City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a resolution to support a grant application to the Transportation-Land Use Connections (TLC) program at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: City Council consideration of a grant application for the TLC program of the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG).
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution (Attachment 1) to apply for the FY 2021 TLC program; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to submit this resolution and enter into any agreements with MWCOG that may be required should the requested application be approved.
BACKGROUND: The TLC Program provides short-term consultant services to local jurisdictions for small planning projects that promote mixed-use, walkable communities and support a variety of transportation alternatives. The program provides consultant assistance of $30,000 to $60,000 for planning projects. If funded, project award would occur in Fall 2020, and project duration typically takes six months. Grant applications to the FY 2021 TLC program are due March 9, 2020.
DISCUSSION: With this funding, the City proposes to assess the feasibility and impact of a low-income fare pass program in coordination with the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The analysis would consider what a program in Alexandria could look like (i.e. who would receive a discounted fare, the actual discount, any restrictions on hours of service, applicable on DASH and WMATA or just DASH, etc.), the impact on ridership, how the program could be implemented, the costs to the City and how that impacts the City’s subsidy to WMATA, and consistency with the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan and the Bus Transformation Project. The study would also look at what has been implemented in other jurisdictions or by other transit organizations. This analysis will enable the City to make a more informed decision when considering changes to the DASH fare structure.
Currently, the District of Columbia (D.C.) and WMATA are conducting a similar study which includes randomized evaluation of free and discounted transit fares. The D.C. study will consider the impact of cost on low-income residents’ public transit use and overall well-being. The findings may inform initiatives that make public transit more accessible to low-income residents. The Virginia General Assembly is also currently debating a potential state program to provide free or reduced transit for low-income riders as part of HB1414 which is an omnibus transportation bill that has passed the House of Delegates. At this time, it is not clear whether the state program would become law or whether any local funding would become available. Moreover, it is unlikely any decisions will be made prior to March 9, when TLC grants are due.
If a state-funded free or reduce fare program for low-income riders is passed, City staff proposes to work with TPB staff to rescope this study into an analysis focused on identification of transit bottlenecks in the City in coordination with DASH and WMATA. Bus service is an essential transportation option for Alexandrians, especially for low-income residents, to access jobs and services. Reliability is especially important for low-paying jobs and service jobs, for which employees do not have the option of arriving late. With faster and more reliable service, the bus would be a more attractive option for all travelers, potentially leading to ridership increases. In addition, by reducing bottlenecks in the bus system, this could lead to reduced transit costs. These all have the potential to reduce City transit subsidies. The outcome of this study could be used when considering funding decisions in relation to other future transit initiatives.
This analysis would use DASH and WMATA bus speed data and other available sources to identify intersections, corridors, street segments, etc. that slow bus service and/or reduce bus service reliability. This effort would also use ridership data and recommendations from the Alexandria Transit Vision Plan (ATV) to prioritize projects or identify future analysis needed to implement the ATV. This effort is consistent with the goals of the ATV and the Bus Transformation Project to prioritize bus service and improve speed and reliability.
FISCAL IMPACT: For the TLC program, MWCOG staff perform procurement, manage the project in collaboration with the City staff, and reimburse the consultant so there would be no direct fiscal impact to the City. However, staff would be involved in scoping the project and ensuring that the final product be of value to the City and DASH.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution of support
2. Letter of support
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES, Transportation,
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning
Josh Baker, General Manager, Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)
Martin Barna, Director of Planning & Scheduling, Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)