City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2015
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 FY2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 CMAQ and RSTP funding request to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) by December 16, 2015. In prior years, City Council has approved CMAQ and RSTP projects from FY 2017 to FY 2021. These projects which are listed in Attachment 1 are not proposed to change. The Transportation Commission reviewed these FY 2022 recommendations at its meeting of November 18, 2015. After a brief discussion, the Transportation Commission unanimously approved the recommendation for the FY 2022 funding request, as shown in Attachment 2.
The following is a description of the FY 2022 proposed transportation projects, totaling $4,000,000:
New Electronic Payments Program
The region will be transitioning to a new transit payment method designed to provide a state of the art system for public transit customers that enables them to use chip-enabled fare media such as credit cards, government ID cards, new Smartwave media, and mobile phones. This program will be utilized on DASH, Metroway, Metrorail and Metrobus. RSTP funds will be used to pay for acquiring the hardware and software required for DASH to implement the program. Proposed funding: $1,000,000
Transportation Demand Management Advancement
The primary goal of the City’s Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program is to reduce the number of single person occupied vehicles 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. In 2011, the City completed a Long Range TDM Plan, outlining goals and strategies to enhance its TDM program. The plan is currently being updated to include a six-year horizon and performance measures to provide more specific strategies and recommendations. 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: $650,000
Bicycle Sharing Initiative
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 in the coming 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: $400,000
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: $450,000
Bus Shelters
Staff expects that some of the bus shelters erected in the 1990’s and previously by the City will require replacement by 2021. The City will also use these funds to erect bus shelters and benches at new locations where current or expected ridership warrants the installation of a bus shelter. Proposed funding: $500,000
Intelligent Transportation Systems Integration and Broadband Initiative
The project consists of designing a smart transportation network for the City. Phase I of the project is complete, which involved the installation of 11 traffic cameras, a control center, and the installation of fiber optic cable and conduit to cover 30 percent of the network area. These funds will go toward program expansion to all of the city’s intersections, and allow for facilities coordination with the Alexandria Fire Department and Police Department. Much of this work will focus on designing and constructing a broadband communications network, installing traffic cameras and other field devices such has weather stations, flood monitoring equipment, and pavement temperature sensors. Proposed funding: $1,000,000
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 - FY2017-2022 CMAQ RSTP Proposed Program
Attachment 2 - Transportation Commission Recommendation Letter
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Acting Director, OMB
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES