City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: ADRIANA CASTANEDA, DIRECTOR, TRANSPORATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution for a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for the Mid-Year FY 2024 Application Cycle for the Transportation Ridership Incentive Program. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
ISSUE: Should the City submit the grant application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for the mid-year FY 2024 application cycle for the Transportation Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP)?
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1) Approve a Resolution (Attachment 1) supporting the TRIP application for up to $544,000 for passenger amenities through the Transit Ridership Incentive Program, and commit any local funds required; and
2) Authorize the City Manager to apply for the TRIP grant and enter into any agreements with DRPT to accept and implement the grants.
BACKGROUND: The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation administers the TRIP program, which provides funding to transit agencies and governing bodies for the purpose of creating more accessible, safe, and regionally significant transit networks. TRIP originally funded two project categories: Zero and Reduced Fare, and Regional Connectivity and the City was awarded funding under the Zero and Reduced Fare category.
On September 2023 the Virginia General Assembly approved HB 2338/SB 1326 identifying two new eligible project categories: TRIP Public Safety and TRIP Passenger Amenities. In response to this legislative update, as well as funding availability, DRPT announced FY24 mid-cycle applications on September 25 for submission through October 24 for all four TRIP project categories.
TRIP funding is awarded based on the following factors: impact on ridership, impact on accessibility, impact on customer experience, and project readiness and scope. Improvements to existing bus stops and other passenger facilities have the highest attainable points out of all the project choices for passenger amenities.
DISCUSSION: The City requests authority to apply for the new category of Passenger Amenities to provide shelters, benches, and real-time signage at the planned transit center in the West End development until a permanent structure is built. Currently, this is a high ridership location and key transfer point with more than 500 boardings per day.
The City was awarded nearly $13 million of SMART SCALE funding for the transit center; however, construction funding will not be available until FY26 and construction will likely not be complete until 2028. The developer is planning to complete the infrastructure at the Transit Center site in 2024 and bus operations are to begin there as soon as possible thereafter. This funding would allow for proper amenities at a major transfer facility serving multiple local bus routes and two future bus rapid transit corridors until a permanent structure is constructed.
Once the SMART SCALE project is complete, the 12 shelters (two for each bus bay) and real-time signage funded through this grant will be relocated to high priority locations based on ridership, bus frequency, and equity considerations. The standard City shelters being proposed for this purpose are designed to be moveable.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total project capital cost is estimated at up to $800,000. DRPT will fund up to 68% of costs for projects under $3 million, or $544,000. The City will therefore need a match of $256,000 in FY25 if fully funded, which would be programed into the budget with NVTA 30% or other local funds, such as the City’s GoAlex Fund, which will have additional funding from new development as a result of the recent TMP Policy approved by Council in May 2023.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Transportation Commission Endorsement
Attachment 3: Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Tarrence Moorer, Assistant Director, Strategic Management Services, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Jennifer Monaco, Transit Program Manager, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Phillipe Simon, Grants Coordinator, Strategic Management Services, T&ES