City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 23, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Approval of the City of Alexandria’s Proposed FY 2023 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Project Funding Requests.
BODY
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ISSUE: Council Consideration of approval of the FY 2023 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) project funding requests.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve the FY 2023 proposed transportation projects 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 to accept any of these grants.
BACKGROUND: Since 1993, the Commonwealth has allocated CMAQ and RSTP funding to the Northern Virginia region. CMAQ funds are allocated to metropolitan regions that do not meet Clean Air Act regulations. These funds must be used for activities that improve air quality and cannot be used to increase the capacity of roadways. RSTP funds are very flexible funds that can be used for a wide range of regional transportation activities.
DISCUSSION: The City of Alexandria must submit its FY 2023 CMAQ and RSTP funding request to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) by December 16, 2016. In prior years City Council has approved CMAQ and RSTP projects for FY 2018 to FY 2022. These projects, which are listed in Attachment 1, are not proposed to change. The Transportation Commission reviewed these recommendations at its meeting on November 16, 2016. After a brief discussion, the Transportation Commission unanimously approved the recommendation for the FY 2023 funding request, as shown in Attachment 2.
The following is a description of the FY 2023 proposed transportation projects, totaling $4,300,000:
West End Transitway Operations
The City continues to advance the West End Transitway towards implementation and plans to begin operations as early as 2020. This new transit service will connect existing and developing West End neighborhoods to large employment centers such as the Mark Center and Pentagon and to regional transit connections at Van Dorn Metro, Southern Towers, Shirlington, and Pentagon Metro. These funds will fund a portion of the annual operating costs.
Proposed Funding: $1,000,000
Bus Shelters
The City has been making major efforts recently to upgrade places where people wait for transit vehicles. One major area which still requires upgrading are the bus shelters at the Van Dorn and Braddock Road Metro stations. This funding will install new state-of-the art bus shelters at these locations with lighting and real-time bus information. Proposed Funding: $400,000
Transportation Demand Management
The primary goal of the City’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program is to reduce the number of single occupied vehicles (SOV) during peak travel times. To do this, the program has developed an extensive set of techniques to encourage City residents and employees to use a variety of modes, such as transit, carsharing, ridesharing, and teleworking. These TDM funds will help implement the recommendations of the Long Range TDM Plan, reduce congestion, and improve air quality in the City and the region. Proposed Funding: $400,000
Bike Sharing
In 2012, the City launched Capital Bikeshare in Alexandria with eight stations. The program expanded to 16 stations in August 2014, and will expand to 32 stations this fiscal year. These bikeshare funds would allow for expansion, as well as the replacement of bicycles that have been operational for more than five years, and stations that have been operational for over ten years. Staff continues to identify additional funding sources to expand the program through development contributions and grants. Proposed Funding: $250,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems Integration
The project consists of designing a smart transportation network for the City, which has been placed on an accelerated work plan. These funds will go toward intelligent transportation system enhancements to all of the city’s intersections, and allow for facilities coordination with the Alexandria Fire Department and Police Department. Proposed funding: $400,000
DASH Technology
Technology is an integral part of delivering high quality transit service to riders and a vital tool for transit providers to deliver efficient, reliable service. These funds will enable DASH to upgrade existing and implement new technology enhancements to the bus fleet and behind the scenes system management. Proposed Funding: $600,000
Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Enhancements on Primary Corridors
The project improves important pedestrian safety and mobility enhancements along primary roadway corridors with high volumes and speeds, and a history of pedestrian fatalities. It would implement recommendations for pedestrian safety improvements in the City’s Transportation Master Plan. Proposed Funding: $1,000,000
Parking Technologies
This project funds the implementation of improved parking management techniques, such as multispace meters, real-time parking management, performance parking, and pay-by-phone parking. Improving parking management in the City will reduce congestion and vehicle miles traveled by increasing drivers’ ability to find and access parking. Proposed Funding: $250,000
FISCAL IMPACT: By seeking CMAQ and RSTP funds for critical transportation projects, the City improves its ability to deliver other needed transportation projects using City funds. The proposed projects do not require local matching funds from the City. The match will be provided by the Commonwealth, as it is their policy to match federal CMAQ and RSTP funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - FY 2018 to 2023 CMAQ RSTP Proposed Program
Attachment 2 - Transportation Commission Recommendation Letter
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Director, OMB
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES