To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, PWLF, Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
prepared
James Katzer, PE, Transportation Division Manager, Public Works & Development
end
presenter
Presenter: James Katzer, PE, Transportation Division Manager; Bryan Weimer, Director, Public Works and Development
end
Subject:
title
11:30 AM *C25-07 Littleton Blvd Fiber Project Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Arapahoe County and City of Littleton for the Funding of the Littleton Fiber Project
end
Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Public Works and Development is seeking support from the Board of County Commissioners to approve the participation of the County in the funding of the construction of the installation of fiber optic from Administration building/Littleton City Center to Broadway Blvd along Littleton Blvd by supporting the signature of the IGA with the City of Littleton by the Public Works and Development Director per resolution No. 25-078.
end
Background and Discussion: Arapahoe County is building out the County’s fiber network to meet the needs of Arapahoe County government as it serves the residents of the County. The fiber optic connection being installed runs from the County’s Administration Building to the Sheriff’s Office with connections along the stretch to the Arapahoe County Plaza and Lima Campus. Existing fiber along this stretch will be utilized to make this a reality. On the east end of this fiber connection, the existing fiber exists from the Sherriff’s Office to the Lima Campus to Greenwood Village. The middle segment of the fiber connection goes through Centennial and the IT and PWD Departments have worked with Centennial to make fiber connections through this segment. In a recently completed project, the County participated in a fiber project the provided the County fiber along Broadway Blvd from approximately Powers to Arapahoe Road. The remaining segment to be constructed is from the Administration Building to Broadway Blvd.
The attached map illustrates the approximate location of this new fiber line. The IT Department has been working with the City of Littleton to determine the details of the fiber project. These details include the crossing of the railroad tracks, location of connections, and the termination of the fiber.
The fiber connection will provide several benefits to the County. These include a fiber connection between County buildings which allows the County to shed fiber lease expenses and to build a disaster recovery (DR) site at the Sheriff’s Office.
The fiber connection also allows for the connection of Intelligent Transportation Systems between jurisdictions in the southern metro area with a fiber connection. This effort has been referred to as System to System. This will allow Littleton, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and the County to share traffic signal data and eventually coordinate traffic signal timing in real time.
The IGA for funding will be accompanied by a maintenance agreement that details the ongoing maintenance responsibilities. The IT Department is working on this agreement with Littleton’s IT Department. The general terms of this agreement has Littleton providing locate services for the fiber line as required by law and details on the cost sharing when there is costs for repair or relocation needed as required by law.
The County is allowing the project to utilize the existing conduit under the railroad track after the County performed an investigation on the viability of the use of the conduit. This provides a significant benefit to the project and removed a major barrier for the construction of the fiber line.
The IGA assigns the fiber strands being installed with Littleton and the County receiving half of the strands at 216 strands of fiber each. The number of fiber strands is more than the County currently needs and the County will look for ways to utilize the fiber in the future.
The contract for the construction of the project was recently awarded to Littleton in the amount of $586,000. The contractor has started the construction activities, and the County has been included in weekly meetings. The bids came in significantly under the engineer’s estimate of $1.6 million. Littleton will be managing the project and has hired a construction management (CM) firm to inspect the work. The total cost for design and construction (including CM) is $898,655. The County’s share is $159,466, which recognizes the County’s contribution of the existing conduit and does not include Littleton only fiber installation and Littleton traffic signal connections.
Fiscal Impact: The IGA details the County payment to Littleton for the County’s portion of the fiber project. The County’s payment does not include connections to Littleton traffic signals or for the portions of the project that are for only Littleton fiber runs. Funds for this have already been included in the current budget. No additional fund allocations are being requested.
Alternatives: There is not a good alternative to providing a fiber connection from the Administration Building to the Sheriff’s Office. The alternative could be to leave the current connections in place.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: PWD Staff recommends that the County sign the IGA with Littleton to share in the cost of the Littleton Blvd Fiber Installation Project.
Concurrence: The City of Littleton and Arapahoe County IT Department concur with this recommendation.