Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, for a term of five years, for the implementation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grant received by the City, as part of the regional approach to transportation demand management to collaboratively develop tailored transit service enhancements aimed at addressing short-term and long-term construction mitigation measures. Funding: $10,000,000 is available in the Capital Budge of the Transportation and Public Works Department.
De
Lead Department
Transportation and Public Works Department.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $10,000,000 is available in the Transportation and Public Works Department’s Capital Budget. A fiscal note is attached.
Prior Council Action:
March 21, 2024 - Resolution No. 20240321-030, authorizing submittal of an application for the 2024 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in support of TDM programs related to commute alternatives during multiple extended infrastructure construction projects in Austin and Travis County, was approved on an 11-0 vote.
October 24, 2024 - Ordinance No. 20241024-042, amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to accept and appropriate grant funds from the United States. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $47,854,062 and amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Capital Budget (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to transfer in and appropriate $47,854,062 for Mobility Hub projects and regional mobility education, was approved on an 11-0 vote.
For More Information:
Richard Mendoza, Director, 512-974-2488; Upal Barua, Assistant Director, 512-974-7110; Michelle Marx, Transportation Officer, 503-789-5616; Gilda Powers, Quality Consultant, 512-974-7092.
Additional Backup Information:
The City and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro), along with other partners, collaborated on a grant proposal for Transportation Demand Management (TDM) improvements through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG). The proposed project was selected for a CPRG grant for up to $47,854,062 in Federal financial assistance. A portion of this funding will be spent by CapMetro, according to the terms of this ILA. CapMetro, a municipal transit agency, holds jurisdiction over City of Austin public transit system and brings history of TDM planning and implementation.
On June 24, 2024, CapMetro signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) confirming its intent to support the City of Austin’s application for a regional TDM program through the CPRG Program and committed in the grant application to collaboratively develop tailored transit service enhancements aimed at addressing short-term and long-term construction mitigation measures associated with impacted projects as part of the grant’s scoping and initiation process. The scope is expected to cover a range of measures, including stop relocation, route changes, and frequency enhancements aimed at mitigating short-term construction impacts, while also addressing long-term transportation demand and system management needs. As a result, CapMetro will lead implementation of CPRG Task 1.2. This interlocal agreement for Council’s consideration would solidify and update the terms of the MOA based on the latest information.
CapMetro will provide service enhancements to its existing bus and pickup routes. Offering convenient transit service is crucial to presenting transit as an attractive transportation choice. By increasing service frequency, the agency will reduce passenger wait times, improve schedule predictability, and induce additional passenger demand. Specifically, the service improvements will expand the non-single occupancy vehicle choices available during a time of necessity and catalyze long-term behavior change as users experience the benefits of public transit.
The budget of $10,000,000 is necessary to improve the reliability and usability of the transit system to attract and retain new transit riders, key to the project’s carbon emissions reduction strategy. The budget is reasonable to support the magnitude of service change for CapMetro to increase service frequency of this vital transit resource for Austin residents, including low-income and disadvantages communities’ residents; and shuttles/circulators to improve service provision in and around planned construction.
CapMetro service frequency improvements and transit reliability funding under the CPRG Program is estimated to cost $2,500,000 per year for a total not to exceed $10,000,000 over the four-year implementation period beginning in 2026. A breakdown per year is as follows:
2025: $0 - Planning phase only
2026: $2,500,000
2027: $2,500,000
2028: $2,500,000
2029: $2,500,000