City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of the FY 2025 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Project Funding Request.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of the FY 2025 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) project funding request.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Approve the FY 2025 transportation project request as listed in Attachment 1; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for these grants and enter into any necessary agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia (“Commonwealth”) to accept any of these grants.
BACKGROUND: Since 1993, the Commonwealth has allocated CMAQ and RSTP funding to the Northern Virginia region. CMAQ funded projects must meet these three eligibility requirements: 1) have a transportation focus, 2) reduce air emissions, and 3) be located in or benefit a nonattainment or maintenance area. RSTP funds are flexible funds that may be used for a variety of regional transportation activities, including but not limited to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, transit capital projects, and transportation / transit studies.
City Council annually approves the out-year addition (in this case FY 2025) to its six-year CMAQ/RSTP program.
DISCUSSION: The City’s funding request for FY 2025 is $4.5 million and includes the following projects, listed in priority order:
FY25 CMAQ / RSTP Proposed Program
1. West End Transitway Operations $1,000,000
2. Transportation Demand Management $ 500,000
3. ITS Integration $3,000,000
TOTAL $4,500,000
The City of Alexandria must submit the FY 2025 CMAQ / RSTP funding request to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in December 2018. A combined table showing CMAQ / RSTP funding for FY 2020 to FY 2024 as well as the FY 2025 proposed funding can be found in Attachment 2.
The Transportation Commission reviewed these recommendations at its meeting of October 17, 2018. Following discussion, the Transportation Commission approved the recommendation for the FY 2025 funding request, as indicated in Attachment 3.
FISCAL IMPACT: Since the Commonwealth of Virginia provides the local match required for CMAQ / RSTP funds, the City is not required to provide any local funds to receive the grants. As projects mature in the annual CIP, staff provides updated estimates of operating impacts from each of these projects.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: FY 2025 Transportation Project Request and Descriptions
Attachment 2: FY 2020 to FY 2024 Approved CMAQ/RSTP Program
Attachment 3: Transportation Commission Recommendation Letter
Attachment 4: Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Chris Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning
Tarrence Moorer, Transportation Funding Manager, Transit Services Division