City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 20, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) TIGER Discretionary Grants Program for the Proposed Potomac Yard Metrorail Station.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution and grant application for United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) TIGER Discretionary Grants funding for construction of the Potomac Yard Metrorail station.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council authorizes the City Manager to:
1. Submit the grant application and the resolution to USDOT for funding in the amount of $50 million for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station; and
2. Execute all necessary documents that may be required under this program.
BACKGROUND: On April 4, 2015, the USDOT issued a Notice of Funding Availability for discretionary funds for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Competitive Grant Program Funding. Funds are to be awarded on a highly competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a region, or a metropolitan area. The FY 2015 Appropriations Act appropriated $500 million to be awarded for the program. In 2014 $600 million in TIGER grants were awarded to 72 projects nationwide out of 797 eligible grant applications totaling $9 billion (15 times the funds available).
Eligible projects for Tiger Grants include highways, bridges, transit, pedestrian, passenger and freight rail, port infrastructure, and intermodal projects. The USDOT has indicated that priority will be given to projects that use federal funds to complete an overall financing package. Projects can increase their competitiveness by demonstrating significant non-federal financial contributions. As d...
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