City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 19, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: RYAN FREED, CLIMATE ACTION OFFICER
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution to Enter into an Agreement for an Awarded Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Round 1b Resubmission of the FY 2022/FY 2023 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Participation in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program and providing the 20% project cost share requirements.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Commit to providing funds for its local match of up to $57,120 in its Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
(2) Authorize the City Manager to i) execute an agreement with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) to participate in its grant from the DOT and ii) execute any necessary agreements with the DOT in support of the awarded grant.
BACKGROUND: The CFI Discretionary Grant Program is a competitive grant program created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in communities and along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). The Bipartisan Infrastructure law provides $2.5 billion over five years , including $521 million for reevaluating previously submitted FY 2022/FY2023 (Round 1b) applications that were rated as “Highly Recommended” or “Recommended.” The U.S. DOT will prioritize community projects that expand access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure in (1) rural areas, (2) low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, (3) communities with low ratios of private parking spaces, and (4) communities with high ratios of multi-unit dwellings.
DISCUSSION: In May 2021, the City finalized the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Readiness Strategy (EVRS), which acts as a roadmap for meeting the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and technical needs of City residents, workforce members, and visitors.
The City is one of seven municipalities that partnered with MWCOG on their FY 2022/FY 2023 CFI Grant Program application that was resubmitted for Round 1b consideration and was awarded by DOT. The awarded CFI application supports the EVRS recommendations through the installation of four publicly accessible Level 2 charging ports and make-ready work for an additional eight Level 2 charging ports in the future at Four Mile Run Park. The chargers will benefit disadvantaged communities and serve areas with a high concentration of multi-unit dwellings and limited off-street parking.
DOT has divided the project into two Phases - Phase 1: Pre-Construction and Phase 2: Construction. Currently only Phase 1 funds have been authorized; FHWA must authorize Phase 2 funds to be released after approval of Phase 1’s completion. Phase 1 must be completed by September 30, 2026.
The CFI Grant Program includes a 20% cost share match requirement. The DOT encourages applicants to partner with private organizations upon award to complete the proposed projects and to provide the 20% cost share match requirement. If the City is unable to identify a private partner to provide the 20% cost share, the City would contribute up to $57,120 of cost share ($8,568 for Phase 1 and $48,552 for Phase 2). The total Federal share for the City’s scope of the awarded project is $228,480, for a total project cost of $285,600.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City would contribute up to $57,120 in cost share ($8,568 for Phase 1 and $48,552 for Phase 2), consisting of 20% of the project costs to install publicly accessible Level 2 chargers at Four Mile Run Park. The grant terms indicate that private project partners can be required to provide the local match. If the City cannot secure private project partner funding, the match will be funded through the FY 2026 funding approved for the Citywide Electric Vehicle Charging Station CIP project.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Julian Gonsalves, Assistant City Manager
Amy Posner, Electric Vehicle Planner