https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/additional-54-million-in-street-work-planned-near-new-nga-site-in-north-st-louis/article_37b4bfae-c3ec-5d93-aeb3-fe0ddbab9688.html
Additional $54 million in street work planned near new NGA site in north St. Louis ST. LOUIS -- An additional $54 million in street improvements near the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency site is planned under legislation submitted last week to the Board of Aldermen. Part of the funding would be generated by increasing the city earnings tax and state income tax payments from NGA employees diverted to the project until 2046. Those increases -- $650,000 a year from the city and $850,000 annually from the state -- would allow a city agency to sell about $30 million in bonds to help fund the street work. The city would apply for federal and state grants to pay for the remainder. The plan calls for about $31 million in improvements to Cass Avenue between North Grand and North Tucker boulevards; $18.9 million for St. Louis Avenue between Jefferson Avenue and North 11th Street; and $4.25 million for North 22nd Street between Cass and St. Louis. "This is completely rebuilding these streets from street bed up," said 5th Ward Alderman James Page, the bill's sponsor. "This is critically important to provide efficient transportation to and from the NGA site. In doing so, it provides tremendous upgrades ... for the residents who live around the NGA site." The work includes upgrades to sidewalks, street lights, benches, trees and other items. Other street work related to the NGA project already is funded, including improvements to Jefferson from Market Street to Natural Bridge Avenue and to North 20th Street from Market to St. Louis Avenue. According to a city report, the larger state contribution has already been agreed to by the Missouri Department of Economic Development after several years of negotiations with the city. After the NGA decided in 2016 to build its new western headquarters on the city's north side, the city has spent more than $100 million in bond revenue to buy property, demolish buildings, clear and grade the land and on other expenses. To repay the bonds, the city previously agreed to contribute through 2046 $1.5 million a year in earnings tax money generated from NGA employees. The state's commitment was between $5.75 million and $5.95 million annually in income tax revenue from the federal agency's workers. Under the revised plan, a city spokeswoman said, the city's total contribution for the old and new bonds will be about 60% of estimated earnings taxes from the NGA and the state's total contribution will be about half of estimated state withholding taxes. The increased contributions also will allow the city to cover cost overruns on a new interchange at Jefferson and Highway 40 (Interstate 64).
_________________________________________________________
25% MBE and 5% WBE participation goals. City of St. Louis Board of Public Service Request for Qualifications for Professional Engineering Services for Cass Avenue Multimodal Improvements, Phase 1
The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.
.webp)
