To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Bryan Weimer, PWLF, Director, Public Works & Development
Prepared By:
prepared
James Katzer, Transportation Division Manager, Public Works & Development
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presenter
Presenter: James Katzer, Transportation Division Manager, Public Works & Development
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Subject:
title
C22-32 Countywide Transit ad Micromobility Study - Federal Transit Administration Certificate and Assurances
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this item is to request signature authority by the Public Works and Development Director on Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Certifications and Assurances form as it relates to performing the Countywide Transit and Micromobility study with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
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Background and Discussion: With the support of five local agencies and the Denver South TMA, the County submitted a project for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) sub-regional Call #2 on June 24 to complete a Countywide Transit and Micro-mobility Study in the urban area of Arapahoe County.
The County was successful in obtaining the DRCOG grant in the amount of the amount of $1.454 million. The County is joined by these funding partners to provide the 11% local match; Aurora, Centennial, Englewood, Littleton and Denver South Transportation Management Association (TMA). Greenwood Village was part of the funding partners, but the City Council of Greenwood Village decided to not approve the IGA to financially support the effort. The local IGAs have all been executed.
The IGA with CDOT details the federal funding portion of the grant. The funding for project comes from several funding sources which allows for the lower match requirement of eleven percent. The federal funding amount of $1,295,000 is locally matched by the funding partners in the amount of $159,000. The local match has been determined and IGAs with each partner has been executed.
The urban area of Arapahoe County has seen significant development over the last 15 years and the development is projected to continue. This development has increased the need for effective and efficient transit and micromobility choices. The study will help the County implement 2 Goals that were defined in the 2040 Transportation Master Plan; Promote an Efficient and Balanced Transportation System and Promote Alternative Transportation Solutions.
The Countywide Transit and Micromobility study will focus on the urban area within Arapahoe County. The study will define existing conditions of transit service, define the need for transit and micro-mobility needs, determine the gap between service and needs, determine future transit needs, and develop a plan to meet these needs in the future. The study will focus on origin /destination trips and the project will be coordinating with adjacent jurisdictions. The project will also develop a list of potential pilot projects to implement. This study will look to implement at least one of these pilot projects.
This project will build upon the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Reimagine effort and the recently completed Transportation Master Plans completed by Arapahoe County and the City of Centennial. The project will also coincide with the City of Aurora's update to their transportation master plan. This study will build upon recent studies that were completed by Denver South along the RTD Light Rail (LRT) that considered the first and last mile solutions.
PWD created a project management team comprised of an employee from each of the funding partners. The team drafted a RFP which was advertised in the month of June. The solicitation resulted in two proposals being submitted. After the evaluation was completed by the project management team, Fehr and Peers was selected as the success consultant. The team is currently working with Fehrs and Peers in finalizing the scope and fee.
The Transportation Division has worked for over a year to complete the IGA for the funding and was delayed to various reasons with the Department of Transit and Rail at CDOT. The project funding had to be flexed from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) match funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to FTA in order to proactively address compliance requirements. It took months for CDOT to receive the flexed funds back from FTA. As a result of this process, the County missed the DRCOG deadline for the second time and received a second-year delay.
CDOT recently received the money from FHWA and is now working with the County to award the IGA. As part of the IGA award process the County has been asked to sign the FTA Certifications and Assurances. The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed the request and has advised PWD on the portions of the form that apply to the County. Staff presented this item to the BOCC in a drop-in study session on August 5, 2024. During the meeting, it was determined that Category 1 is the only category that applies to the County for the Countywide Transit and Micromobility study. The BOCC gave support to bring the signature authority request to the BOCC as a consent agenda item on August 20, 2024.
Fiscal Impact: There is not a fiscal impact to this item unless the County does not sign the document.
Alternatives: The County could choose to not sign the Certifications and Assurances form which will result in the County not being able to sign the CDOT funding IGA resulting in ending the project.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☒Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the BOCC grant authority to the PWD Director through a resolution.
Concurrence: The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed this board summary report and help guide the recommendation.
Resolution: Attach a copy of the draft resolution.