HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9111•
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 8, 2009
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Page I of 2
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0 ffA SUBJECT: Update on Local Rail Planning and Design
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The purpose of this report is to provide information on the status of planning and design work f]
a proposed local rail, • modern streetcar, system to complement the regional rail system.
In December 2008, the Modern Streetcar Study Committee recommended to the City Council
next steps for implementation • a local rail system that would connect the regional rail systerr
and Downtown with up to six urban villages. One of the first steps recommended is to hire a
consultant to conduct additional planning work and to prepare the schematic design of the
streetcar alignments.
In August 2008, the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) allocated $1.6 million in Regional Toll
Revenue (RTR) funds for the modern streetcar project. Due to a State Attorney General ruling
that RTR funds must be spent on projects within the generating Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) district, the allocated RTR funds are no longer available. In July 2009,
the RTC allocated $1.6 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement
Program federal funds to replace the RTR funds for the streetcar project. The federal funds
require the City to enter into a funding agreement with TxDOT.
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) has committed to provide one-half of the
required $400,000 local match for a total of $2.0 million for planning and design work. The T
Board of Directors allocated $150,000 in March 2009 and has an action item on their September
17 agenda to allocate the remaining $50,000 in matching funds. The City Council approved the
use of $200,000 from 2004 Urban Development bond funds for the project in April 2009 (M&C G-
16536). The City and The T would enter into an agreement to provide funding for the local match
and to address project management duties.
Phase One
Task 1 - Design and operational assumptions
Task 2, Analysis of economic impacts
Task 3, Estimated ridership
Phase Two
Task 4- Financialland business planning
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9111
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 8, 2009
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: Update on Local Rail Planning and Design
At the conclusion of Phase Two, staff would seek endorsement from the City Council and
The T Board of Directors on a selected starter alignment for Phase Three.
Phase Three
Task 5: Preliminary engineering and environmental assessment
All Phases
Task 6: Public Involvement
Phases One and Two • the project should take approximately six months. Phase Three is
expected to begin immediately after completion of Phase Two and should take an additional three
to six months depending on the alignment selected. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
(DBE) participation goal is 20 percent for the consultant services.
The September 15 City Council agenda will contain an M&C that would authorize the following
activities:
• Work with The T to execute an inter-local agreement regarding local match and project
management duties.
• Work with TxDOT to execute a funding agreement and remit payment for TxDOT's
administrative fees, estimated to be eight percent of project costs.
• Work with a stakeholder committee to select the consultant team.
• Request City Council authorization to execute a professional services agreement with the
selected consultant team.
Staff expects the consultant work to begin in November 2009 and to conclude by fall 2010.
Should you have any questions, please contact Susan Alanis, Director of Planning and
Development, at 817-392-8180.
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"e A, is r, P.E.
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH. TEXAS