Ann Arbor officials still seeking state and federal funds to fix East Stadium bridges
Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit, said the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study's Technical Committee approved a five-year plan in January that makes a case for $8 million in federal funding for the East Stadium bridges over four years beginning in fiscal year 2011. That plan is now scheduled for review and approval by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
When President Barack Obama arrives in Ann Arbor next week, some have wondered if his motorcade to Michigan Stadium will travel down South State Street underneath the deteriorated East Stadium Boulevard bridge span.
After several failed attempts to secure state and federal funding to replace the bridge, some think a firsthand experience by the commander in chief himself may be the only way federal grant dollars will flow toward Ann Arbor's bridge where, last fall, beams were removed due to the threat of football-sized chunks of falling concrete.
The Stadium Boulevard bridge span over South State Street is shown in this file photo from last year.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
The Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously Monday night to submit grant funding applications to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The city is asking the state of Michigan for $3 million to put toward a complete reconstruction effort.
This is the city's third attempt to secure funds for the replacement of the two bridge spans over the Ann Arbor Railroad and South State Street through MDOT's Local Bridge Program. The city also is seeking federal surface transportation funding in the amount of $8 million, which it would receive over a period of four years if awarded.
"It's our job to go out there for any funding that is available and hope for the best," said Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit. "We are counting on every federal assistance and state assistance we can get."
Pirooz estimates the project will cost about $23 million. He said it's anticipated that MDOT will make a decision on the funding in November. The deadline to apply is June 1.
The condition of the Stadium bridge spans has been deteriorating for several years — to the point that the city removed some of the beams this past year to prevent crumbling concrete from falling on vehicles. The city originally planned to move forward with the project this fall.
But without federal TIGER grant funding, and without word on state funding until November, Pirooz said a more realistic start date is sometime in the spring.
"We have to wait for the Local Bridge money to either be approved or be rejected, and that's November, so we cannot start, of course, before November," he said. "I would say we're talking probably about a March and April of 2011 start date and it would be probably 18 months construction."
City Administrator Roger Fraser addressed the bridge issue at Monday's council meeting. He reminded council the absence of state and federal assistance could mean the city using two years' worth of street repair money to pay for the bridges — and that's a concern.
"If, in fact, we're forced to that as the final and only recourse, then we're going to have a serious conversation with you about how we proceed," Fraser said. "Actually that conversation might occur as early as this fall if we're not able to align any of these other dollars."
Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, asked Fraser if construction still would proceed if the city is unsuccessful in getting grant funding.
"Our plan has been in the past to begin construction this fall. I want to emphasize that was based on commitments we anticipated in the previous TIGER program," Fraser said. "Once we got beyond those time constraints, it was clear that we needed to focus on other alternatives for that funding before we got into this and that's the reason why we're now talking about a spring start. But the funding really must be in place by the end of this calendar year in order for us to start in the spring. And so this fall will be critical in bringing all of this stuff to closure."
Pirooz said he's not worried putting off the project until next spring will further deteriorate the bridge to the point that it becomes a serious safety hazard.
"With what we know, the bridge is safe," he said. "We had a few bad beams that we removed last year and, with those beams gone, I think what's left of the bridge should be good for another few years until the construction's completed."
According to Pirooz, the state's Local Bridge program is expected to have as much as $6 million available statewide for large bridge projects. He said the city also is working with MDOT to apply for a $1.5 million transportation enhancement grant for improvements to the non-motorized aspects of the East Stadium bridges reconstruction project.
Mayor John Hieftje said he's been in touch with staff at Congressman John Dingell's office, and they expect there will be another round of federal funding the city can apply for.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Lokalisierung
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 1:06 p.m.
"Here is a simple solution. Get rid of the bridges" I don't think adding arailroad crossing is that easy since the RR has the right of way and final say in that matter.
DaLast word
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 9:41 a.m.
Work out a aggreement with the railroad to put the tracks on a bridge OVER the road and take the road down to grade level. Less expensive! Nothing other than simple road maintenance in the future.
redhead74
Wed, Apr 21, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.
I agree with Chapmaja that we should eliminate the bridge and go back to a railroad crossing. I also agree with many who have said that long term planning and saving would have been an obvious solution. I think that this mayor and city counsil have been out of touch for years. They flip flop on every issue and jump on every band wagon. They no longer provide basic services that a great city like Ann Arbor needs and expects. The only way to change that mind set is to go to the polls and VOTE. There are plenty of candidates running against incumbants this year. I definitely think that Margie Teall is one that should go. She is not responsive to her neighborhood. As we have seen in the federal government, things run the best when all sides are represented. When one party has all the control it is always a mess. Look at the fresh young faces that are willing to take the plunge. VOTE!
chapmaja
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 11:17 p.m.
Here is a simple solution. Get rid of the bridges. There is no reason to have the brdiges there. It would be simpler to put in a railroad crossing that would likely get blocked twice per night (The AARR makes one NB and one SB trip by after midnight). There would need to be an intersection put in at State and Stadium as well. I'm sure the work could be done much cheaper than a new set of bridges that are not needed.
MyOpinion
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 8:17 p.m.
I don't think we missed a deadline as much as projects needed to be shovel ready. That means all the architectual plans have to be ready/approved. So we end up funding re-surfacing in some cases instead of something longer lasting like a bridge or bike lanes, etc.
snapshot
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 7:41 p.m.
Wasn't there a missed deadline by Ann Arbor last year to secure funding from the state to repair the bridges? I'm sure I read something to that affect. If it is so, I'm wondering if an investigation as to why such an important deadline to submit a funding request was missed.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 7 p.m.
@Beth: The usual strategy with this kind of stuff (roads, public safety, etc.) is to spend the essential funds on crap like a worthless and inappropriate sculpture, then let the essential stuff fail and go "oh gee! look! now we need to raise taxes or the roads will fall apart!" Since raising taxes finally looks like it isn't going to work for a while, and the state is in trouble, the obvious plan B is to go after federal funding.
Lokalisierung
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:46 p.m.
Agreed they gotta drop that fountain nonsense. Pick that back up if the housing market ever comes back. Police/Courts building was a must, but that fountain has got to be taken off the table.
a2grateful
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:43 p.m.
Nah, more like the people that say they are for local initiatives, such as art, but then pay $1mil for a folly fountain by a German artist... all the while surrounded by the highest state unemployment in the nation...
Lokalisierung
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:27 p.m.
You mean the UofM grads? Low blow!
a2grateful
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:19 p.m.
Yeah, except he'll recognize the stupidity quickly...
Lokalisierung
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:14 p.m.
"Think President Obama and company will be impressed by the true symbol of City of Ann Arbor government... the failing Stadium Bridge?" bonds to pay for repairs I can get behind. But let's give up the whole Obama driving over the bridge thing please. Obama isn't from Ann Arbor, so he isn't ingrained with the idea that Ann Arbor must be better than every other place in the country. I'm sure, being from Chicago and all, he's seen some not so nice structures.
a2grateful
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 5:13 p.m.
One positive aspect of our symbolic failed bridge is that it has shown that traffic moves just fine with single lanes of traffic in each direction... Build a two lane bridge with sidewalks on the side... cut out the fluff... get back to basics... no folly needed in the bridge design... This thinking actually fits well with City Council's former preoccupation of "traffic calming"...
a2grateful
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 4:59 p.m.
Let's see... total bridge replacement = $23 mil = 2 years' worth of street repair money (which we have in reserve) = $11.5 mil worth of street repair money per year... And we've known the bridge has needed replacement for say, 10 years... so we could have started saving for replacement, setting aside $2.3 mil /yr, which is about 20% worth of street repair money per year Or if we had been smart in foresight, realizing bridges might last for about 50 years... we would have set aside $460,000 per year... which is about 4% worth of street repair money per year Or if we were smart today, we would issue bonds to repair the bridge, not depleting an entire street repair fund on one project... And we would also be reserving for future bridge replacements... This is the type of activity that diligent governance spends its time with... As opposed to folly fountains, folly trolleys, folly conference centers, folly airport expansion, folly bucket silo funds... folly, folly, folly... Think President Obama and company will be impressed by the true symbol of City of Ann Arbor government... the failing Stadium Bridge? My opinion is that the Feds will NOT want to support the project, due to blatant mismanagement of existing funds through current City Government folly. Its a sad day when a President comes to town, and we have failed to fund basic necessities due to our incompetence and folly...
Lokalisierung
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 4:46 p.m.
"why in the world would a wealthy town like ann arbor need to siphon off federal funding to fix something so basic." Because of the real estate collapse shrinking property taxes in a town that about a third of it is owned by UofM and do not pay prop taxes. It's actually quite simple.
Top Cat
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.
There seems to be a lot of dough for building in Afghanistan.
Rizzle
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
"We had a few bad beams that we removed last year and, with those beams gone, I think what's left of the bridge should be good for another few years until the construction's completed." Now that those pesky beams are gone we are safe. It's not like they supported anything anyway!
operabethie
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 2:30 p.m.
why in the world would a wealthy town like ann arbor need to siphon off federal funding to fix something so basic. its like someone wearing gucci not being able to pay rent. pathetic.
Val Losse
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 1:48 p.m.
Doesn't the city receive tax dollars from gasoline sold in A2? The city people knew the bridges were in bad shape years ago and yet did not set aside any money to repair or replace them? Hey folks how about the water distribution system in A2? Is any money being set asided for its replacement? Heck no. We'll just borrow the money so we the citizens of A2 can pay double for it. I guess saying A Squared is appropriate for the Ann Arbor Government. They spend money where it is unnessary or we cannot afford it. Good going Democrats.
trs80
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 1:38 p.m.
Maybe when they have to put new shocks on the Prez's limo due to our crappy roads this problem will get fixed.
scooter dog
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 1:20 p.m.
The money they squandered on the new courts bldg,parking garage,art, god only knows what else could have paid for the bridge.I am glad I moved my business OUT of A2 years ago.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Apr 20, 2010 : 1:04 p.m.
hmm, we don't need a water sculpture or other public art, but we need a bridge! and yet we can't repair what we need b/c we have to buy the unneeded b/c the money is in an artsy fartsy bucket