City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: DECEMBER 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 Funding request for $4.5 Million in FY 2028 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Funds. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of the FY 2028 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) project funding requests.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve the attached Resolution to support the FY 2028 CMAQ/RSTP $4.5 million funding request; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary agreements.
DISCUSSION: Since 1993, the Commonwealth of Virginia has allocated CMAQ and RSTP funding to the Northern Virginia region. CMAQ funded projects must meet three eligibility requirements: 1) have a transportation focus, 2) reduce air emissions, and 3) be located in or benefit a nonattainment or maintenance area.
RSTP funds are flexible funds that may be used for a variety of regional transportation activities, including but not limited to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, transit capital projects, and transportation or transit studies.
The City of Alexandria must submit the FY 2028 CMAQ/RSTP funding request to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) in December 2021. A combined table showing CMAQ/RSTP funding for FY 2023 to FY 2027 as well as the FY 2028 proposed funding can be found in Attachment 1. The City’s funding request for FY 2028 is $4.5M and includes the following projects.
FY28 CMAQ/RSTP Proposed Program
Project Name FY 2028
Duke Street Transitway Operations (CMAQ) $3,300,000
Mt. Vernon Avenue North (CMAQ) $1,000,000
Commuter Assistance (CMAQ) $200,000
Duke Street Transitway Operations
The City anticipates operations on the Duke Street Transitway to begin around FY 2027 and will most likely require additional funding for operations (similar to the West End Transitway). The City began the planning process in early 2021 for the transitway, coordinated with some of the City’s other projects along the corridor, including transit signal priority and improvements at the intersection of Duke Street at West Taylor Run Parkway. Regardless of the outcome of the planning process, transit enhancements, including additional service, will require these additional operating funds. To date, the City has received a total of $87 million in NVTA 70% funding for design, right-of-way, construction and buses for the Duke Street Transitway project.
Proposed Funding: $3,300,000
Mt. Vernon Avenue North
The City has received approximately $1 million in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation to develop and implement designs for mobility, safety, and access improvements on Mount Vernon Avenue between Four Mile Run and East and West Glebe Road in Arlandria. Project design is expected to begin in FY 2022. Potential improvements include corridor reconfigurations, crossing enhancements, intersection geometry improvements, and traffic signal modifications. Given the complex and costly nature of some of the potential improvements, the City anticipates installing some intersection treatments using temporary or interim materials. Additional funding will be needed to construct the improvements using permanent materials. Staff recommend requesting an additional $1 million in grant funding in FY 2028 to fully construct the project.
Proposed Funding: $1,000,000
Commuter Assistance
The City currently operates the GO Alex Mobile Store to provide commuter outreach services at different locations across the City, including Metro Stations. This service provides customers with information about transportation options within and around the City. It also provides a location to purchase various transit fares. The City anticipates continuing some form of mobile commuter outreach in FY 2028 and proposes this funding to continue to support that effort. This service is currently funded through CMAQ.
Proposed Funding: $200,000
The Transportation Commission reviewed these recommendations at its meeting on November 17, 2021. Following discussion, the Transportation Commission approved the recommendation for the FY 2028 funding request, as indicated in Attachment 2.
FISCAL IMPACT: Since the Commonwealth of Virginia provides the local match for both RSTP and CMAQ funds, there will be no fiscal impact to the City from accepting these funds.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: FY 2023 to FY 2027 CMAQ/RSTP Approved and FY 2028 Proposed Funding
Attachment 2: Transportation Commission Endorsement Letter
Attachment 3: Resolution
Attachment 4: Presentation
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Tarrence Moore, Division Chief, Strategic Management Services