City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support an Amended Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for FY 2020 State Aid Grant Programs.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution (Attachment 1) to Support an amended Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for FY 2020 State Aid Grant Programs.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Approve the submission of a grant application for up to $5 million to extend Metroway; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to apply for State Aid Grants through the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and enter into any necessary agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia and/or NVTC to accept any of these grants.
BACKGROUND: On January 22, 2019, City Council received a report and authorized staff (Resolution 2864) to submit up to $85 million in a package of state aid grants through the NVTC to DRPT. Subsequently, DRPT requested the City to increase the grant amount for the Metroway Extension to $5 million from the originally planned $1 million. This will make the total request to DRPT by the City approximately $88 million.
DISCUSSION: Except for the amount requested, the grant application for FY 2020 Capital Assistance State Aid will be unchanged:
Metroway Extension ($5 million): As part of the Amazon HQ2 announcement, the State committed $5 million to extend the Crystal City/Potomac Yard Metroway on Richmond Highway from East Glebe Road to Evans Lane. The City was initially requested to apply for
$1 million to initiate design. The revised $5 million application will be for both design and construction, although construction must be coordinated with development in North Potomac Yard and is not expected to occur until approximately 2028, unless the developer’s plans are accelerated. State Aid Transit Capital Assistance grants require a 50 percent match (of which 4% is a required local match and would come from current committed funds for this project). The City will use the current project funding as a match toward the Transit Capital Assistance Grant. This grant would provide the City with 100% of the design cost ($1 million) to advance design to 30% plans. If the total project cost exceeds the state-committed funding, the City will need identify additional funding (including potential developer contributions) to complete construction.
FISCAL IMPACT: If approved by DRPT, funds would require formal adoption by the Commonwealth Transportation Board and incorporation into the state’s Six Year Program in spring 2019. Funds would be available on or after July 1, 2019 and the City will work with the State to ensure funds obligated in FY 2020 remain available until the project can be constructed.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES