{"id":271881643,"generated_unique_award_id":"ASST_NON_WI-2024-011_069","fain":"WI-2024-011","uri":"WI-2024-011-00-20.534","category":"grant","type":"04","type_description":"PROJECT GRANT (B)","description":"APPLICATION PURPOSE: PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE HAS LONG BEEN PLANNED AND DESIRED BY THE CITY OF RACINE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN BETWEEN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE AND THE ILLINOIS STATE LINE. AS PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2022 CONGRESS PROVIDED $5 MILLION TO THE CITY OF RACINE FOR THE KENOSHA-RACINE-MILWAUKEE (KRM) REGIONAL RAIL CORRIDOR. FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) STAFF HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS FUNDING SHOULD BE USED TO ADVANCE PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE (DEFINED AS COMMUTER REGIONAL OR INTERCITY RAIL FOR THIS SCOPE OF WORK) IN THE KRM CORRIDOR.; ACTIVITIES PERFORMED: THIS SCOPE OF WORK IS ORGANIZED INTO THREE TASK GROUPS THAT ORGANIZE RELATED TASKS. WHILE STATED AS SEPARATE TASK GROUPS AND LISTS OF DETAILED TASKS THE WORK IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE INTERRELATED AND ITERATIVE. THE MAJOR TASK LISTS ARE GROUPED AS:TASK GROUP A: CONCEPTUAL PLANNING AND PROJECT NEEDTHE WORK IN TASK GROUP A IS FOCUSED ON EVALUATING POTENTIAL SERVICE CONCEPTS FOR THE KRM RAIL CORRIDOR. THE KRM CORRIDOR IS PRIMARILY DEFINED BY THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD (UP) KENOSHA SUBDIVISION EXTENDING FROM THE CITY OF KENOSHA NORTH TO THE CITIES OF RACINE AND MILWAUKEE (WITH A PROJECT TERMINUS AT THE MILWAUKEE INTERMODAL STATION). AS NOTED BELOW SOME TASKS MAY ALSO INVOLVE RAILROAD CORRIDORS SOUTH OF KENOSHA CONNECTING TO CHICAGO. THE CITY VIEWS THESE TASKS AS A CONCEPTUAL PLANNING EXERCISE THAT IS DISTINCT FROM THE TECHNICAL ENGINEERING OR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING TASKS IN TASK GROUP C AND SEEKS QUALIFICATIONS FROM URBAN PLANNING FIRMS WITH EXPERIENCE IN CORRIDOR AND RAIL STATION AREA PLANNING. STATION AREA PLANNING WILL BE INFORMED BY THE SEPARATE TOD VALUE CAPTURE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED FOR THE CITY OF RACINE. THAT ANALYSIS WILL INCLUDE A REAL ESTATE MARKET ANALYSIS FOR THE CORRIDOR AND FOR STATION LOCATIONS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE ON RELATED TASKS IN THIS SCOPE.TASK GROUP B: DECISION-MAKING AND PROJECT ORGANIZATIONTASK GROUP B IS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON STAFFING A PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE AND FACILITATING DECISION MAKING. THAT STEERING COMMITTEE WILL BE TASKED WITH MAKING THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS TO SHAPE THE KRM PROJECT IN 2024. TWO PRIMARY TASKS ARE ASSISTING THE STEERING COMMITTEE WITH IDENTIFYING A PROJECT SPONSOR AND EVALUATING AND DECIDING ON A FUNDING STRATEGY. THIS WORK WILL INCLUDE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION RELATED TO THE PROJECT.TASK GROUP C: TECHNICAL ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS AND FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAM APPLICATIONWORK UNDER TASK GROUP C IS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON TECHNICAL ANALYSES ASSOCIATED WITH EVALUATING SERVICE ALTERNATIVES PREPARING OPERATING PLANS CONDUCTING ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPING COST ESTIMATES. TASK GROUP C ALSO INCLUDES THE KEY TASK OF PREPARING AN APPLICATION REQUESTING ENTRY INTO A FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAM. FINALLY THIS SCOPE INCLUDES A TASK TO INITIATE STUDY OF POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT RECOGNIZING THAT DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION WOULD BE COMPLETED UNDER A SEPARATE FUTURE SCOPE OF WORK.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THROUGH THE PROJECT THE CITY SEEKS TO:EXPLORE THE KRM CORRIDOR CONTEXT AND DEVELOP PRELIMINARY PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE CONCEPTSQUALITATIVELY EVALUATE PRELIMINARY PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE CONCEPTS AND IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVES PREPARE A KRM APPLICATION FOR ENTRY INTO AN FTA OR FRA DISCRETIONARY FUNDING PROGRAM TO ADVANCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING WORK WITH A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE STEERING COMMITTEE AND PROJECT PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY A PROJECT SPONSOR AND FUNDING STRATEGY NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR ENTRY INTO A FEDERAL FUNDING PROGRAM; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE KENOSHA-RACINE-MILWAUKEE (KRM) REGIONAL PASSENGER RAIL PROJECT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE TRAVEL BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PASSENGER RAIL IN THE CORRIDOR WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO JOBS HEALTH CARE RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING A FAST FREQUENT AND HIGH-QUALITY TRANSIT SERVICE IN THE CORRIDOR. THE KRM CORRIDOR IS NOT NEAR EXISTING FREEWAYS AND THEREFORE PASSENGER RAIL AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION WOULD BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN HISTORIC URBAN CENTERS THAT HAVE LONG STRUGGLED WITH DISINVESTMENT. IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY FUNDS AVAILABLE TO ADVANCE THE KRM RAIL PROJECT SINCE 2010 NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TO GET THIS VITAL SERVICE CLOSER TO CONNECTING THE COMMUNITIES ALONG THE CORRIDOR. THE HISTORIC CENTERS OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WOULD BE PRIMARILY SERVED BY THE KRM ARE TYPICALLY FOUR TO NINE MILES FROM THE NEAREST INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (I-94) WHICH HAS HAMPERED THEIR ABILITY TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS.THE VALUE OF BUILDING TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPLEMENTING PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE IN THIS CORRIDOR IS EVIDENT. WITHIN A MILE OF THE TEN PREVIOUSLY PLANNED KRM STATIONS THERE ARE 130000 JOBS AND 120000 RESIDENTS; 22% OF RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE POVERTY AND 39% ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR. OF THE 48000 HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CORRIDOR 13% DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR AND 43% HAVE ONLY ONE CAR. NEARLY 50% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THE CORRIDOR HAVE INCOMES LESS THAN $50000. IT IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT KRM PASSENGER RAIL WOULD PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS TO OVER 400000 JOBS ALL WITHIN 30 MINUTES BY TRANSIT. (WISDOT SEWRPC 2021) A KRM REGIONAL PASSENGER RAIL LINE WOULD: PROVIDE A NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE IN A HEAVILY TRAVELED CORRIDOR THAT HAS LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL ROADWAY CAPACITYSPUR PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND PROMOTE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTCONTRIBUTE TO EFFICIENCY IN THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INCLUDING REDUCED HIGHWAY TRAFFIC CONGESTION AIR POLLUTION AND ENERGY CONSUMPTIONPROVIDE TRAVEL-TIME COMPETITIVE SERVICE ALONG THE CORRIDOR AS MOST STATIONS ARE SEVERAL MILES FROM THE NEAREST LIMITED-ACCESS HIGHWAYHELP MEET THE TRAVEL NEEDS OF A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE POPULATION WITHOUT ACCESS TO A VEHICLEENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY IMPROVING REGIONAL ACCESSENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE BY PROVIDING CHOICE OF TRAVEL MODE AND ALLOW HOUSEHOLDS TO REDUCE EXPENDITURES ON TRANSPORTATIONBETTER CONNECT SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN WITH NORTHEASTERN ILLINOISPROMOTE ECONOMIC AND POPULATION GROWTH IN THE KRM CORRIDOR AND SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSINATTRACT AND RETAIN A SKILLED WORKFORCEIMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY TO AND ENHANCE MILWAUKEE MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; ARTS CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES; AND COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE","subaward_count":0,"total_subaward_amount":null,"total_subsidy_cost":0.0,"total_loan_value":0.0,"total_obligation":5000000.0,"date_signed":"2024-07-31","base_and_all_options":null,"base_exercised_options":null,"non_federal_funding":0.0,"total_funding":5000000.0,"total_account_outlay":2783883.0,"total_account_obligation":5000000.0,"account_outlays_by_defc":[{"code":"Q","amount":2783883.0}],"account_obligations_by_defc":[{"code":"Q","amount":5000000.0}],"record_type":2,"cfda_info":[{"applicant_eligibility":"Chapter 53 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law eligible FTA recipients.","beneficiary_eligibility":"Beneficiary eligibility is the same as applicant eligibility.","cfda_federal_agency":"FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF","cfda_number":"20.534","cfda_objectives":"Community Project Funding is made available in amounts specified by Congress to assist in financing projects specified by Congress.","cfda_obligations":"(Grant) FY 24$143,155,000.00; FY 25$222,345,000.00; FY 26 est $225,511,000.00; - ","cfda_popular_name":"","cfda_title":"Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending","cfda_website":"https://www.transit.dot.gov/grant-programs/community-project-fundingcongressionally-directed-spending","federal_action_obligation_amount":5000000.0,"non_federal_funding_amount":0.0,"sam_website":"https://sam.gov/fal/c243b59aa901414e998a47177c1b2920/view","total_funding_amount":5000000.0}],"transaction_obligated_amount":5000000.0,"funding_agency":{"id":760,"has_agency_page":true,"toptier_agency":{"name":"Department of Transportation","code":"069","abbreviation":"DOT","slug":"department-of-transportation"},"subtier_agency":{"name":"Federal Transit Administration","code":"6955","abbreviation":"FTA"},"office_agency_name":"OFFICE OF BUDGET AND POLICY(TBP)"},"awarding_agency":{"id":760,"has_agency_page":true,"toptier_agency":{"name":"Department of Transportation","code":"069","abbreviation":"DOT","slug":"department-of-transportation"},"subtier_agency":{"name":"Federal Transit Administration","code":"6955","abbreviation":"FTA"},"office_agency_name":"REGION 5 DOT FTA"},"period_of_performance":{"start_date":"2024-07-31","end_date":"2029-03-30","last_modified_date":"2024-08-05"},"recipient":{"recipient_hash":"4df9836d-10da-aba9-a137-7b1c64057260-R","recipient_name":"CITY OF RACINE","recipient_uei":"RNJWFNVX3J38","recipient_unique_id":null,"parent_recipient_hash":null,"parent_recipient_name":"CITY OF RACINE","parent_recipient_uei":null,"parent_recipient_unique_id":null,"business_categories":["Government","U.S. Local Government"],"location":{"location_country_code":"USA","country_name":"UNITED STATES","state_code":"WI","state_name":"WISCONSIN","city_name":"RACINE","county_code":"101","county_name":"RACINE","address_line1":"730 WASHINGTON AVE","address_line2":"N/A","address_line3":null,"congressional_code":"01","zip4":"1123","zip5":"53403","foreign_postal_code":null,"foreign_province":null}},"executive_details":{"officers":[{"name":null,"amount":null},{"name":null,"amount":null},{"name":null,"amount":null},{"name":null,"amount":null},{"name":null,"amount":null}]},"place_of_performance":{"location_country_code":"USA","country_name":"UNITED STATES","county_code":null,"county_name":null,"city_name":null,"state_code":"WI","state_name":"WISCONSIN","congressional_code":null,"zip4":null,"zip5":null,"address_line1":null,"address_line2":null,"address_line3":null,"foreign_province":null,"foreign_postal_code":null},"total_outlay":2783883.0,"funding_opportunity":{"number":"NOT APPLICABLE","goals":"COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING IS APPROPRIATED AND ALLOCATED AT THE DISCRETION OF CONGRESS TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES - I.E. CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING."}}