City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KARL W. MORITZ, DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support a Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration for the FY 2023 Transit-Oriented Development Planning Pilot Grant Program.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Should the City seek grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to advance transit-oriented development to assist in the funding of the upcoming Duke Street Corridor Plan?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the resolution (Attachment 1) supporting the grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT);
(2) Approve the submission of up to $750,000 in federal funding grant request to the Pilot Program for the Transit-Oriented Development Planning grant programs by October 10, 2023; and
(3) Authorize the City Manager to apply for the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning grant and enter into any necessary agreements with U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to accept this funding.
BACKGROUND: The Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning is a competitive grant program created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically provide funding to communities to integrate land use and transportation planning in new methods for guideway and the core capacity of transit project corridors. The U.S. DOT will prioritize projects that will (1) renew our transit systems, (2) reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public transportation, (3) advance racial equity by removing transportation related disparities to all populations within a project area and increase equitable access to project benefits, (4) maintain and create good paying jobs with a free and fair choice to join a union, and (5) connect communities by increasing access to affordable transportation options. Grant applications are evaluated by the DOT and FTA with considerations including enhancing economic development and ridership facilitating multimodal connectivity and accessibility, increasing access to transit hubs for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, enabling mixed-use development, encouraging affordable housing particularly in areas with high incidence rates of homelessness, and identifying infrastructure needs associated with project as well as including private sector participation. Planning work needs to be consistent with the Justice40 initiative. Projects have a minimum award value of $250,000 and a maximum award value of $2 million.
Project submissions are due by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.
DISCUSSION: In May 2023, the City approved the FY 2024 to FY 2025 Long-Range Planning Work Program identifying the Duke Street Corridor Plan as the next long range plan the City will undertake, scheduled to begin mid-2024. The land use plan for the Duke Street area was last comprehensively updated in 1992. The proposed planning effort will evaluate the land uses for the areas adjacent to the planned Duke Street Corridor to reflect current City policies related to housing affordability, equity, mobility, and open space and integrate the recommendations from the recently completed transit planning process for the corridor, also known as Duke Street in Motion.
Specifically, the proposed TOD grant application will augment the Duke Street planning process funding for elements such as land use and housing analysis, economic analysis, infrastructure and transportation studies, open space planning, urban design, and sustainability. The grant will also enable a more robust community engagement and outreach process for the Duke Street Corridor Plan, to assist in involving a broad representation of all stakeholders. The additional funding would also enable a more robust multiple language and technologies to better ensure input from as many community stakeholders as possible.
This planning effort represents an opportunity to evaluate housing affordability the transit corridor, appropriate use and densities near the planned transit, sustainable development, and increased street and bicycle circulation and safety throughout the plan area. Led by the Department of Planning and Zoning, the planning process will feature interdepartmental collaboration among the Departments of Transportation and Environmental Services, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, the Office of Housing, DASH, and others.
The maximum project request will be up to $750,000, but staff will continue to refine the project budget and final grant request based on the grant criteria and the City’s needs for the planning process.
FISCAL IMPACT: The TOD Pilot Program requires a local match of 20%. If the City is granted the full award of up to $750,000, the match would be up to $150,000. The match will be funded through the CIP “Development Studies” project in the Community Development section.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Transportation Commission Letter of Endorsement
Attachment 3: Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Jeffrey Farner, Deputy Director, Department of Planning & Zoning
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Carrie Beach, Division Chief of Neighborhood Planning, Department of Planning & Zoning
Andra Schmitt, Urban Planner l, Department of Planning & Zoning