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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/21/2012 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 008, 2012, APPROPRDATE: February 21, 2012 STAFF: Helen Migchelbrink Kurt Ravenschlag AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 8 SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 008, 2012, Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Capital Projects Fund, Mason Corridor Project for the MAX Bus Rapid Transit Project. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2009, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved Small Starts funding to construct the MAX Bus Rapid Transit Project. Previous Council actions appropriated $54,622,000 of FTA funds, and $17,366,772 of funding designated for local match. This Ordinance, unanimously adopted on First Reading on February 7, 2012, appropriates the remaining identified FTA funds of $14,845,076, to achieve the total $86,833,848 project cost. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. ATTACHMENTS 1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary - February 7, 2012 (w/o attachments) COPY COPY COPY COPY ATTACHMENT 1 DATE: February 7, 2012 STAFF: Helen Migchelbrink Kurt Ravenschlag AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 16 SUBJECT Items Relating to the Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project. A. Resolution 2012-005 Authorizing the Execution of a Project Construction Grant Agreement between the City and the Federal Transit Administration for the Construction of the Mason Corridor (MAX) Bus Rapid Transit Project. B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 008, 2012, Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue in the Capital Projects Fund, Mason Corridor Project for the MAX Bus Rapid Transit Project. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2009, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved Small Starts funding to construct the MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project. Previous Council actions appropriated $54,622,000 of FTA funds, and $17,366,772 of funding designated for local match. This Ordinance appropriates the remaining identified FTA funds of $14,845,076, to achieve the total $86,833,848 project cost. This Resolution authorizes the execution of the final contract for the Project Construction Grant Agreement with the FTA. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The MAX Bus Rapid Transit Project is a north-south bus system located in the central area of Fort Collins. The Project extends from the Downtown Transit Center at Maple Street to approximately 1/4 mile south of Harmony Road, with a total length of approximately five miles. The BRT system is proposed within an exclusive bus-only guideway for 2.8 miles, with the remaining 2.2 miles intermixed with street traffic on portions of existing McClelland Drive and North Mason Street. Along the entire length of the corridor, the BRT system runs parallel to the existing Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks. The BRT system is just west of, and parallel to, College Avenue (US 287). Within the BRT travel-way, there will be two Transit Centers and twelve stations/stops, including six park and ride locations. The Project includes improvements to the existing Downtown Transit Center (the northern terminus for the BRT) and the construction of the new South Transit Center (the southern terminus for the BRT). Lastly, the Project includes expansion of the existing Transfort Maintenance Facility to accommodate six new exclusive BRT buses. The implementation of the MAX BRT is an essential step to achieving the Transfort transit system vision. Removing bus traffic from the highly congested College Avenue corridor and creating an exclusive guideway will provide the backbone for the future transit system. The MAX BRT will provide the essential infrastructure to redesign the transit system to improve effectiveness. Project Schedule: FTA Design Review: January 2012 Release Bid: February 2012 Begin Construction: Spring 2012 Begin Revenue Operations: Spring 2014 FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS This Project Construction Grant Agreement between the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the City of Fort Collins is for construction and acquisition of the Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit (MAX) Project. The Grant provides for 80% of the funding from FTA, and 20% from Local Match: 80% FTA $69,467,076 20% Local Match $17,366,772 Total Project $86,833,848 COPY COPY COPY COPY February 7, 2012 -2- ITEM 16 Previous Council actions appropriated $54,622,000 of FTA funds, and $17,366,772 of Local Match. This Ordinance appropriates the remaining identified FTA funds of $14,845,076, to achieve the total $86,833,848 project cost. The Project Construction Grant Agreement is expected to be finalized in May 2012. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The construction of the MAX system was included in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment for the Mason Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project. On September 9, 2008, the Federal Transit Administration declared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) would result from the construction and operation of the MAX Bus Rapid Transit Project. On December 21, 2010, the FTA affirmed that the 2008 EA and 2008 FONSI are valid, and the changes in final design documented in the 2010 Environmental Re-Evaluation serve to amend the 2008 EA and 2008 FONSI. The Environmental Assessment analyzed impacts on the following categories: Land Use and Zoning Wildlife/Ecological Vegetation Social Conditions Threatened and Endangered Species Noxious Weeds Economic Conditions Visual Quality Construction Environmental Justice Cultural Resources Transportation Right-of-way Hazardous Materials Air Quality Parks and Recreation Resources Noise and Vibration Farmland Water Resources and Water Quality Public Safety and Security Wetlands Cumulative Impacts Flooding and Floodplain Management For more detailed information concerning the environmental impacts and mitigation measures, please refer to the Mason Corridor Environmental Assessment located at: www.fcgov.com/mason/environment.php. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and the Ordinance on First Reading. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION On September 20, 2000, the Transportation Board unanimously voted to approve the Mason Street Corridor Master Plan, which included plans for the purchase of BRT buses and construction of the MAX transit route. Since 2000, staff has regularly updated the Transportation Board regarding the progress of the Mason Corridor, most recently on May 18, 2011. PUBLIC OUTREACH Significant public outreach has been conducted since 1998 for the Mason Corridor project. The most recent public outreach event was an open house held November 17, 2011. Information related to the scope, budget, alignment, and two-way conversion of Mason Street were presented. ATTACHMENTS 1. Project location map MAX Bus Rapid Transit 2 Project Construction Grant Agreement between Federal Transit Administration and City of Fort Collins 3 Transportation Board minutes, September 20, 2000 4 Transportation Board minutes, May 18, 2011 5. Powerpoint presentation ORDINANCE NO. 008, 2012 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, MASON CORRIDOR PROJECT FOR THE MAX BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT WHEREAS, the MAX Bus Rapid Transit project (“MAX”) is a five-mile, north-south byway extending from Cherry Street to approximately one quarter mile south of Harmony Road; and WHEREAS, the City was awarded a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (“FTA”) for the MAX project (the “Grant”); and WHEREAS, MAX includes six park-n-ride locations, twelve stations/stops, and two transit centers; and WHEREAS, the MAX project also includes improvements to the existing Downtown Transit Center, construction of the new South Transit Center, and expansion of the existing Transfort maintenance facility to accommodate six new BRT buses; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution 2012-005 authorizing the Mayor to sign the Project Construction Grant Agreement between the City and the FTA for the construction of the MAX project; and WHEREAS, the total construction cost for the MAX project is $86,833,848; and WHEREAS, the Grant provides that 80% of the MAX project funding will come from the FTA and 20% will come from local matching funds; and WHEREAS, this Ordinance appropriates the remaining FTA funds of $14,845,076 resulting in the total appropriated amount of $86,833,848 for the MAX project; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year, provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations, in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the appropriation of the Grant funds will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during the fiscal year. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated revenue in the Capital Projects Fund the sum of FOURTEEN MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND SEVENTY- SIX DOLLARS ($14,845,076) for expenditure in the Capital Projects Fund, Mason Corridor Project for the MAX Bus Rapid Transit Project. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 7th day of February, A.D. 2012, and to be presented for final passage on the 21st day of February, A.D. 2012. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 21st day of February, A.D. 2012. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk