City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2018
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of the FY 2020 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Operations Grant and required local funding match.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of the FY 2020 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Operations Grant and required local funding match.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Approve the FY 2020 TDM Operations Grant;
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for the grant and enter into any necessary agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia to accept the grant; and
3. Recognize funding for the required 20% local match will need to be included in the
FY 2020 Operating Budget.
BACKGROUND: The City has operated a TDM program since 1981 and has applied annually and received funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The annual TDM Operations Grant funds two City FTEs to manage the TDM program, oversee multiple Federal and Commonwealth grants and to support other multi-modal programs and projects across the City.
DISCUSSION: TDM is the application of policies and strategies to reduce trips made using single occupant vehicles, while still ensuring residents, workers and visitors can reach destinations within Alexandria. Using incentives, education, and marketing, TDM promotes more efficient use of the existing transportation system by influencing the time, route, or mode selected for a given trip. TDM also increases travel choices, offering the opportunity to choose how, when, and by what mode.
Recent TDM Successes include:
• Contribution to a 12.5 percent Vehicle Miles Traveled reduction between 2010 to 2016.
• Reinvigorated Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Program including reducing
non-compliance from 40 to 9 between FY 2017 and FY 2018, as well as outreach efforts and TMP summits.
• Enhanced community outreach including partnership with ACPS on TMP program and Bike to School Day.
Attachment 1 provides an overview of the TDM efforts during FY 2018 and a brief description of programs and activities in FY 2020, for which the proposed funds would be eligible.
Following discussion at its October 17 meeting, the Transportation Commission approved the recommendation for the FY 2020 grant application and the request for the 20% local match, as indicated in Attachment 2.
FISCAL IMPACT: To receive this grant, the City must provide $66,260 (20%) for the local match in the FY 2020 Operating Budget. The City is requesting $265,040 (80%) from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), for a total grant award of $331,300.
The City contribution represents a $6,025 increase from FY 2019 levels. If local match funds are not included in the FY 2020 Operating Budget, the City may withdraw, or otherwise amend, the grant application.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: FY 2018 Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Performance Report
Attachment 2: Transportation Commission Recommendation Letter
Attachment 3: Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Steve Sindiong, Transit Capital Program Manager
Thomas Hamed, TDM/TMP Coordinator, Transit Services Division