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: ADRIANA CASTANEDA, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support Arlington County’s Northern Virginia Transportation Authority 70% Application for the Shirlington Transit Center.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Should the City Council support the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) 70% application from Arlington County for the Shirlington Bus Station Expansion and help accommodate the West End Transitway?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the resolution (Attachment 1) to support the NVTA 70% application from Arlington County for the Shirlington Bus Station Expansion.
BACKGROUND: In April 2013, House Bill 2313 was signed into law, levying additional taxes and a fee in Planning Districts that meet population, motor vehicle registration, and transit ridership criteria. The revenues generated in Northern Virginia through these taxes and fees are deposited into a fund managed by the NVTA. Thirty percent (30%) of the funds are distributed directly to member localities to use on transportation projects. The remaining seventy percent (70%) of the funds are distributed by NVTA for regional transportation projects.
DISCUSSION: This spring, NVTA formally requested applications seeking 70% regional transportation funding for FY 2028 and FY 2029 as part of the FY 2024 to FY 2029 Six-Year Program update. Occasionally, other agencies and jurisdictions propose projects that have direct benefits to the City. This year, Arlington County is submitting an application that supports the Alexandria West End Transitway project. The West End Transitway, Phase 1 of which is currently in the design phase, was originally approved by City Council in the 2008 Transportation Master Plan. The goal is to provide high service transit to West Alexandria where there is no Metrorail service, where there is a high proportion of low-income and residents of color, and where the City anticipates substantial growth.
Arlington County has requested $11.6 million to fund the Shirlington Bus Station Expansion. This station is the principal transfer point for Arlington Transit (ART) bus service, Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrobus service, and bus service (Routes 36A and 36B) in South Arlington. This capital project focuses on adding bus bays at the Shirlington Bus Station to meet future demand, including the space needed for future West End Transitway buses and any service improvements from Alexandria’s Transit Vision Plan, as well as expansion plans of Arlington Transit and WMATA. The attached resolution would be added to Arlington County’s application.
FISCAL IMPACT: There would be no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Arlington County resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning
Christina Alexander, Capital Projects Program Manager, T&ES
Jennifer Monaco, Transit Program Manager, Transportation Planning