sr-042809-1kC~®
City Council Report
City of
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: April 28, 2009
Agenda Item: ~ ~~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager for Community and
Government Relations
Subject: Request to Authorize the City Manager to Submit Funding Applications for
Transportation/Transit Projects Under the Upcoming Reauthorization of
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient. Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and to Direct Staff to Prepare Mayoral
Letters of Support
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to submit. funding
applications for three proposed projects and prepare Mayoral letters of support for these
projects submitted pursuant to the reauthorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.
Executive Summary
Congress is going to be reauthorizing federal highway and transit funding legislation
and there is now an opportunity. to submit projects for consideration. City staff is
proposing to submit three project applications. The first project is to purchase 20
alternative fuel buses to replace diesel buses. The second project is to prepare an
alternatives analysis for a Downtown electric streetcar. The third is to construct a
pedestrian gateway plaza with transit linkages at the Exposition Light Rail Station in
Downtown. Submitting an application is not a guarantee of any funding.
Background
SAFETEA-LU was adopted in 2005 and sets priorities for the allocation of highway and
transit funding for a five year period. Congress is currently in the process of enacting a
new bill as the current Act expires on September 30, 2009. It is anticipated that this
reauthorization will cover a 4 to 6 year period.
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Discussion
Staff has prepared three applications to submit as part of the reauthorization. process.
Applicants are required to provide a 20% local match.
The first request is for $14,551,220 to purchase 20 clean fuel replacement buses for the
Big Blue Bus. The application proposes retiring 20 diesel vehicles for a like amount of
new alternative fueled buses. The vehicles are twelve years old and meet federal
replacement requirements. The total project cost is $17,896,328. Santa Monica's Big
Blue Bus' fleet is comprised of 197 alternative fueled buses. The Big Blue Bus operates
19 routes which serve approximately 21 million riders annually.
The second project is an application for $400,000 for a Downtown Santa Monica
Streetcar Alternatives Analysis. The total project cost is $500,000. The idea of an
electric streetcar was discussed as part of the March 24, 2009 City Council discussion
on coordinating planning, urban design and circulation improvements for the Downtown
Expo Light Rail Station. The Streetcar study would include an alternative routes
analysis, passenger modeling, public outreach and education, and a preliminary funding
strategy.
The third application requests $6,400,000 to construct a gateway pedestrian plaza with
transit linkages connecting to the Downtown. Expo Light Rail terminus. The total project
cost is estimated at $8,000,000. A gateway pedestrian plaza and pedestrian linkages
connecting to the Exposition Light Rail terminus station in Downtown Santa Monica will
serve the thousands of transit riders arriving at regional destinations in the Downtown,
Civic Center, Pier and Beach areas. The station will serve 3,000 to 5,000 daily riders,
with each train bringing an estimated 200-400 passengers as frequently as every 5
minutes. .The large public plaza could include hardscape treatment, lighting,
landscaping, directional signage and pedestrian furniture. Pedestriari improvements will
also connect the plaza to the major Big Blue Bus and Metro transit stops across the
street.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The recommendations in this staff report have no budgetary impacts at this time;
however, should the applications be awarded, the City would be required to provide the
20% local match for the projects. The cost of the bus replacement project is estimated
at $17,896,329 with the City required match of $3,579,266. Funds are available in
Account #0410519.589000 to support the request. The cost estimate for the Downtown
Santa Monica Streetcar Alternatives Analysis is $500,000 with a local match of
$100,000. Funds are available. to fund the local match requirement in Account
#P207017.589000. The cost for-the Exposition Downtown Plaza is estimated to be
$8,000,000 with a City local match of $1,600,000, which is available from Prop A rail
reserves or, alternatively, may be allocated from redevelopment funds.
Prepared by:
David Feinberg, Deputy Director of Transit Services
Ellen Gelbard, Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development
Approved: Forwarded to
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J/ 1/t ~v/ ~ G--
athryn Ver ez, Assistant to the City P. amp
Managerfor Community and ity Ma
Government Relations
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