City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2021
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 a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for the FY 2022 Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP). [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Should the City seek grant funding from the state to support free fares for DASH in
FY 2022 through FY 2025?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Adopt the attached resolution supporting a transportation project application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation;
(2) Approve the submission of up to $8 million in a TRIP grant application; and
(3) Authorize the City Manager to apply for this State Aid Grant and enter into any necessary agreements with the Commonwealth of Virginia to accept this grant.
BACKGROUND: In 2020, the General Assembly passed HB 1414, the Transportation Omnibus, which among other provisions, created the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP). TRIP is a new statewide grant program that provides funding to transit agencies to improve the regional connectivity of urban areas and increase statewide ridership by supporting the deployment of zero and subsidized fare programs. For FY22, the General Assembly dedicated $20M to TRIP projects, including $12.5M allocated to zero and subsidized fare programs. The TRIP Zero-Fare and Low-Income Programs aim to increase ridership, accessibility, and equity within the transit system. Applicants may propose providing subsidized or entirely free passes to low-income populations, eliminating fares on high-capacity corridors, or deploying an entirely zero-fare system. DASH's FY 2022 budget reflects City Council's funding decision to...
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