City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 8, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of a Resolution to Endorse WMATA's Strategic Plan, Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution endorsing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) strategic plan, Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council endorse WMATA's strategic plan, Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro.
DISCUSSION: The WMATA Board of Directors and management have embarked on the development of a new strategic plan - the first the agency has developed in over 10 years. While WMATA continues to focus on state of good repair and improving safety, reliability, and customer service, the organization is planning for the future to ensure that it can deliver more than 1.6 million trips per day and continue to support the region's economic growth. Momentum: The Next Generation of Metro is the vision that will guide WMATA's strategic growth through 2025.
Regional planning documents serve as the basis for Momentum and the planned growth of the agency. Previous planning studies outlined anticipated demand throughout the region, transportation investments by other jurisdictions (e.g., Alexandria's High Capacity Transitway corridors), and WMATA's own needs.
The key priorities proposed in Momentum include:
- Become the one-stop shop for bus and train information for all the region's transit customers;
- Operate 100 percent 8-car trains during rush hour, accommodating an additional 35,000 passengers per hour;
- Enhance bus service by improving service and building bus-only lanes to complete the Metrobus priority corridor network;
- Expand or enhance select core stations to accommodate more customers and make stations brighter, safer, and easier to navigate;
- Build new pedestrian connections between selected stations to provide more convenient transfer options;
- Develop an open fare payment system for all regional transit providers; and
- Build new infrastructure, such as tracks and stations that would provide more travel options and improve service for customers.
Many of the proposed investments will significantly improve the mobility of Alexandria residents, workers, and visitors. Eight car trains will help address overcrowding on trains serving Alexandria Metrorail stations, particularly along the Blue Line. Infrastructure improvements, such as pocket tracks and turnbacks, will enhance Metrorail reliability by providing alternatives for storing and turning around trains. In addition, the full implementation of the priority corridor network will include service along Duke Street, providing much of the additional bus service along Corridor B recommended in the Transportation Master Plan.
WMATA has developed a comprehensive vision for transit over the next ten years. WMATA is currently soliciting endorsements from the jurisdictions and key stakeholders and will begin to formulate a strategy for funding the proposed improvements.
FISCAL IMPACT: If all projects in Momentum are implemented, WMATA would need to spend an additional $500 million per year, beyond the $1 billion that the agency spends annually to fund their capital program. The endorsement of this plan does not constitute a commitment of City funding to the plan, but encourages WMATA to find means to fund the plan.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - Momentum at a Glance
STAFF:
Rashad M. Young, City Manager
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Jerome Fletcher, Special Assistant to the City Manager
Richard J. Baier, Director, Transportation & Environmental Services
Sandra Marks, Acting Deputy Director, Transportation & Environmental Services
Marti Reinfeld, Division Chief, Transportation & Environmental Services
Jim Maslanka, Capital Projects Manager, Transportation & Environmental Services
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