Discussion and possible action to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement between Maricopa County, City of Glendale, and City of Peoria for ownership, operation and maintenance responsibilities associated with the Northern Parkway Program. The project is defined as the segment of the overall Northern Parkway, Agua Fria River to 103rd Avenue.

On December 26, 2008, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) (C-91-09-081-M-00) (2008 IGA) between Maricopa County and the Cities of El Mirage, Glendale, and Peoria for improvements to Northern Parkway from State Route 303 (Bob Stump Memorial Parkway) to U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue). The 2008 IGA identified and defined responsibilities for cost sharing, design, construction, construction management, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and maintenance of the full length of the NPP. The 2008 IGA also provided that, among other things, Northern Parkway, upon completion, would be operated and maintained by the jurisdiction in which it is located (Glendale, Peoria, or Maricopa County).

The overall Northern Parkway Program (NPP), as defined in the 2008 IGA, is a principal arterial roadway that will have more traffic-carrying capacity than a typical arterial and will enable traffic to travel faster than typical arterial roadways. The NPP will also link El Mirage, central Glendale, unincorporated portions of Maricopa County, and southern Peoria to the rapidly developing far west valley. The NPP will provide improved access from Peoria, El Mirage, unincorporated Maricopa County, and Glendale to downtown Phoenix via the Northern Parkway-Grand Avenue route. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Project is defined as the segment of the overall NPP, from Agua Fria River to 103rd Avenue, as generally depicted in Exhibit A, which is attached to this Agreement and incorporated by reference.

The purpose of the IGA is to identify and define the responsibilities of each agency.  Some of the terms of the IGA are as follows:

Maricopa County will:

• Operate and maintain all Project improvements for the NPP, from Agua Fria River to 115th Avenue, including the 115th Avenue cross street and cul-de-sac, until the Project roadway and all improvements are annexed or such responsibilities are otherwise taken by another jurisdiction.
• Own, operate and maintain the traffic signal at 115th Avenue and assume all associated costs including the cost of electrical power to the traffic signal and any associated luminaries.
• Own, operate and maintain the ITS conduit south of the south curb.
• The County shall allow Peoria and Glendale access and issue no-cost permits, including necessary traffic control permits, for any Project related ongoing operation and maintenance activities performed within County jurisdiction.
• Provide Peoria and Glendale with all related as-built drawings, plans and records.

The City of Peoria will:

• Allow the County and Glendale access and issue no-cost permits, including any necessary traffic control permits, for any Project related on-going operation and maintenance activities performed within Peoria jurisdiction.
• Allow the County access for future maintenance of signal equipment installed as part of this Project within Peoria jurisdiction.
• Upon final acceptance of the Project, assume all related liability and accept ownership, operation, and maintenance responsibilities for the NPP, from 115th Avenue to 103rd Avenue, including all asphalt and concrete to the back of the south curb.
• Own, operate and maintain the ITS conduit north of the north curb. The ITS conduit, sidewalks and streetlights south of the south curb are excluded from Peoria ownership, operation, and maintenance responsibilities.

The City of Glendale will:

• Allow the County and Peoria access and issue no-cost permits, including any necessary traffic control permits, for any Project related on-going operation and maintenance activities performed within Glendale jurisdiction.
• Allow the County and Peoria access for future maintenance of signal equipment installed as part of this Project within Glendale jurisdiction.
• Upon final acceptance of the Project, Glendale shall assume all related liability and accept ownership, operation, and maintenance responsibilities for the following roadway features located south of the south curb of the roadway, ITS conduit, sidewalks, streetlights. 

• August 11, 2008 - City Council approved an IGA for Peoria’s participation with the Northern Avenue; Grand Avenue to L303 widening project.
• January 28, 2014 - Provided update to City Council on the status of the Northern Avenue project.
• March 5, 2024 - Provided an overview to City Council on the Northern Avenue fiscally constrained alternative.
• August 20, 2024 - City Council approved an IGA for the rescinding and reimbursement of improvements at 129^th Avenue and El Mirage Road which allowed MAG to reallocate federal funding to the Northern Parkway project in accordance with the Arterial Life Cycle Program (ALCP).

Staff recommends approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement between Maricopa County, City of Glendale, and City of Peoria for ownership, operation and maintenance responsibilities associated with the Northern Parkway Program.

Funding for the maintenance of Northern Avenue, widening improvements is programmed in the City’s 10-year CIP.