Project Budget - Watson.docx

City of Buckeye — Regular Council Meeting (2026-04-07)

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Project Budget 
The Watson Road project costs by category are as follows: 
 
Funding 
Source 
Total 
Funding 
(only 1 
Component) 
 
 
 
 
BUILD 
Funds: 
$25,000,00 
 
 
 
 
Other Federal 
Funds: 
$0 
 
 
 
 
Non-Federal 
Funds: 
$39,953,000 
 
 
 
 
Total Project 
Cost: 
$64,953,000 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost 
Classification 
BUILD 
Funds: 
Other Federal 
Funds: 
Non-Federal 
Funds: 
 
Total Project 
Cost: 
 
: Planning & 
Design 
$962,500 
 
$1,537,500 
0 
$2,500,000 
Land 
Acquisition 
$5,390,000 
$0 
$8,610,000 
$0 
$14,000,000 
Construction 
$17,463,600 
0 
$27,896,400 
0 
 
$45,360,000 
Contingency 
$1,183,900 
 
$1,909,100 
 
3,093,000 
 
$25,000,000 
0 
$39,953,000 
0 
$64,953,000 
 
Year 
Planning & 
Design 
Land 
Acquisition 
Construction Contingency 
Total Cost 
2027 
$2,500,000 
 
 
$119,500 
$2,619,500 
2028 
 
$14,000,000 
 
$600,000 
$14,600,000 
2029 
 
 
$45,360,000 
$2,373,500 
$47,733,500 
Total 
$64,953,000 
 
2020 Census Tract(s) 
Project Costs per Census Tract 
507.01 
$51,962,400 
507.02 
$12,990,600 
Total Project Cost: $64,953,000 
 
Urban/Rural 
Project Costs 
Urban (2020 Census-designated urban area 
with a population greater than 200,000) 
$64,953,000

2 
 
 
 
Rural (Located outside of a 2020 Census-
designated urban area with a population 
greater than 200,000) 
$0 
Total Project Cost: $64,953,000 
 
Sources, Uses, and Availability 
As illustrated in the above tables, the City of Buckeye is seeking 38.5% BUILD funding for the 
proposed Watson Road project throughout the life of the project, which is anticipated to cover 36 
months. The project is designated as urban and 100% of the cost of the project and benefits are 
located in historically disadvantaged community census tracts 507.01 and 507.02. There are no 
conditions that must be met prior to accessing any source of funds, and if approved, the project 
will commence immediately upon Council approval, acceptance, and full execution of the grant 
agreement. The City of Buckeye is proposing the BUILD grant to cover 38.5% of the project 
cost due to the location of the project within an urban and disadvantaged area. If awarded, the 
Non-Federal Funds are proposed to be funded by the City of Buckeye from its General Fund. If 
awarded, this project will become part of the approved City of Buckeye’s Capital Improvement 
Plan and the City of Buckeye is committed to contributing the local match, subject to City 
Council approval. (Please see the “Funding Commitments” Letter attached in the Grants.gov 
application portal). 
 
Contingency Amount and Plan 
Regarding cost overruns, Buckeye has built in a 5% contingency into the budget. Any cost 
overruns beyond the budget and contingency would require an alternative Non-BUILD source of 
funding, such as the City of Buckeye’s General Fund. If awarded, this project will be included in 
the approved City of Buckeye’s Capital Improvement Plan, and the City of Buckeye is 
committed to contributing a local match. (Please see the “Funding Commitments” Letter 
attached in the Grants.gov application portal). 
 
Level of Design 
The design is 30% or more complete and the budget contains contingencies and scheduling 
considerations as of February 20, 2026. Project costs were estimated by the Buckeye 
Engineering department based upon input from outside contractors and prior experience based on 
the 30% completed design. 
Watson Road consists of roadway improvements, and a proposed overpass over the railroad 
tracks and irrigation canal. The Design Concept Report (DCR) is at or more than 30% design and 
the horizontal alignment has been identified. A final DCR will be completed for Watson Road 
between Southern Avenue and MC85 to establish roadway improvements and the vertical 
alignment for a grade-separated crossing of Watson Road over the Union Pacific Railroad and 
Buckeye Irrigation District (BID) Canal. The project consists of a final design, 110-acre land 
purchase for right-of-way, and construction of a 4-lane road section (2-lanes in each direction 
separated by a raised median) of S. Watson Road from Southern Avenue to MC85, Buckeye,

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Arizona. This includes a grade-separated multi-modal structure over railroad tracks and an 
irrigation canal, 2 traffic signals, drainage facilities, and armoring of the Palo Verde Nuclear 
Cooling line. Also, there will be Futurepath conduit for fiber infrastructure. The project cost is 
budgeted at $64,953,000, all within historical disadvantaged community census tracts 507.01 and 
507.02. The following is a list of the basic scope of work for planning and design. 
 Survey and Identification of utilities within the project corridor and verifying if prior 
rights exist.  Topographic survey of project limits. 
 Establishment of horizontal and vertical geometry. 
 Identifying and evaluating options to provide access to the parcels of land between the 
railroad tracks and irrigation canal on either side of Watson Road. 
 Identification of right-of-way (ROW) needs. 
 Further development of 30% conceptual plans for the ultimate 4-lane cross section of 
Watson Road. 
 Development of conceptual plans for the interim 4-lane cross section of Watson Road. 
 Development of probable costs for ultimate and interim cross section, including ROW, 
utility, final design and construction administration costs. 
 Conceptual structural design. 
 Monthly project meetings with the City and other interested parties. 
 Prepare traffic impact analysis. 
 Environmental assessment and historic cultural review. 
 
Cost Estimates 
The City of Buckeye’s Traffic Engineer, who currently has several active and future construction 
projects, provided the cost estimates as of February 20, 2026, based on the 30% completed 
design and consultation with outside engineers. The several active and future construction 
projects under the Traffic Engineer’s purview enables the Traffic Engineer to accurately estimate 
the costs of the proposed Watson Road project. The City of Buckeye has built in a 5% 
contingency to account for any cost overruns or inflationary incidents.  
Cost Share or Matching Funds  
The proposed Watson Road project is located within an urban, historically disadvantaged area. 
The City of Buckeye is requesting 38.5% federal funding ($25,000,000) of the project cost from 
the BUILD grant program. Cost overruns are unlikely with the 5% contingency built into the 
budget, but should a cost overrun occur, the City of Buckeye is committed to contributing a local 
match to cover the cost overrun (Please see the “Funding Commitments” Letter attached in the 
Grants.gov application portal).