatever I could to see that this project gets funded and built.
--
Barry Rands
49 Mariposa Dr.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-704-1549 (cell)
805-783-2038 (home)
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