City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution Supporting WMATA’s Application to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for Metrorail Blue Line Traction Power Upgrades. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution Supporting the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Application to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for Metrorail Blue Line Traction Power Upgrades.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) supporting WMATA’s submission to the NVTA FY 2017 regional transportation funding program for Metrorail Blue Line Traction Power Upgrades.
BACKGROUND: In September, City Council approved the City’s proposed program of projects for submission to the NVTA FY 2017 regional transportation funding program. A WMATA request for $17.4 million in the FY 2017 regional transportation funding program for Blue Line Traction Power Upgrades was included on the regional list of projects for consideration at that time but did not require any City action. However, WMATA recently informed the City that the NVTA requires transit agencies to submit a formal resolution of endorsement from the transit agency’s Board of Directors as well as the Northern Virginia locality or localities, where the project is located. WMATA reports that its Board will consider a resolution as an Administrative item on December 17, 2015. Fairfax County has provided a resolution and Arlington County will consider a resolution at their December 12, 2015 Board meeting.
DISCUSSION: WMATA proposes to use $17.4 million in FY 2017 regional transportation funding to install traction power upgrades on the Blue Line in Northern Virginia. The NVTA
FY 2017 regional transportation funding program would be approximately 28% of the entire WMATA traction power upgrades project cost, which WMATA estimates is $62.1 million. The project is one portion of WMATA’s system-wide traction power initiative and is focused on the Blue Line between the Pentagon and the Franconia-Springfield Station. The project would incrementally improve the power system to increase supply capacity which will support the future use of eight-car trains. The change from six to eight car train sets increases power requirements needed for each train set as well as the load put on the traction-power system. This work will include tie breaker equipment and installation, as well as power cabling work. The project goal is to improve passenger capacity, operability and efficiency on the Blue Line.
FISCAL IMPACT: Supporting the resolution does not require any new funding commitment from the City of Alexandria. The WMATA project for Blue Line Traction Power Upgrades was already included on the List of Candidate Projects for the NVTA FY 2017 regional transportation funding program.
ATTACHMENTS: Proposed Resolution
STAFF:
Emily Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES