Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

 

TO:

Thomas Markus, City Manager

FROM:

Robert Nugent, Transit Administrator

CC:

Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

DATE:

April 20, 2016

RE:

Transit Center – TIGER Grant Application

 

Staff requests the City Commission authorize submittal of a joint City of Lawrence/University of Kansas TIGER Grant application for a multimodal facility to be located in Lot 90 of the KU campus. In addition, staff is requesting the Mayor sign a letter of support and notice of local funding.  There is no prescribed format for the grant submittal, which is still being prepared, but a general overview of the proposal is provided below. 

 

Background

On March 8, 2016 City Commission authorized city staff to acquire professional outside service, to support the analysis, public involvement and preparation of a joint City of Lawrence / University of Kansas TIGER Grant application for a multimodal facility.  Since then staff worked with the University of Kansas to acquire a consulting firm to assist in the project and has been working to develop a proposal to submit on the due date of April 29, 2016.

 

To date, staff and consultants have worked with the Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on the TIGER Grant process and the environmental review process that is mandated under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  Due to the short amount of time between the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and the actual due date, USDOT requires that the environmental review process (which could take up to five months to complete) be initiated with the FTA Region VII Environmental Protection Officer. This process is currently under way and will be completed prior to the award of the grant.

 

Project Cost and Funding

On February 23, 2016 Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced $500 million would be made available for transportation projects across the country under an eighth round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program. As described this program provides a perfect opportunity to apply for a Federal grant, which if awarded, would provide 80% toward the possible construction of a multimodal facility.

 

The preliminary cost of the multimodal facility is estimated at $20 million. The TIGER Grant, if awarded, would fund 80% of the total cost of the project or $16 million. The remaining 20%, or $4 million would need to be provided through local match.

 

While the exact details have not been determined, the tentative concept is for the local match to be funded by the City and University, factoring in the cost of the land and other infrastructure improvements needed as part of the project.  A separate agreement between the City and University will be negotiated upon award of the grant and will be subject to approval by the City Commission.  Lawrence Transit has reserved funds from the dedicated 0.05% sales tax approved by the voters in 2008 in excess of $4 million that can be used for this local match.

 

Public Involvement and Public Outreach

A key element of the development of this proposal has been public involvement. Staff and consultants have held, or will be holding the following meetings:

 

·         March 8, 2016

City Commission – Project Introduction

·         March 31, 2016

University Place Neighborhood President

·         April 14, 2016

University Place Neighborhood Board

·         April 26, 2016

City Commission – Update and Approval for Submittal

·         April 27, 2016

Public Meeting at Fire Station #5

·         April 28, 2016

Lawrence Douglas County MPO (letter of support requested)

·         April 28, 2016

University Place Neighborhood Meeting

 

At the meetings to date, representatives of the University Place neighborhood have shared comments, concerns and insight into issues associated with the project which have been incorporated into the design.  For instance, concerns about opening 18th Street to through traffic were expressed.  This project does not open 18th Street to through traffic and there is no access to the facility proposed east of the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. 

 

Overall, the neighborhood has been very engaged in the process and open to discussions about moving forward with this project.  Additional input from the neighbors and the community will be received at the remaining meetings in the week leading up to the submittal date on April 29.  Public outreach will continue throughout the process, should the grant be awareded. 

 

The Proposed Facility (Renderings will be posted when available)

The facility would be in Lot 90 of the KU campus which is bounded by 18th Street on the south, Schwegler Drive on the north, Naismith Drive on the west, and Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center on the east. This facility is intended to take up less than half of the parking lot as shown in the map below. The current identified location of the facility is in the southeast section of Lot 90.

 

 

The bus transfer facility will be located on the first floor of the facility, with access from 18th Street off of Naismith Drive. Parking will be on the upper decks (with a maximum height of 65 feet and no more than 4 levels of parking) and will have access off of Schwegler Drive via Naismith Drive. Road improvements on Naismith will also be considered as part of the project to enhance traffic flow at 18th and Naismith. The Multimodal Facility will include room for 12 transit vehicles to park for transfer purposes, but no buses will be stored at this facility. This will become the transfer hub for KU on Wheels and the Lawrence Transit System. Johnson County Transit will have access to the east side of the facility for their K-10 Connector over the road coaches.

 

Other design elements include bicycle lockers, technology both for parking information and transit, and a small administrative office space. The center will be developed considered environmentally friendly design, as well as considerations for the surrounding neighborhoods and the KU Historic District.

 

Letter of Support and Notice of Local Funding

The grant application should include letters of support from the City Commission, the University of Kansas, and the MPO.  In addition to expressing support for the project, the letter from the City Commission indicates a commitment to funding the City’s share of the required $4 million local, contingent on award of the grant.     

 

Next Steps

If the grant is awarded, the City Commission will have an opportunity to formally accept or reject the grant funds.  If accepted, funding would not be available until October of 2016.  Funding must be committed by 2018. 

 

In the meantime, work will continue on the NEPA review process, traffic studies, detailed drawings, and an agreement with the University regarding funding.  Opportunities for public input and Commission approval will be sought at various points in the process through final design and construction.

 

Requested Action

Staff requests the City Commission authorize staff to submit a joint City of Lawrence/University of Kansas TIGER Grant application for a multimodal facility to be located in Lot 90 of the KU Campus.   In addition, staff requests the Mayor sign a letter of support and notice of local funding in an amount not to exceed $4 million, contingent on award of the grant.