HomeMy WebLinkAbout11359RESOLUTION NO. 11359
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PUEBLO TO APPLY FOR STATE SENATE BILL 1
FUNDING TO CONDUCT A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM AND
TRAVEL PATTERNS WITHIN THE PUEBLO REGIONAL COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo supports the strategic analysis of the current transit system
and the submittal of a grant application to the State of Colorado for Senate Bill 1 funding to conduct
this project
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
The grant application for the Strategic Analysis of the current transit system to the State of
Colorado Senate Bill 1 funding, a copy of which is attached hereto is approved. The President of
City Council is authorized to execute and deliver the Grant Application in the name of the City and
the City Clerk shall affix the seal of the City thereto and attest the same.
INTRODUCED Auaust 11. 2008
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Background Paper for Proposed
RESOLUTION
AGENDA ITEM # V
DATE: August 11, 2008
DEPARTMENT: PUEBLO TRANSIT
DANIEL E. CENTA, P.E.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PUEBLO TO APPLY FOR STATE SENATE BILL
1 FUNDING TO CONDUCT A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT TRANSIT SYSTEM
AND TRAVEL PATTERNS WITHIN THE PUEBLO REGIONAL COMMUNITY
ISSUE
Should City Council approve the submittal of an application for the Senate Bill 1 State funding to
conduct a strategic analysis of the current transit system.
RECOMMENDATION
Approval of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND
The State's Senate Bill 1 program provides funding for strategic transportation projects, and there
is a legislative requirement that at least 10% of such strategic transportation project revenues
shall be expended for transit purposes or for transit - related capital and /or planning improvements.
The Senate Bill 1 program is expected to have revenues available over the next five years, in
conjunction with the passage of Referendum C. The funding for 2007 -2010 is currently estimated
to be $39 million.
The strategic analysis of the transit system will require a Request for Proposals (RFP) and the
funding is being requested for year 2010 and 2011.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total project cost is $500,000. The state match at 80% is $400,000 and the required City
match at 20% is $100,000 to be appropriated out of the City's General Fund if the grant submittal
receives approval. This project will not be into effect until year 2010.
APPLICANT: City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit
Page 1 of 4
Strategic Transit Project Application Form
Applicant Organization: City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit
Applicant address: 350 S. Grand Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81003
Contact person: Bill Moore, MPO Administrator Phone: (719) 553 -2945
Email address: bmoore &ueblo.us FAX: (719) 553 -2950
Brenda Broyles, Transit Superintendent Phone: (719) 553 -2725
Email address: bbro, les d pueblo.us FAX: (719) 553 -2724
1. Project Title and Brief Description: (limit to 25 words)
Strategic and Logistic Analysis and planning for expanding the current transit system
including regional coverage, routes, headways, and days and service hours. Evaluate the
proposed system efficiency in its entirety and identify the resources needed to expand
into all underserved areas. This study will provide a logical plan to revamp the existing
transit system and provide new services and an expansion plan.
2. What is the total project cost? $ 500.000.00
What is the total amount of State SB 1 funding requested? $ _400.000.00
3. Type of Project:
Rolling stock: replacement _ expansion
Rail or BRT elements
Bus Maintenance Facility: replacement: _ expansion _
Bus transfer /intermodal facility:
Planning: X
Other Describe:
4. Applicant Information and Description of Transit Program:
Transit service in the Pueblo area is provided by the City of Pueblo, a Municipal
Corporation, operating as Pueblo Transit. Pueblo Transit is a public non - profit
organization established and owned by the City to operate their fixed route transit
services. Pueblo Transit uses a third party contractor to operate a complimentary ..
paratransit service known as Citi -Lift.
Pueblo Transit serves all of the City of Pueblo and a small portion of the County.
The County of Pueblo subsidizes the portion of the route outside of the City limits. The
population of the service area is approximately 104,000. It operates a network of 11
fixed- routes. Service is provided six days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Citi -Lift
provides complementary paratransit services during the same days and hours as fixed
route service. The overall transit operations consist of a fleet of sixteen (16) buses for
fixed route service and eleven (11) cutaway vans for paratransit services. Four (4) out of
the sixteen (16) buses are either non -ADA or Pre -ADA and candidates for replacement.
The current peak requirement is for 11 vehicles.
APPLICANT: City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit
Page 2 of 4
Pueblo Transit operates from a single maintenance and administration facility and
its services are oriented around a transit center in downtown Pueblo that serves as a
transfer point.
5. Project Description:
We are requesting funding for the purpose of conducting a strategic and logistical
analysis of extending the current transit system based on travel patterns within the larger
regional community. The historic system of routes is only serving the needs of current users.
The system must be expanded to meet the needs of residents in unserved and underserved
areas and among none - riders of the transit system. The ultimate goal is improving and
expanding the coverage of the current transit system to efficiently focus resources on meeting
the growing needs of the regional community including Pueblo west, the Airport Industrial
Park and the St. Charles Mesa. Part of this study and plan will determine what routing and
level of services would cause drivers to switch to transit or to accommodate potential riders
who will change modes as fuel prices continue to rise. By focusing on key routes, linking
employment sites with all the residential areas within the regional communities and optimal
plan will avoid the complex routing to maximize regional coverage and increase of all
service quality by evaluating all aspects of the system.
6. In which calendar year (s) do you desire funding for this project?
2009 $
2010 $ X
2011 $ X
2012 $
Describe the "readiness" of the project. Provide evidence of what steps have been
taken to make this project ready for implementation. What steps remain?
The goals and objectives have been discussed and if funding is awarded, the City will
move forward with its procurement process to solicit bids.
8. The proposed local match of 20% is $ 100.000 and will come from the following
source(s):
The 20% local cash match will be obtained from the City of Pueblo's General Fund.
9. Describe the commitment of your organization to maintaining the project and
sustaining the service that would be provided over the life of the project.
The City of Pueblo, the City Council and the City Manager are committed to the
betterment of public transportation and accessibility to the transit system in Pueblo. The
City has always supported public transit and it has consistently subsidized the operations
and the capital improvements of the transit system.
The information obtained from this strategic planning study will support other
studies of the feasibility of creating a Regional Transit Authority to provide additional
financial resources to expand and operate a regional system.
APPLICANT: City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit
Page 3 of 4
10. To the best of your knowledge, is this proposed project consistent with regional
priorities as expressed in the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan for your region?
Yes, within the PACOG 2035 LRTP, the need to improve the efficiency of the existing
system is identified as a first step to expanding the system to meet regional transit
demand. The transit demand within the regional communities has grown rapidly in
response to increased needs and higher fuel cost. To accurately reflect these changes a
travel survey is needed to determine the actual origins and destinations of existing
passengers and determine potential riders for a regional transit system linking major
employment centers with expanded regional development patterns between communities
in the Pueblo region.
11. What is the strategic importance of implementing this particular project?
We are applying on the basis of increasing transportation and ridership through improved
transit connections between communities, the Pueblo region and interregional commuter
patterns to adjacent counties (i.e. El Paso and Freemont.) The study will target
improvements in selected routes, attracting choice riders, expanding services and
elevating the visibility and reliability of the transit system throughout the regional
communities.
The existing transit system has significant roots in the former rail based trolley system
and does not represent the most efficient network to serve the City of Pueblo and the
surrounding areas of the region. The O -D survey and the stated preferences will allow
for creation of a regional transit system to better meet the needs of the communities in the
both the near and,long term planning horizon. The current ridership of the transit system
is just over 1 million riders per year, however previous estimates show that potential
transit demand is more than 5 million. This study will help identify ways that regional
transit service could serve a much larger portion of the potential regional transit demand.
12. Describe how you think the project increases mobility on congested portions of the
state highway system (if it does so).
Within the 2035 LRTP, the need to connect regional residential areas to employment as
identified as a higher priority. Because there is no transit service to Pueblo west, the
residents there must utilize the highly congested US Hwy 50 corridor. Expanding
regional transit service will help to minimize that congestion and the need to add more
lanes. Additionally, since there is no transit service to the Airport Industrial Park,
approximately 4,000 workers must access the site via US Hwy 50 east where congestion
is increasing. By providing transit service, to this major regional employment center,
there will be lower demand and fewer vehicles on the State highway system.
13. Indicate whether your project leverages funding from other sources and /or offers an
overmatch.
No overmatch is being provided. The City of Pueblo is committed to provide a
cash match of 20% of the total project cost.
APPLICANT: City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit
Page 4 of 4
14. Indicate the criticality of your project, referring to the guidance set forth in the
application instructions. (Respond to (a) and (b), respond to (c) through (e) if
applicable.)
This project is critical to our organization and our community in that it will provide much
needed transportation services to the public. We have submitted two applications for
projects and this is the second one in priority order with the request for paratransit vans
for expansion being the primary request.
15. Provide any other pertinent information regarding the project.
This project will provide a plan to develop a transit system that best serves the needs of
existing transit riders and expansion to provide transit services to those low /moderate income
persons in the communities who are not currently being served by the existing transit system.
At present the lack of public transportation is a barrier for many of the pueblo residents. This
funding, if granted, need to start in year 2010 in order to coordinate with the U.S. Census and
a study of travel behavior along the entire front range.
Barbara Vidmar
President City Council of Pueblo
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