Transportation Enhancements TE-2012-US Fish and Wildlife Service Quality of Life. Type of Improvement

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1 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Type of Improvement Infrastructure Bikeway Pedestrian Safety Quality of Life Purpose Primary project purpose is for constructing new bikeways (e.g. bike lanes, bike paths, bike compatible roadways). Primary project purpose is to enhance pedestrian safety (e.g. new sidewalks, new crosswalks, traffic calming, pedestrian overpass). Primary project purpose is for beautification, environmental mitigation, economic development or historic preservation.

2 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Project Name Project Title: West Mountain Road Corridor Project Design

3 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Project Location County to filter by: Sussex County Municipalities: Sparta Township

4 Applicant Information Name of Grantee: Organization Address: Address: Federal Tax Information Number: Vendor Number: Vendor Unit: Vendor Unit Address: US Fish and Wildlife Service US Fish and Wildlife Service 927 North Main St. Pleasantville, NJ Phone: (609) x Pleasantville, NJ Heritage Square, Bldg. D 927 N. Main Street Pleasantville, NJ Application Initiation Date: 07/16/2012 Mayor Information First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone Jerry Murphy Sussex Sparta 65 Main Street Sparta NJ Jerry.Murphy@spartanj.org

5 Clerk Information First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone Mary Coe Sussex Sparta 65 Main Street Sparta NJ mary.coe@spartanj.org Municipal Engineer First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone Eric Powell Sussex Sparta 65 Main Street Sparta NJ eric.powell@spartanj.org County Engineer First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone

6 County Executive/Freeholder Director First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone Non-Profit Organization First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone Government Organization First Name Last Name County Municipality Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Phone

7 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Project Category 1. Provisions of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists a. What group is the facility meant to service? Pedestrians Bicyclist b. What is the length of the proposed facility? (miles) 2. Provisions of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists a. What group are the activities geared toward? Pedestrians Bicyclist 3. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic historic sites 4. Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities) 5. Landscaping and other beautifications 6. Historic Preservation 7. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures and facilities 8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use thereof for pedestrian and bicycle trails) 9. Control and removal of outdoor advertising 10. Archeological planning and research 11. Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity 12. Establishment of transportation-related museums

8 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Phase of Work Phase of Work Design/Planning Right of Way Construction

9 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Project Proposal Who will maintain the facility? Sparta Township Is utility or road work planned within the project limits over the next five years? Yes No Is the purchase of Right-of-Way required before the start of construction? Yes No Does the project intersect a state highway? Yes No If yes, which highway? If yes, is the intersection signalized? Yes No Is there a railroad crossing within the project limits? Yes No Will the construction impact traffic at a railroad crossing outside project limits? Yes No

10 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Project Proposal Provide a detailed project description The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, New Jersey Field Office (USFWS-NJFO) proposes to use Transportation Enhancement Program funding to design engineering plans that will eliminate vehicle-caused mortality of the federally-listed bog turtle and improve habitat connectivity within an important wetland complex in Sparta Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. We are submitting a separate application for funds to construct the project based on approved and permitted final engineering plans (see West Mountain Road Corridor Project Construction application). The project location is a 0.13-mile segment of West Mountain Road in Sparta Township. We will elevate the road segment in order to install up to four wildlife-friendly culverts. Barrier fencing to direct the wildlife towards the culvert openings will be installed as well. Implementation of this project will not only eliminate vehicle-caused wildlife mortality, but will also alleviate seasonal flooding along this segment of roadway that serves as the only access to the Township high school. An elevated roadway will prevent excess water from overtopping the roadway as the new culverts will pass the excess water to the other side. If constructed, this will be the first properly designed wildlife passage system in the northeast specifically for bog turtles. This project is important at multiple levels. Most critically it will eliminate the direct loss of bog turtles, a federally threatened and state endangered species, by providing a safe corridor within the most important wetland complex in the state for the species, a major goal identified in the 2001 USFWS Bog Turtle Northern Population Recovery Plan. The fact that this road crosses one of the most significant bog turtle populations in its range makes this project particularly urgent because without addressing the vehicle-caused wildlife mortality, this population is at great risk of extinction. The project also provides an important user benefit by decreasing flooding of the only road to/from the local high school. Funding this project clearly addresses components of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP). The SDRP s Planning Outcome #6 states that the protection, restoration and integration of nature and natural systems enriches our lives, conserves our resources and protects the health of our citizens and biological resources which this project will accomplish by protecting the federally and state endangered bog turtle and

11 txtprojectsummary continued Project Proposal connecting the natural systems on either side of the roadway by installing culverts. In addition, Goal #2 of the SDRP is to Conserve the State s Natural Resources and Systems (page 23 of the Executive Summary). By elevating the road and installing culverts, this project will significantly reduce the risk the existing roadway is having on one of the most important populations of bog turtles in New Jersey. This project is supported at the federal, state, and local level. Threats from vehicle-caused mortality and lost habitat connectivity must be addressed immediately at the West Mountain Road site. In just the last five years, 5 percent of the known bog turtle population inhabiting wetlands adjacent to the road have been struck and killed (along with several individuals of five different species of turtle and countless species of frogs and snakes). Continued loss of bog turtles at West Mountain Road poses a serious threat and it could take over 2,000 years for the population to recover. Restoring habitat connectivity between the wetlands south of the West Mountain Road and those on the north side promises to restore critical ecological functions within the Wallkill Valley by facilitating natural migrations. Our conceptual design to raise the road and install culverts and barrier fencing will mitigate the roadway threat. In addition to these devastating impacts to one of the most globally-important bog turtle populations, the inadequate design of the road has led to flooding that resulted in school closures over the past three years. Closure of the West Mountain Road due to flooding has resulted in lost productivity for teachers, students and the parents that must take time off work as a result of a school closure. In addition to lost productivity, emergency response time to the adjacent community is greatly reduced because of traffic detours. Finally, losing access to the high school means that the Sparta community loses access to a facility that can offer emergency shelter, feeding, heating, and cooling in a crisis situation. Other human safety concerns exist as well, as local volunteers and concerned citizens exit their vehicles to help wildlife cross the road as traffic goes by. Our implemented design will provide a permanent

12 txtprojectsummary continued Project Proposal solution to allow for wildlife passage and reduce several Township liabilities.

13 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Documentation of Project Benefits Attach an 8.5 by 11 inch location map of the project area: WestMntRd_ProjectDesign.jpg Is the project transportation related? Yes No This project has a direct relationship to the vehicular transportation system in Sparta Township, Sussex County. West Mountain Road is a municipal roadway which serves as an important local transportation corridor spanning the Wallkill River and its expansive floodplain, thereby connecting communities to the east and west. The importance West Mountain Road plays in the regional transportation system is amplified due to the fact that the Sparta Township High School is physically located on West Mountain Road, immediately adjacent to and west of the proposed project site. The Sparta Township Middle School is located 1-mile to the east of the project site, near West Mountain Road s terminus with County Rt The juxtaposition of a significant transportation corridor across a habitat corridor with such significant wildlife resources has resulted in the wildlife mortality crisis discussed above, and this is the primary objective of this project. Is the project ready for construction/implementation? Yes No N/A We are requesting funds to develop final engineering plans based on a conceptual design provided by the Township of Sparta. A separate application is being submitted for funds for the implementation of our plans (see West Mountain Road Corridor Project Construction application). Partners on this project include relevant State, county and municipal agencies, including the NJDEP s Division of Land Use Regulation from whom State wetland and floodplain permit authorizations will be required. Joint site inspections and pre-application meetings have already been held and have resulted in the identification of all DEP permitting requirements and relevant approval standards. State, county and municipal authorities have all reviewed initial concept and discussed engineering designs favorably and anticipate that the project design which would come to fruition as a result of this grant application would be reviewed favorably upon receipt of required permit applications.

14 Does the project have a maintenance commitment? Yes No N/A If yes, Please provide resolution MaintenanceCommitment_SpartaTwp_17Jul The county and municipality currently maintain the existing bridge and roadway, respectively. No modification to the county bridge is proposed; therefore no County maintenance obligations are affected or required. The Township of Sparta currently maintains the existing municipal roadway, and has indicated their willingness to include in their existing duties the continued maintenance of the elevated roadway (which they will continue to own and control), but also the new wildlife crossing culverts to be installed. There is no change in ownership or maintenance responsibilities which will result following completion of the proposed project. The attached memo certifies continual ownership and maintenance by Sparta Township. The NJDEP will maintain the fencing structures associated with this project. Does the project have supplemental funds? Yes No N/A A conceptual design of the road improvements have been provided in-kind by engineers with Sparta Township. This design allowed us to develop a reasonable cost estimate. Project partners, including those from the NJDEP, have contributed considerable time paid for by State Wildlife Grants both meeting with Township partners and drafting these proposals. Supplemental funds from NJDEP mitigation groups may be available to implement the final engineering plans once approved. Division of Fish and Wildlife staff has coordinated with two separate bureaus who have expressed interest in funding a shovel-ready project such as this.

15 Is the project an element of a larger plan? Yes No N/A This project directly implements at least five major state or federal planning efforts: New Jersey s State Development and Redevelopment Plan, Wildlife Action Plan, Statewide Habitat Connectivity Plan, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service s Bog Turtle Recovery Plan. This project fulfills and addresses several components of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP). Goal #2 of the SDRP is to Conserve the State s Natural Resources and Systems. In addition, Planning Outcome #6 of the SDRP is the protection, restoration and integration of nature and natural systems enriches our lives, conserves our resources and protects the health of our citizens and biological resources." This project implements at least two of the six goals guiding the work of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA): 1. Protect and improve the quality of natural ecosystems and the human environment, and 4. Maintain a safe and reliable transportation system in a state of good repair. Will the project affect user mode choice? Yes No N/A (promote use of other non-automotive forms of transportation)

16 Does the project provide regional or community benefits? Yes No N/A This project will have a positive impact on the quality of life of Sparta s citizens, the local community and the environment. This project will effectively reconnect the most important wetland complex in the state for bog turtles as well as many other wetland-dependent species. The local community will benefit from a properly engineered and constructed roadway that connects them to two major roads, Route 94 and County Road 517, without fear of seasonal closures due to heavy rain events. School closures due to road flooding can be eliminated which will allow for normal class scheduling and student safety. In addition, having reliable access to the school provides the community an opportunity to utilize the school as a shelter in an emergency situation. Finally, human safety concern will be addressed upon implementation of the project as concerned citizens will no longer need to exit their vehicles to move wildlife across the roadway. Is there an urgency to complete this project? Yes No N/A At the current rate of road mortality bog turtles are suffering, the population may be functionally extirpated in as little as five years. We are in a race against time to allow for the safe passage of wildlife across West Mountain Road and to restore the habitat connectivity. The USFWS Subunit Recovery Planning team for this drainage has identified the need to complete 2 habitat connectivity projects for bog turtle by Securing funding for this project will help us meet our recovery goals. Increasingly frequent heavy rain events threaten continued road-topping along West Mountain Road causing traffic safety concerns and school closures.

17 Will the project have economic and/or tourism benefits? Yes No N/A Meeting the USFWS recovery goals for the bog turtle can lead to federal consideration for de-listing. De-listed wildlife reduces the amount of regulations protecting their populations and habitat and can foster development in areas previously regulated. West Mountain Road links state Route 94 with County Route 517. Road closures of West Mountain Road due to flooding cause diversions of traffic for both residents and local businesses. In addition, road closures force the closing of the adjacent township high school forcing parents to stay home from work. Overtopping of the roadway has also caused significant short- and long-term maintenance costs and resource diversions. These include costs associated with incident related emergency management personnel, post event roadway clearing, maintenance or repair, as well as the long term costs associated with acceleration of roadway deterioration, premature wearing course deterioration and related maintenance needs. Will this project provide value as a historic and/or cultural resource? Yes No N/A (For the historic related categories)

18 Does the project have support from the host community? Yes No N/A If yes, please provide resolution: Resolution_Endorsement_WestMTNRD.pdf Yes, Sparta Township supports this project along with a number of other interested and concerned parties such as the Sparta Environmental Commission, the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group, the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Please see attached letters of support. Is the project located in the top 140 Urban Aids Communities? Yes No

19 Has the applicant adopted a Complete Streets policy or resolution? Yes No Elizabeth Ciuzio, biologist

20 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Timeline Provide a project timeline from start to finish in a table or list format. Indicate progress milestones (such as easement acquisitions, if needed, and environmental and historical preservation approvals) by the number of months from written authorization to proceed to project completion and evaluation of results. Project must receive federal authorization within two years of the date that the applicant is notified of project selection. If the project is not authorized within two years of the award, the grant will be rescinded and the applicant will have to reapply. Bidding and Contracting 1.5 months Design/Permit Preparation 1.5 months Permit Review/Granted 5 months Construction Documents finalized - 10 days Total Time is approximately 8 months from written authorization. Upload: WestMountainRoadCorridorProjectSlides.pd

21 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Partnership and Public Outreach Attach up to 5 letters of support from non-partner organizations or individuals. Letters of support must be addressed to the applicant, not the Department of Transportation. In order to be eligible, letters must be dated no earlier than January 1 of the calendar year prior to the current CWF_WestMtn_Support.pdf NJDEP-ENSP_SupportLetter_Sp SpartaTwpEnvCommlettertoUSF WRWMG_westmountainrd_letter NLT_SupportLTR.pdf

22 Transportation Enhancements 2012 Quality_of_Life Cost Estimate Total Project Cost: Total Amount Requested: $40, $40, Attach a detailed cost estimate for the project: Design_budget_2012.pdf