Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation withDay County, SDBUILD Grant Request:$15,275,000

Total Project Cost:$17,475,000

Day County Route 1B U I L D D I S C R E T I O N A R Y

G R A N T A P P L I C A T I O N

OF THE LAKE TRAVERSERESERVATION

I. Application at a Glance Lead Applicant Name Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe

Applicant Type Rural

Co-Applicant Name` Day County, South Dakota

Project Title Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project

Project Location The project is located within the boundaries of the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in northeastern South Dakota. The project site is located near Waubay, South Dakota which is in Day County.

State, County, City and District South Dakota, Day County, At-Large Congressional District

Demographics Lake Traverse Reservation Population 11,269

Median Household Income $48,236

Persons Below Poverty Level 21.3%

Unemployment Rate 7%

Day County Population 5,521

Median Household Income $40,647

Persons Below Poverty Level 14%

Unemployment Rate 6.5%

Total Project Cost $17,475,000

Total BUILD Discretionary Request $15,275,000

Matching Support $2,200,000

Project Classification Rural

Benefit Cost Analysis 42:1

Supporting Documentation Link www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com

 

Table of Contents I. Project Description ............................................................................................................... 1

II. Project Location ................................................................................................................... 4

III. Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of all Project Funding ...................................................... 5

A. Project Costs ..................................................................................................................... 5

B. Source and Amount of Funds ........................................................................................... 5

C. Documentation of Funding Commitments ....................................................................... 5

D. Budget .............................................................................................................................. 6

IV. Merit Criteria ....................................................................................................................... 6

A. Safety ................................................................................................................................ 6

B. State of Good Repair ...................................................................................................... 10

C. Economic Competitiveness ............................................................................................ 11

D. Environmental Protection ............................................................................................... 14

E. Quality of Life.................................................................................................................... 15

F. Innovation .......................................................................................................................... 17

1. Innovative Technologies ................................................................................................ 17

2. Innovative Project Delivery ........................................................................................... 17

3. Innovative Financing ...................................................................................................... 17

G. Partnership ...................................................................................................................... 17

H. Non-Federal Revenue for transportation infrastructure investment ............................... 17

V. Project Readiness ............................................................................................................... 18

A. Technical Feasibility ...................................................................................................... 18

B. Project Schedule ............................................................................................................. 19

1. Schedule Milestones ....................................................................................................... 19

2. Obligation and Expenditure Deadline Assurance .......................................................... 19

3. Right-of-Way ................................................................................................................. 19

C. Required Approvals........................................................................................................ 19

1. Environmental Permits and Reviews ............................................................................. 19

2. State and Local Approvals ............................................................................................. 20

3. Federal Transportation Requirements Affecting State and Local Planning ................... 21

VI. Benefit Cost Analysis ........................................................................................................ 21

Page | 1

I. Project Description The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe of the Lake Traverse Reservation, partnered with Day

County, South Dakota respectfully requests $15,275,000 in BUILD Discretionary Grant funding

for the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project. This project will improve a dangerous

route relied on to access regional hubs for commerce, recreation, tourism, healthcare, jobs, and

entertainment in South Dakota. The project will address geometric roadway deficiencies over a

19-mile stretch of Day County Route 1, addressing significant safety concerns identified in a

detailed study of the reservation roadways conducted in 2016 by the University of Wyoming.

The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project provides solutions to dangerous

transportation challenges, benefiting communities in a vastly rural area in northeastern South

Dakota.

Transportation Challenge Solution Within Day County Route 1 Safety

Improvement Project

Line of sight frequently obstructed by hilly terrain Cutting down hills where sight distance is

hazardous

Dangerous roadway curves Widening roadway curves to meet FHWA design

standards

No emergency stopping lane; pedestrians and

bicyclists sharing roadway with motorists

Construction of roadway shoulders and culverts

extended for widened roadway width

Unrecoverable slopes, primarily 3:1 throughout Construction of a 4:1 recoverable clear zone

Rural residents stopped on roadway to access

mailboxes along the narrow road with poor site

distance from hills and curves

Gravel surfaced mailbox turnouts

Crashes frequent in Enemy Swim Area

Widening roadway to 3 lanes—two travel lanes and

a center turn lane. This improvement will align with

a safety project currently underway to include the

installation of flashing beacons and a crosswalk

High water above bottom of bridge beams; bridge

structure near end of life Bridge replacement 0.5-miles north of US Hwy 12

Culverts failing

Replacement of culverts in Phase 1 and completion

of culvert inventory during the preconstruction

activities to identify which culverts will be extended

and/or replaced in Phase 2

Limited visibility while approaching curves Improved curve delineation and re-alignment of

dangerous curves

Frequent run-off-the-road-crashes

Installation of rumble strips and rumble stripes,

widening and flattening slopes to create recoverable

clear zone

Narrow roadway, currently 24-foot to 25-foot wide

(two 12-foot travel lanes, lacking roadway

shoulder)

Phase 1 roadway will be widened to include a 5-foot

shoulder on each side, for a total roadway width of

34-foot. Phase 2 will add a 4-foot shoulder, with 32-

foot roadway width.

Page | 2

Phase 2: North Section of Day County Route 1

Safety Improvement Project

• The northern portion of the project extends

northward 13 miles from US Highway 12 to

the Pickerel Lake State Park. This segment of

the project is located in the Enemy Swim

District north of Waubay, South Dakota, which

is the most populous district of the Reservation

and provides access to frequently visited

destinations including:

o Enemy Swim Day School

o Enemy Swim District Center

o Ne-So-Dak Bible Camp

o New convenience store to be

constructed by the Tribe which will

create additional turning traffic

concerns

Phase 1: South Section of Day County Route 1

Safety Improvement Project

• The southern portion of the project extends

southward 6-miles from Waubay, South

Dakota. This segment passes by the major boat

access to Bitter Lake and carries a high volume

of traffic accessing recreational amenities

throughout the route.

Additionally, continuing from this segment, Day

County Route 1 continues another 25 miles southward

to Watertown, South Dakota, a major regional hub for

commerce, employment, healthcare, and one of the

Tribe’s three casino resorts which serves as a major

employment center and revenue generator,

supplementing the operation of critical Tribal

programs.

Page | 3

Previously Completed Components of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement

Project

Planning and preconstruction activities for the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project

began in 2010. This project represents the impacts of unanticipated growth on transportation

assets. The route began as a gravel county road, and as the number of homes and residents grew

and as the area’s lakesides were developed for recreational access, the gravel road was overlain

with asphalt to better accommodate increased traffic. The asphalt surface has increased the

average speeds of vehicles traveling the roadway, while the road’s horizontal and vertical curves,

as well as roadside slopes and safety features, remain at the level of a low speed (45mph) gravel

road. The combination of higher speeds with older, lower speed roadway design features has

resulted in a high concentration of accidents, and the typical result of a crash on Day County

Route 1 is an injury or fatality.

Preliminary engineering and environmental clearance is near completion for Phase 1. Lead by

Day County and the South Dakota Department of Transportation(SDDOT), Phase 1 is shovel

ready, pending a final review by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and final

environmental clearance which is anticipated in early 2019. The full versions of following plans,

clearances, and correspondence can be found at www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Supporting Materials for Previously Completed Project Components

Preliminary Engineering Plans

County Resolution for Federal Aid Transportation Projects

Phase 1 Wetland Mitigation Report

Section 404 USACE Permit Application

FLAP Notification for Waubay Entrance Road

In addition to the previously completed components of Phase 1, Day County also pursued and

secured a South Dakota Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant to realign Waubay

Entrance Road intersection with Day County Route 1. Currently, the Entrance Road intersects

Day County Route 1 at two acute angled locations posing significant safety hazards. The FLAP

project will construct a resident Entrance

Road to reduce the intersection points and

provide intersection angles to meet highway

safety standards. This project is programmed

for construction funding in fiscal year 2022,

and the estimated total project cost, including

engineering and construction, is $300,000.

The FLAP application, awarded July 9, 2018,

can be found at

www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Page | 4

II. Project Location

The Lake Traverse Reservation is in

the northeastern corner of South

Dakota, stretching into North Dakota

and Minnesota. The project is located

near Waubay, South Dakota, where

Day County Route 1 intersects US

Highway 12. Phase 1 extends 6 miles

south from Waubay, South Dakota and

Phase 2 extends 13 miles north of

Waubay, South Dakota.

Day County 1 Safety Improvement

Project Users

The Day County 1 Safety Improvement

Project will positively impact a variety

of transportation users, primarily travelers utilizing the route for agricultural, commercial,

recreational, and personal travel. The primary transportation users in the project area include

individuals and families traveling to access employment, child care, healthcare, and the casinos.

Visitors from all over the region use this route to access Waubay National Wildlife Refuge,

Pickerel Lake State Park, and the lakes surround the project including Bitter Lake, Pickerel Lake,

Blue Dog Lake, Waubay Lake, Rush Lake, and Enemy Swim Lake.

The Lake Traverse Reservation is an impoverished rural area, with 21.3 percent of all individuals

living below poverty level, so access to reliable, safe transportation is critical to individuals and

families living in the area. According to 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year

Estimates, the unemployment rate of the Reservation was 8 percent, double that of the United

States. Of the 4,825 workers age 16 years and over community to work, 699 carpooled, 40 relied

on public transportation, 271 walked, and 413 worked from home. The majority of the

workforce, 3,319 individuals, commute alone by personal vehicle.

A full version of the project location map can be found at

www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Page | 5

III. Grant Funds, Sources, and Uses of all Project Funding

A. Project Costs An analysis conducted by the engineering firm KLJ indicates the cost to construct the Day

County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project is $17,475,000. A local match of $2.2 million has

been committed from Day County, South Dakota for Phase 1 of the project. The match includes

local and state funds, already secured, to maximize the federal funding requested from the

BUILD program. Funding will be used for the completion of construction on Phase 1 south of

US Highway 12 and preconstruction and construction activities on Phase 2 north of US Highway

12.

Local State BUILD Total

PE/Environmental $0 $135,000 $695,000 $830,000

Final Design/Construction Engineering $345,000 $0 $650,000 $995,000

Construction $813,000 $907,000 $13,930,000 $15,650,000

TOTAL $1,158,000 $1,042,000 $15,275,000 $17,475,000

B. Source and Amount of Funds Proposed funding for the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project consists of

investments from federal, state, and local levels. The non-BUILD funds must be spent on Phase

1 of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, and local matching dollars are already

committed and secured for this portion.

Funding Source Amount %

BUILD Discretionary Grant Request $15,275,000 87.4%

County Safety Grant $500,000 2.9%

State of South Dakota (STP Funds) $542,000 3.1%

Day County (local or SIB) $1,158,000 6.6%

Total $17,475,000 100.0%

C. Documentation of Funding Commitments A letter of match assurance and a resolution approved and signed by the Day County

Commission as well as a resolution from the Tribe can be found at

www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Page | 6

D. Budget

Day County Route 1, Phase One

Year Activity Cost

2010-2020 PE/Environmental $380,000

2018-2020 Right of Way/Easements/Relocation $38,000

2018-2019 Final Design/Construction Engineering $345,000

2020-2021 Construction $3,950,000

Phase 1 Total $4,713,000

Day County Route 1, Phase Two

Year Activity Cost

2018-2020 PE/Environmental $695,000

2019-2020 Right of Way/Easements/Relocation $29,000

2021-2024 Final Design/Construction Engineering $650,000

2022-2024 Construction $11,700,000

Phase 2 Total $13,074,000

Phase 1 and Phase 2 Total Construction Cost $17,787,000

Right-of-Way (Non-BUILD eligible expense) $67,000

Previous Expenditures (Non-BUILD eligible expense) $245,000

Local Match $2,200,000

TOTAL BUILD DISCRETIONARY GRANT REQUEST $15,275,000

IV. Merit Criteria

A. SafetyThe Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement

Project will transform a 19-mile stretch of

road where 52 crashes occurred from 2008-

2017. This project will address safety

concerns primarily by widening shoulders,

cutting down hills that limit sight distance,

widening turn radius, installing off roadway

gravel mailbox pull off points, and realigning

several intersections throughout the project.

As shown in the adjacent photo, the South

Dakota Department of Public Safety, in

partnership with SDDOT, established the

"THINK" sign program in 1979 as a memorial to the victim and to also remind motorists of

dangerous behaviors such as driving under the influence, not wearing seat belts, speeding, and

distracted driving. One sign is erected on the state highway for each person killed in the crash,

with each sign mounted on a separate post near the edge of the right-of-way.

Along a sharp curve on Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project site

are six signs, representing the loss of six lives from a head on collision at this

exact location, including 4 children ages 1,3,5, and 7.

Page | 7

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Roadway Safety Improvement Plan Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Roadway Safety Improvement Plan, outlined the project need in a detailed study of the Reservation roadways conducted in 2015 by the University of Wyoming. Of the 21 roadways prioritized, Day County Route 1 scored as a high priority need in several aspects of the study, based on five categories: general roadway conditions, intersections, signage and pavement markings, fixed objects and clear zone, and shoulder and right-of-way. Based on the existing road geometry and prevalent crashes, the study recommended countermeasures which have been designed into the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project.

For each high-risk location, an additional field evaluation was conducted to identify countermeasures and a benefit cost analysis was completed to provide a foundation for implementation of improvements. Included in the study, South Dakota Department of Public Safety provided crash data from 2004 through 2013, which showed a total of 1,065 crashes reported across the Lake Traverse Reservation. Three percent of all crashes on the Reservation were fatal and 30 percent caused some form or personal injury. These rates are higher than statewide fatal and injury crashes at one percent and 21 percent respectively.

Highway Road Geometry Prevalent Crashes Recommended Countermeasures Phase 1 446 Ave (S) Curves, narrow

shoulder Overturn/rollover, roadside

Rumble stripe, chevrons in curves

Phase 2 446A/446 Ave

Curves, entrances Overturn/rollover, roadside

Speed Study for compliance and possibly reduced speed in high density driveway areas, chevrons in curves, rumble strip/stripe

SWO Crashes 2004-2013

The image above provides an example of the sharp curves common throughout Day County Route 1. These geometric roadway deficiencies will be addressed within the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project.

Page | 8

SDDOT indicated that within the south segment of the project, identified as Phase 1 of the Day

County Route 1, a total of 22 crashes occurred from 2008-2017, and in Phase 2 of the Day

County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, 30 crashes occurred from 2008-2017.

During this period,

Phase 1 had 12 property

damage only, eight

injury, and two fatal

crashes. In Phase 2, 17

injury and 13 property

damage only crashes

were reported. The

Pickerel Lake State

Park and the Waubay

National Wildlife

Refuge draw a high

volume of traffic,

including combination

vehicles pulling

campers or boats. With

no shoulders and

unforgiving side slopes,

the entire length of the

route is dangerous.

Along the northern

section of the route,

Phase 2 of the Day

County Route 1 Safety

Improvement Project, is

the Enemy Swim

district, where a

concentration of

crashes occurred.

A full version of this map is available at www.sissetonwhapetonoyatebuild.com

Page | 9

Enhancing Safety in the Area of the Enemy Swim Community The Enemy Swim Community is located along the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project just 6 miles north of Waubay, South Dakota. The Enemy Swim District is a growing community, and the area is home to key sources of housing, employment, recreation, and education on the Lake Traverse Reservation. With community growth placing an increased demand on the rural transportation system, safety concerns have arisen including motorist-pedestrian conflicts. According to SDDOT, there are 826 vehicle miles per day traveled on Day County Route 1.

Located in the Enemy Swim Community is the Enemy Swim Day School which includes grades K-8, the Enemy Swim District Center, a bible camp, and a proposed new convenience store.

The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project will widen Day County Route 1 to three lanes in this area—two travel lanes and a center turn lane. This component of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project will accompany a project currently programmed, the Enemy Swim Pathway, an asphalt pathway that starts in the Enemy Swim Housing development, crosses Day County Route 1, and continues eastward along BIA 500 for 1.13 miles until it reaches the Campbell Slough Bridge and Enemy Swim Lake. Funded by FHWA, SDDOT, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, this project will make significant improvements to pedestrian safety in this area and further maximize the safety improvements made by the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project.

In addition to the already increasing demand on the transportation network happening currently, more traffic is anticipated upon completion of a grocery store located near the Enemy Swim District. In areas as rural as the Lake Traverse Reservation, access to daily essentials is extremely limited, so it is not uncommon for a small convenience store and grocery store to service a significantly broad area.

Within the Enemy Swim community, the proposed convenience store and small grocery store will provide daily living essentials is a rural area where access to such is very limited.

Page | 10

B. State of Good Repair Day County Route 1 is owned by Day County, South Dakota. Day County regularly maintains

their roadways as evidenced by the one and on half inch asphalt overlay of the north half in

2017, as well as the planned reconstruction south of US Highway 12 connecting the two phases

of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project. Following completion of the Day

County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, it is anticipated that operation and maintenance

costs will remain nearly the same for the roadway. Although Day County has the funding in

place to maintain the surface condition of Day County Route 1, the funding necessary to

undertake larger projects, such as roadway reconstruction projects, lacks.

Consistent funding for future maintenance is critical as the roadway has an expected lifespan,

with proper maintenance, of approximately 30 years. A chip seal would be required every 6-8

years at a cost of $32,500 per mile in 2018 dollars. At the end of the 30-year lifespan, another

overlay at a cost of about $450,000 per mile would be needed. Keeping this roadway in a state of

good repair is essential to continue to provide safe transportation to the ADT of 378 on the south

section and 404 on the north section. Day County is financially prepared for future maintenance

costs and will budget accordingly to ensure the integrity of the road.

Bridge Replacement

Part of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, a bridge a half mile north of

Highway 12 will be replaced. The replacement structure will have proper freeboard elevation, so

that the bridge does not sit in the water at high water times like the existing structure does. This

will greatly reduce maintenance intervals, intensity, and costs for the Day County Highway

Department. Following completion of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, it is

anticipated that operation and maintenance costs associated with the structure will decrease and

maintenance intervals will increase. The bridge would have a minimum design lifespan of 50

years and approximately $12,500 per year in average bridge costs for cleaning, painting,

guardrail repairs, and resurfacing.

Overall, the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project improves both the condition and

the resilience of existing transportation facilities. The investment of $15,275,000 in BUILD

Discretionary Grant funding would maximize the effectiveness of local funding for maintenance

for decades to come.

Page | 11

C. Economic Competitiveness The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project will positively impact transportation

access to destinations that drive economic development on the Lake Traverse Reservation and

the surrounding region. The project will better connect residents and visitors to the national

highway system and nearby interstate system, facilitating better transportation connectivity

destinations for employment, shopping, and recreation.

In addition to stimulating economic activity in immediate proximity to the project, this route

continues another 25 miles southward to Watertown, South Dakota, a major regional hub for

commerce, employment, a Tribal casino, and healthcare. Both phases also connect local travelers

to US Highway 12, which then connects to I-29 about 11 miles east of the project. The

movement of people and goods safely and effectively is crucial to keep this rural area alive and

developing.

Agriculture drives the economy on the Lake Traverse Reservation. Cattle ranching and farming

supply jobs throughout the Reservation. Other Tribal sources of employment include the Tribe’s

plastic bag factory, an irrigated farm, and a hunting program for small game, big game and

waterfowl. The Dakota Sioux Casinos are also Tribal-owned businesses.

Employment on the Lake Traverse Reservation

Government: A total of 823 tribal employees work within government services, including those

indirectly employed through the gaming enterprises. The largest non-farm employers are the

Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton College, Dakota Sioux Casino, BIA, and

the Indian Health Service.

Agriculture: The primary economic activities on the reservation are farming and ranching.

According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, there are 693 farms in Day County, encompassing

570,125 acres in farmland. The market value of products sold by farms in Day County in 2012

was $189,726,000, primarily comprised of soybeans, corn, wheat, and forage land used for hay,

grass silage and green chop. Additionally, the Tribe owns and operates the SWO Bison Farm

near Waubay, South Dakota.

Source: US Department of Agriculture Natural Agricultural Statistics

Service

Source: US Department of Agriculture Natural Agricultural

Statistics Service

Page | 12

Tourism and Recreation

Tourism growth in the project area requires the roadway to handle more traffic than what it was

originally designed and constructed for. With the State Park at the north end of the project, a

large portion of traffic on the roadway is truck traffic, recreational vehicles, and personal

vehicles in a towing configuration.

According to the South Dakota Department of

Tourism, visitor spending in this region of

South Dakota, the Glacial Lakes and Prairies

Region, was $583 million, and visitor

spending in the state of South Dakota was

$3.9 billion. In Day County, visitor spending

in 2017 was $20.58 million. A total of 9,360

jobs are supported by visitor spending and $43

million in state and local tax revenue is

collected from visitor activity in this region.

Fishing and hunting drives economic activity

on the Lake Traverse Reservation. Walleye

and perch are prevalent in the seven lakes

surrounding the project and waterfowl, upland

and big game hunting bring visitors from all

over the region to the area.

Page | 13

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe also owns three casinos. They are the Dakota Sioux Casino

and Hotel in Watertown, the Dakota Connection Casino and C-Store in Sisseton, and the Dakota

Magic Casino and Golf Resort near Hankinson, North Dakota. These economic hubs generate

funds for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe to utilize in addressing needs across the

Reservation, supplementing many tribal program budgets from roads and building construction

to youth, veteran, and elder human services tribal programs.

The chart above shows the amount in millions tourism contributes to the economy, by county and year, in the Glacial Lakes and Prairies Region of

South Dakota.

Page | 14

D. Environmental ProtectionThe project will improve environmental protection by reducing vehicle miles traveled by

individuals, businesses, and transit buses, minimizing the environmental impact of the

deteriorating bridge on the watershed, and by installing fish ladders in culverts where

necessary.

This project is designed to improve water quality by

avoiding and mitigating environmental impacts caused

by the poor condition of the bridge and the high level of

water reaching the bottom of the bridge beams, which

causes dirt and debris from the crumbling bridge deck to

often be dislodged into the waterway.

The survival of many fish species

depends on migrations up and down

rivers, so multiple culverts within the

Day County Route 1 Safety

Improvement Project will include the

installation of fish ladders. As

described by the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration of the US

Department of Commerce, a fish

ladder, also known as a fishway,

provides a detour route for migrating

fish past a particular obstruction on the river.1 The fish

ladders are important to support species sustainability

for both environmental and economic development

reasons.

1 US Department of Commerce, & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2013, June 01). What is a

fish ladder? Retrieved July 05, 2018, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/fish-ladder.html

Page | 15

E. Quality of Life Increases Transportation Choices

On the Lake Traverse Reservation, 21.3 percent of the population lives below the poverty level,

so the luxury of owning a personal vehicle is

not the norm in this area, therefor making

dependable, affordable transportation options

critical. According to the US Census Bureau

American Community Survey, over 30 percent

of the population commuting to work relies on

means other than a personal vehicle, meaning

public transit is a necessity to this population.

Nearly 6 percent of that population walks to

work. The Day County Route 1 Safety

Improvement Project would invest BUILD

grant funding in an extremely rural area where

transportation is critical to sustainability.

Improvements would make the roadway more

walkable by constructing shoulders so

pedestrian and bicycle travelers are separated from motorists. The project will also enhance the

route traveled by the SWST Community Transit, keeping it an operational, safe route.

Expands Access to Essential Services in Rural Areas and Connectivity to jobs, Healthcare,

and other Critical Destinations in Rural Areas

The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project is located near Waubay, South Dakota.

Immediately along the project route are residential areas, recreation areas, and places of

employment. The route this project will improve continues 25 miles south to a regional hub for

jobs, healthcare, shopping, education, and job training which can be found in Watertown, South

Dakota.

Commuting to Work Estimate

Workers 16 years and over 4,825

Car, truck, or van—drove alone 3,319

Car, truck, or van—carpooled 699

Public Transportation 40

Walked 271

Other means 83

Worked at home 413

Mean travel time to work (mins) 19.5

Page | 16

Safe Transportation Access to Region’s Historical and Recreational Assets

The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement

Project is surrounded by lakes used for fishing,

camping, and recreation. Vacation homes and

primary residences occupy the shores of the

seven lakes surrounding the project, including

the Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, Pickerel

State Park, Bitter Lake, Pickerel Lake, Blue

Dog Lake, Waubay Lake, Rush Lake, Spring

Lake, and Enemy Swim Lake.

A significant site and common destination along the route of

the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project is the

Chief Bluedog burial mound.

The Pickerel Lake Recreation Area is one of the deepest natural

lakes in the state of South Dakota. The 955-acre lake area offers

camping and cabin rentals, public beachfront, a fishing dock,

picnic shelters, showers, and a public boat ramp. Surrounding

the lake is also a recreational trail system enjoyed by locals and

visitors alike.

For full maps of the Pickerel Lake Recreational Trail System visit www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Page | 17

F. Innovation

1. Innovative Technologies

Traditional technologies will be utilized in the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project.

2. Innovative Project Delivery

To move this project as quickly as possible to construction, the “Every Day Counts” process will

be followed which allows both design and environmental documentation and coordination to

occur simultaneously. This process will help expedite both the environmental work as well as the

design work, thus minimizing project delays.

3. Innovative Financing

Traditional match sources will be utilized in the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement

Project.

G. Partnership The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project signifies a historical beginning of a

collaboration between the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and Day County. The project

represents both party’s focus on bettering the transportation assets for all users and their

willingness to come together in partnership for the successful completion of this project, laying

the groundwork for successful opportunities together in the future.

H. Non-Federal Revenue for transportation infrastructure investment As a result of establishing a successful partnership to complete this project, local funding from

multiple sources has been committed for the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project.

$542,000 State of South

Dakota (STP Funds)

$500,000 County Safety Grant

$15,275,000 BUILD Discretionary

Grant Request

$1,158,000 Day County (local/ SIB)

Page | 18

V. Project Readiness

A. Technical Feasibility

Day County, South Dakota has been working on the project since 2010

Phase 1 is nearly shovel ready to advance to construction

Environmental for Phase 1 is awaiting final approval

Earthwork for Phase 1 is funded locally and is near completion

The Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project is supported by a sound partnership and

financial commitments, which ensure smooth project implementation, if awarded a BUILD

Discretionary Grant. The Project is split into two phases; Phase 1 is located south of US

Highway 12, and Phase 2 is located north of US Highway 12. Both phases of the project will be

covered by one environmental document, which has been in progress since 2014; and each phase

will have its own plan, specification, and construction estimate set.

Phase 1 scope of work that includes:

• Reconstruction of the road base to a wider cross section with shoulders (nonexistent

before) and shallower side slopes.

• Changes to vertical curves to allow better sight distance.

• Increasing the radii of several horizontal curves

Phase 2 differs from Phase 1 in several ways other than overall length. The scope of work for

phase two will differ slightly from phase one in the following ways:

• There are more residences and therefore approaches along Phase 2.

• Mailboxes are placed directly at the edge of pavement so residents either stand or park

within the travelling lane to access their mail. To mitigate this danger, turnouts will be

constructed and mailboxes moved away from edge of travelled way.

• Roadway relocation is not anticipated through waters under jurisdiction of USACE, as

with Phase 1 which has prolonged the environmental process for Phase 1.

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B. Project Schedule

1. Schedule Milestones

Milestone Completion Date

Engineering Plan Completion Phase One (in progress) October 2018

Build Award December 2018

NEPA Completion (in progress) October 2019

Bidding Phase One December 2019

Commence Construction Phase One April 2020

Construction Complete Phase One October 2021

Engineering Plan Completion Phase Two June 2020

Bidding Phase Two December 2020

Commence Construction Phase Two June 2021

Complete Construction Phase Two June 2024

2. Obligation and Expenditure Deadline Assurance

A detailed project schedule can be found at www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com. Milestones

have been identified and quality control and quality assurance measures have been established to

keep planning, design and construction on time and within budget. The Tribe and their

consulting engineer are confident all permits will be secured within the project schedule and

prior to the September 2020 obligation deadline. The project is expected to be complete in 2024,

ahead of the September 30, 2025 deadline.

3. Right-of-Way

All right-of-way acquisitions will be funded at the local level. Right-of-way purchase will be

underway for Phase 1 before BUILD Grants are awarded, and right-of-way acquisition for Phase

2 is expected to be minimal.

C. Required Approvals

1. Environmental Permits and Reviews

The preconstruction work for Phase 1 has been in progress since 2014. The remaining

outstanding issue for final environmental clearance on the project is an USACE 404 permit.

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a) NEPA

Cultural review and wetland delineation were completed for Phase 1 in 2014. A total of 22

wetlands are located within the project limits. After a road design was completed, it was

determined that 12 of the wetlands would have impacts greater than one tenth of an acre, for a

total of 2.69 acres.

b) Reviews by Other Agencies

An USACE 404 permit will be required for a section of the roadway that will be realigned

through a lacustrine wetland area (lake). After the old roadway is removed, the net wetland

impact will be very minimal. The permit application has been submitted to the USACE and is

currently in review. The Section 404 Permit application is available for review at

www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Wetland mitigation for the cumulative wetland impacts is also in progress and is overseen by

USACE. The wetland mitigation for Phase 1 is the final outstanding item in the NEPA process.

The types of wetlands impacted are not readily available in the regional wetland bank for

purchase, so a wetland mitigation report has been developed and submitted to USACE for

determination. NEPA approval will be granted before June 2020 in one of the following ways,

depending on forthcoming USACE recommendations: Day County will have to build and

maintain new off-site wetlands, or wetlands may be purchased at a higher than one-to-one ratio.

Ducks Unlimited has confirmed willingness to sell the credits needed to offset the need for the

County to build additional wetlands. Environmental Studies

The environmental impact statement and wetland mitigation plan have been in progress since

2014. The wetland mitigation plan has been submitted to the USACE for review, which is the

final step in receiving environmental approval.

c) Department of Transportation Coordination

The SDDOT district office has been coordinating the project development with Day County

since the inception of the project. The SDDOT will be the permittee for the USACE 404 permit.

A project support letter from SDDOT can be found at www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

d) Public Engagement

The Enemy Swim Tribal community has a district meeting every month, which is designed to

drive public involvement and has shown great success. The Day County Route 1 Safety

Improvement Project will be presented at the July 26, 2018 Enemy Swim District meeting. A

copy of the minutes, presentation, and sign-in sheet can be found at

www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

2. State and Local Approvals

Because this project utilizes federal aid from the state of South Dakota, this project is required to

be on the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). This project is on the STIP which can

be found at www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

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3. Federal Transportation Requirements Affecting State and Local Planning

a) Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies

One of the primary hold ups on Phase 1 is the mitigation of wetlands. The proposed realignment

of the roadway would cut through a wetland in the middle of a privately-owned field, and one of

the widening turns occurs within a body of water. This required extensive collaboration with the

USACE to design the roadway with the least amount of environmental impact. Wetland

circumstances are not anticipated with Phase 2 of the project. Right-of-way is being funded

locally, and Day County is currently in the process of securing the right-of-way to prevent any

project delays.

VI. Benefit Cost Analysis As a result of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, geometric roadway

deficiencies will be corrected, which will address significant safety concerns identified in a

detailed study of the Reservation roadways conducted in 2016 by the University of Wyoming.

The project provides solutions to dangerous transportation challenges, benefiting communities in

a vastly rural area in northeastern South Dakota. When constructed, the Day County Route 1

Safety Improvement Project will:

The benefit-cost analysis (BCA) has been developed based on the June 2018 Benefit-Cost

Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs2 and the Notice of Funding Opportunity for

BUILD Discretionary Grants as published in the April 27, 2018 Federal Register. Separate

Analyses were completed for Phases 1 and 2. Both analyses were based on a 20-year analysis

period, with benefits and costs discounted at seven percent.

The resulting benefit-cost ratio for the comprehensive project is 42:1.

This project offers multiple benefits by improving transportation safety and connectivity at the

local and regional levels, as well as connecting users to the national highway and nearby

interstate system. For purposes of this BCA, only quantitative benefits were included; qualitative

benefits are outlined in the full BUILD application narrative. Monetized benefits for Phases 1

and 2 focuses on crash reduction and remaining value of the project asset at the end of the 20-

year analysis period. Costs include final planning and design activities, along with construction.

Operation and maintenance costs were also evaluated and there is no material change anticipated

in maintenance costs between the base condition and the preferred alternative.

2https://www.transportation.gov/office-policy/transportation-policy/benefit-cost-analysis-guidance

Improve safety by improving the condition of the

roadway and line-of-sight

Reduce vehicle hours traveled by safely allowing

traffic to travel at the posted speed limit (55 mph) rather than the current safe

rate of speed (45 mph)

Improve access to regional hubs for commerce, recreation, tourism, healthcare, jobs, and

entertainment in South Dakota

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The matrix below is intended to provide an executive summary for the BCA. Outlining baseline

conditions (no build alternative), changes and impacts expected through the implementation of

the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project, affected populations, areas of monetized

benefits, and references to respective sections in the full BCA analysis workbook.

Supporting documents for this analysis can be found on the project website,

www.sissetonwahpetonoyatebuild.com.

Page | 23

Analyses were completed for Phases 1 and 2. Both analyses were based on a 20-year analysis

period, with benefits and costs discounted at seven percent. In the following sections, three

components will be discussed: 1) comprehensive outcomes, 2) Phase 1 outcomes, and 3) Phase

2 outcomes.

Summary of Costs and Benefits

Page | 24

Safety

Safety is at the heart of the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project. With a 19-mile

stretch of highway resulting in 52 reported accidents in an 11-year period, the Sisseton-

Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, Day County, and the State of South Dakota need to make corrections on

this route to ensure public safety and reduce the likelihood of additional fatalities

Safety benefits were analyzed through

reduced crash risk. Using standard

KABCO crash severity scale values per

2018 BCA Guidance for BUILD, page 29,

property damage only accidents were

valued at $4,327 per vehicle, level U

crashes where an injury occurred but the

severity is unknown were valued at

$174,000, and level K or fatal accidents

were valued at $9.6 million per life.

The accident reduction factor was calculated using the US Department of Transportation’s

Desktop Reference for Crash Reduction Factors3. The four crash reduction factors used to

monetize crash reduction risk were: improved horizontal and vertical alignments, flattened side

slopes, widened shoulders, and the addition of edge line rumble strips.

Phase 1 Phase 2

3http://scohts.transportation.org/Documents/CrashReductionFactorsDesktopReference12-19-07.pdf

Page | 25

Phase 1

Following are the summarized results for Phase 1 crash monetized crash reduction under the

preferred alternative, the Day County Route 1 Safety Improvement Project. In addition to the

information included on the previous page, information is also included below summarizing the

project’s historical crash data along Phase 1, as well as figures used in calculating the overall

savings.

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Phase 2

Just as with Phase 1, Phase 2’s monetized crash reduction summary is below. The calculations

have been completed under the preferred alternative, the construction of the Day County Route 1

Safety Improvement Project. Information is also included below summarizing the project’s

historical crash data along Phase 2, as well as figures used in calculating the overall savings.

Page | 27

State of Good Repair

State of Good Repair has been calculated based on the asset life remaining at the end of the 20-

year analysis period. Project engineers have estimated that the assets for both Phases 1 and 2

have an asset life of 30 years. That means, at the end of the 20-year analysis period, there is still

approximately one-third of the asset value remaining. After being fully discounted, this equates

to just over $1 million in remaining value.