Memorandum

Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (L-DC MPO)

TO:	David L. Corliss, Lawrence City Manager Craig Weinaug, Douglas County Administrator
FROM:	Todd Girdler, L-DC MPO Senior Transportation Planner
CC: Date:   RE:	Scott McCullough, L-DC MPO Secretary L-DC MPO Policy Board Members L-DC MPO Technical Advisory Committee Members  October 7, 2011 Competitive Consolidated Planning Grant (CPG) Award from KDOT

On July 29, 2011 the MPO submitted three applications to KDOT for Competitive CPG funding to complete three special studies in 2012-2013. Those applications were reviewed by KDOT and on September 30^th the MPO received the attached letter informing us that we have been awarded federal funds as requested for all three studies. Those studies are described below and are now being programmed in the 2012 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) that is scheduled for approval by the MPO on October 20^th.

• Commuter Park & Ride Study – this study would involve looking at possible locations to plan commuter park and ride lots to serve the needs of Douglas County residents who work in Topeka and Metro Kansas City. It could also serve shuttle bus needs for special event days in Lawrence. It would identify areas where carpool operations could be based and carpooling could be encouraged. Coordination with commuter bus services and local transit services could also be studied. Estimated Total Cost $50,000-60,000 with Estimated Local Match $10,000-12,000
• Fixed Route Transit and Pedestrian Accessibility Study – this study would look at obstacles that transit riders face in accessing the fixed route system and identify places where improvements to the pedestrian environment could be made to improve and/or enable people to access fixed route services. Issues with streets and sidewalks that now prevent people from accessing the fixed route system and forces them to rely on paratransit would be studied. Possible locations for bus turnouts that could make the bus boarding and exiting process more convenient for transit riders and more efficient for traffic operations could also be studied. Estimated Total Cost $30,000-40,000 with Estimated Local Match $6,000-8,000
• Countywide Bikeway System Plan – this project would expand the existing bikeway system planning efforts and the Bikeway System Map to cover all of Douglas County. The MPO will work with the TAC and the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) on this project. This project will look at on-road and off-road bikeways, and possible bikeway connections from Douglas County to other area including Metro Kansas City and the Topeka Area. Estimated Total Cost $80,000-100,000 Estimated Local Match $16,000-20,000

This package of special studies will be labeled Multimodal Projects for grant administration purposes. These studies will be funded with $160,000 of federal CPG funds and a $40,000 local match composed of funding contained in the approved 2012 budget for the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning & Development Services Department and other local sources. Funding details for these studies will be contained in the 2012 UPWP and the contracts negotiated with the consultants hired to conduct these studies. The MPO staff expects to have the RFP process for these studies underway during the 1^st Quarter of 2012 and to have the selected consultants under contract by the end of the 2^nd Quarter.

If you have any questions about this matter please contact Todd Girdler at (785) 832-3155 or by email at tgirdler@lawrenceks.org.