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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/17/2012 - RESOLUTION 2012-056 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUDATE: July 17, 2012 STAFF: Kurt Ravenschlag Karl Gannon AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 28 SUBJECT Resolution 2012-056 Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Cities of Fort Collins and Loveland, the Town of Berthoud and Larimer County for the Funding of the Regional Study Known as the North Front Range Transit Vision. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2011, the City of Fort Collins was awarded funding from a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 5304 Grant to fund a portion of the regional study known as the North Front Range Transit Vision. This Resolution authorizes the Mayor to execute an intergovernmental agreement between CDOT, the Cities of Fort Collins and Loveland, the Town of Berthoud and Larimer County. The North Front Range Transit Vision is examining the feasibility of consolidation of existing transit services in Colorado’s North Front Range area. The goal of the project is to provide cost-effective and efficient transit services in our broader service area, which is currently served by three different entities: Transfort, City of Loveland Transit (COLT), and Berthoud Area Transportation System (BATS); in addition, the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization operates a variety of vanpooling services (called VanGO) in addition to carpooling and other transportation services. Potential benefits of consolidation include: economies of scale/increased efficiency, equalization of resources and knowledge, standardized regional service, increased level of service and increased ridership, and reduced competition for federal funding. This Study will take place between now and early 2013, and will ultimately provide a recommendation based on Steering Committee and other stakeholder direction. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The Cities of Fort Collins and Loveland, the Town of Berthoud, Larimer County, and the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) are conducting a study to explore the feasibility of a regional decision- making and funding structure for regional transit services. Following the 2000 US Census, Fort Collins became part of a Transportation Management Area (TMA) with a population of over 200,000 residents. The current Governor at that time appointed the City of Fort Collins as the designated recipient for federal funds within the TMA. The original TMA included LaPorte, an unincorporated community north of Fort Collins, as well as Loveland and Berthoud to the south. Following the 2010 Census, the TMA boundary was adjusted to include portions of Windsor, Timnath, and Johnstown. There are three separate transit operations within the current TMA boundaries. These operations include: • City of Fort Collins, branded as Transfort; • City of Loveland, branded as COLT (City of Loveland Transit); • Town of Berthoud, branded as Berthoud Area Transit Service (BATS) The 2009 process to update the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan (TSOP) was a collaborative effort between Fort Collins, Loveland and the Poudre School District. While the 2009 TSOP Update included separate plans to ease the adoption process, considerable effort went into identifying coordination opportunities and future potential for a regional transit service provider. As a part of the TSOP update, a Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) was organized. The eight-member FAC consisted of residents from Fort Collins and Loveland, and represented a broad range of public and private interests. The FAC was tasked with making a recommendation to the governing Councils with regard to funding mechanisms to support the implementation of the TSOP. While the committee recommended a combination of funding strategies, it also recommended a subsequent study to explore the feasibility of the formation of a regional transit provider to serve as the administration, organization, and consolidation of transit operations for Fort Collins and Loveland. In 2011, the Cities of Fort Collins and Loveland, the Town of Berthoud, Larimer County, and the North Front Range MPO agreed to pursue the feasibility study. In early 2012, a contract was awarded to consultant Steer Davies Gleave to manage the North Front Range Transit Vision feasibility study. July 17, 2012 -2- ITEM 28 Purpose of This Project The purpose of the North Front Range Transit Vision project is to help develop options and a recommendation for a consolidated regional transit governance and decision-making model for North Front Range communities of Berthoud, Fort Collins, Larimer County, and Loveland, as well as a related funding and operational structure. The project is to include a public outreach process focused on stakeholders, transit users, and the general public to develop a recommendation on a path forward for potential transit service consolidation in Larimer County with improved service and cost-effectiveness. The project will address: • Transit service area boundaries of a potential regional service entity, as well as the process to expand the service area in the future. • A process to define and maintain a core of transit services for participating communities. • A range of governance structure options, identifying the benefits and limitations of each, along with a final recommendation on a governance structure for the region. • Analysis of the potential of the recommended structure to support the development of the transit network into an overall regional transportation plan. • The identification of funding issues and approaches for a successful transition into a consolidated regional transit system along with recommended sustainable funding approaches for the long-term. Potential Outcomes/Benefits of the Study There are several potential outcomes or benefits of consolidated transit service in the area that will be evaluated as part of this Study, including: • Economies of scale/increased efficiency: Currently, there are eight jurisdictions in the Transportation Management Area (TMA). One provider in the service area could potentially be more efficient with limited funding by reducing administrative and operating costs and redundant capital infrastructure costs. • Equalization of resources and knowledge: Consolidation of services could potentially make resources and transit industry knowledge and expertise available and consistent to all jurisdictions in the TMA. • Standardized service: A consolidated system could potentially standardize operating and administrative policies and procedures, fare structures, and overall delivery of service throughout the TMA. • Increased levels of service: A consolidated system could potentially better meet local and regional travel patterns, bridge gaps in current services, and provide a centralized system for travel planning, paratransit scheduling, and dispatching. • Increased ridership: A consolidated service’s major focus is the potential for increasing ridership throughout the TMA, reducing reliance on the single-occupant auto and providing more travel options for local citizens. FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS The total project cost is $175,000 to be funded as follows: FTA 5307 (63%) $110,000 CDOT 5304 (17%) $ 30,000 Local Match: City of Fort Collins General Fund (9.4%) $ 16,500 City of Loveland (4.3%) $ 7,500 Town of Berthoud (0.6%) $ 1,000 Larimer County (5.7%) $ 10,000 Previous Council actions (2010 BFO) appropriated the total funds. This Resolution is requesting execution of the intergovernmental agreement between the City of Fort Collins and CDOT. July 17, 2012 -3- ITEM 28 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Transportation is ranked second as the highest Greenhouse Gas emission sources at both a state and local level, proving that transportation concerns do not end at local community boundaries, but is rather a regional, state and national dilemma (Final Colorado Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reference Case Projections 1990-2020, 2007)(Fort Collins Climate Action Plan, 2008). At the Federal level, the FTA, acknowledges that “transportation is uniquely positioned to provide the United States with environmental benefits and energy savings” (FTA). This Study is intended to assess the feasibility of a regional transit model in terms of: increased efficiency; consistency between regional trips; increasing regional mobility to residents of all abilities; reducing the necessity to use a single occupant vehicle for regional trips; and convenient access to regional employment, medical services, and shopping destinations. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION This item was not brought before the Transportation Board. This Study was recommended in the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan (TSOP), which was approved in 2009. The Transportation Board recommended approval of the TSOP and it was ultimately approved by City Council in August 2009. The Transportation Board and Economic Advisory Commission will be involved throughout the development of this plan and will be asked to advise City Council on adoption of the final document. RESOLUTION 2012-056 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE CITIES OF FORT COLLINS AND LOVELAND, THE TOWN OF BERTHOUD, AND LARIMER COUNTY FOR THE FUNDING OF THE REGIONAL STUDY KNOWN AS THE NORTH FRONT RANGE TRANSIT VISION WHEREAS, in 2011, the City was awarded funding from a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 5304 Grant to fund a portion of the regional study known as the North Front Range Transit Vision (the "Project") which is a project examining the feasibility of consolidation of existing transit services in Colorado's North Front Range service area; and WHEREAS, the goal of the Project is to provide cost effective and efficient transit services in a broader North Front Range service area which is currently served by Transfort, the City of Loveland Transit and the Berthoud Area Transportation System in addition to various van pooling services operated by the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization; and WHEREAS, the potential benefits of consolidation would include economies of scale, equalization of resources and knowledge, standardized regional service, increased level of service, increased ridership and reduced competition for federal funding; and WHEREAS, the total Project cost is $175,000, of which $110,000 is to be funded by Federal Transit Administration 5307 funding from CDOT, $30,000 is to be funded by Federal Transit Administration 5304 funding, $16,500 is to be funded by the City's matching funds, $7,500 is to be funded by the City of Loveland's matching funds, $1,000 is to be funded by the Town of Berthoud's matching funds and $10,000 is to be funded by the County of Larimer's matching funds; and WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City that an intergovernmental agreement between CDOT, the cities of Fort Collins and Loveland, the Town of Berthoud, and Larimer County be executed for the purpose of providing funding for the Project, and a copy of that agreement is on file with the office of the City Clerk (the "Agreement"). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute the Agreement with such additional terms and conditions as the City Manager, in consultation with the City Attorney, determines to be necessary and appropriate to protect the interests of the City or effectuate the purpose of this Ordinance, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 17th day of July, A.D. 2012. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk