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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5I Support for Submittal of Application for Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Grant for BlueExpress�11VNESO 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior bake_ MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: JUNE 20, 2011 AGENDA #: 51 PREPARED BY: JANE KANSIER, BUILDING AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DIRECTOR PRESENTED BY: JANE KANSIER AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR A CONGESTION MITIGATION AIR QUALITY (CMAQ) GRANT FOR BLUEXPRESS. DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to request City Council approval of a resolution supporting the submittal of a joint grant application for CMAQ funds. The applica- tion will be filed on behalf of BlueXpress Bus Service, and will be a joint applica- tion between the Cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee. The purpose of the grant application will be to provide funding for additional coach buses and operations for the Marshall Road Transit Site. History The purpose of the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement pro- gram is to provide flexible funding to state and local governments for transporta- tion projects and programs to help meet the requirements in the Clean Air Act of 1990. The Metropolitan Council administers this program for the Twin Cities Re- gion. Funds awarded as part of the 2011 solicitation will be available for use in 2015 and 2016. In November, 2010, Scott County purchased the former Shakopee Dodge for use as a future transit station. This site will allow for indoor storage of the County bus fleet, serve as administrative offices for Scott County Transit, and serve as a fu- ture park and ride site for approximately 400 vehicles. The current building offers the advantage of an indoor waiting area and other amenities for transit riders, which are not available at our current sites. The County was able to purchase the site using Chapter 152 funds from the State of Minnesota. As part of the funding agreement, transit services are to be offered from the site beginning no later than 2015. The proposed CMAQ application will include a request to fund the purchase and operation of 3 coach buses from the Marshall Road Transit Site. We hope to use these new buses to provide some sort of service to the 494 corridor. Current Circumstances BlueXpress currently operates express service to and from Downtown Minneapo- lis. In 2009, BlueXpress was awarded $1.608 million in a CMAQ grant for the pur- chase and operation of 3 additional coach buses. These buses are intended to expand service from the new Eagle Creek Transit Station to include additional midday service and service to the University of Minnesota. The funds will be available for use in 2013 -2014. In October, 2010, the City Council approved a Transit Operations Plan for Scott County and BlueXpress. This plan identified the need for additional buses serving the Marshall Road Transit Station in 2015. Conclusion The proposed grant application is consistent with the approved Transit Operations Plan for Scott County. ISSUES: The specifics of the current CMAQ grant have not been completed at this time. The grant is due on July 18, 2011, and there will not be another City Council meet- ing before this date. The specifics of the grant will be reviewed by the Transit Re- view Board, on which Councilmember Soukup serves as the Council liaison. The larger issue is the financial impact of increased bus service. This resolution does not obligate the City to provide service beyond what we can afford based on our projected revenues. Even if the grant application is successful, the staff will continue to monitor our revenues and expenses, and the impact on our reserve balance. If revenues and reserves continue to decline, the CMAQ grant may be declined. At that time, staff will propose a plan to reduce service to a level cov- ered by the current revenue sources. FINANCIAL There is no direct financial impact to the City as a result of the CMAQ grant appli- IMPACT: cation. The approved operations plan allows us to monitor the situation and make informed decisions about future bus service for our community. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Adopt a resolution supporting the submittal of a CMAQ grant application for BlueXpress. 2. Adopt denying support of the submittal of a CMAQ grant application for Blu- eXpress. 3. Defer this item and provide staff with specific direction. RECOMMENDED The staff recommends alternative #1. This requires the following motion: MOTION: 1. A motion and second to adopt a resolution supporting the submittal of a CMAQ grant application for BlueXpress. PRlp�, U tr1 NNFiSO�� 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 RESOLUTION 11 -xxx A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE SUBMITTAL OF A CMAQ GRANT FOR BLUEXPRESS SERVICE Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, The City Council recognizes the value of providing quality, cost - effective transit services in the Prior Lake community; and WHEREAS, The City values its partnerships with the City of Shakopee, Scott County and other Scott County communities; and WHEREAS, The City's 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan identifies objectives for transit services that are addressed in part by the Unified Transit Management Plan (UTMP) and the 2010 Transit Operations Plan; and WHEREAS, The submittal of a CMAQ grant for BlueXpress service is consistent with the UTMP and the 2010 Transit Operations Plan, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The City of Prior Lake supports the submittal of a CMAQ grant for 2015 -2016. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 20TH DAY OF JUNE, 2011. YES Rej M ser M ser Erickson Erickson Hedber — Hedberg Keeney Keene Soukup Souku Frank Boyles, City Manager