CITY OF TALLAHASSEE
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED ON: May 27, 2009
SUBJECT/TITLE: Approval of the 2009 Transit Development Plan Minor Update
TARGET ISSUE: N/A

STATEMENT OF ISSUE

The City of Tallahassee’s Transit Development Plan (TDP) has been updated to reflect recent accomplishments and progress on new projects for the next five years. The TDP was originally adopted on November 9, 2005, and is required to be updated each year in order to continue to receive state operating funding assistance. Staff continues to maintain tasks completed since the 2005 TDP was adopted and initiates and/or completes the remaining tasks listed under the recommendations section of the plan. Approval of the 2009 Transit Development Plan Minor Update not only provides direction of development for the transit system; it is also required by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in order to receive the $951,809 in FY 2010 FDOT Block Grant. The assistance given by FDOT is one of the larger amounts of reoccurring annual funding sources, which helps offset the use of local tax dollars and enables the City to continue to provide vital transit services to the community.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Option 1- Approve the 2009 Transit Development Plan Minor Update, which will allow the City’s transit system to continue to provide service to the community and offset the use of City funds.

FISCAL IMPACT

Approval of the 2009 Transit Development Plan Minor Update will allow the City to receive $951,809 in FY 2010 FDOT Block Grant funding for transit operations. These funds are identified as part of StarMetro’s proposed FY 2010 budget. This item has been reviewed by the Office of Budget and Policy and is in compliance with City guidelines.

Ronald L. Garrison, Executive Director, StarMetro

Anita Favors Thompson, City Manager

For Information, please contact: Brian Waterman, Transit Planning Administrator at 891-5564.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL/ISSUE ANALYSIS
HISTORY/FACTS & ISSUES

For over thirty years staff has prepared a Transit Development Plan (TDP) every three years as a part of FDOT and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements to secure state and federal funding. Between each “major update” staff must prepare “Minor Updates” annually, providing information on tasks completed, changed, or deleted. The next major update will not be due until 2010; as such, StarMetro is now entering the 5th year of implementation for the recommendations from the last major update. The TDP is considered one of the transit system’s major plans, providing direction of development and change. Approval of the TDP and its updates not only provide continuous revisions for direction of development for the transit system, but also are required by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to receive the FDOT Block Grant funding to support the operation of the transit system.

The 2009 TDP Minor Update is considered a progress report for those tasks listed in the 2005 TDP. In the 2005 TDP, there were 58 recommendations divided into six categories: Image, Communication, Facilities, Equipment, Service, and Excellence. Since November 2005, staff has completed ten (10) and initiated 22 on-going recommendations.

Highlights of the 2009 TDP Minor Update include:

• Partnering with the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA) on developing a Regional Mobility Plan (RMP). While a typical transportation plan is for twenty to twenty five years, this plan will serve as the blueprint for growth and transportation planning for the next fifty years. The plan will be completed by the December 2010;
• Started renovating C.K. Steele Plaza. This includes:

o A complete foundation replacement in 2008;
o Replacing the soffits (Summer 2009);
o Renovating the driver lounge (Summer 2009);
o Removing broken and outdated machines (Summer 2009)

• Starting a route decentralization program set for final implementation in the fall of 2010. A general planning consultant (GPC), Renaissance Planning Group, has been retained for work on this project as well as several others, including the siting of new transfer facilities. Construction of a SouthWood facility could begin before the next major update;
• Receive at least eight new fixed-route buses in calendar year 2009;
• Improving on-time performance and system efficiency is essential to the overall growth and success of any transit system by partnering with the City of Tallahassee Fire Department, Public Works Department, Tallahassee-Leon County Emergency Management System to upgrade the intersections along key corridors and system-wide initially with new GPS-based signal preemption/prioritization technology. Signal prioritization is the process of adjusting green times to allow for more green to be allocated to a mass transit vehicle approaching the intersection or shortening the red for a bus stopped at the intersection; and
• Completing a comprehensive inventory of all StarStops.

The remaining recommendations have either been removed due to change in development direction or fiscal concerns, or will be completed within the year. In order to receive state and federal funding for future projects, StarMetro must first identify proposed projects in its TDP.

OPTIONS

1) Approve the 2009 Transit Development Plan Minor Update, which will allow the City’s transit system to continue to provide service to the community and offset the use of City funds.

Pros: Allows the City of Tallahassee to receive $951,809 in FY 2010 FDOT Block Grant funding for transit operations.

Provides priorities for StarMetro planning and operations for the upcoming fiscal year.

Cons: City of Tallahassee does not receive operating assistance from FDOT, increasing the general fund transfer.

Does not set priorities for StarMetro to accomplish for the upcoming fiscal year.

2) Do not approve and provide direction to staff.

Pros: City of Tallahassee does not receive operating assistance from FDOT for StarMetro.

Priorities for StarMetro are not set for fiscal year 2010.

Cons: $951,809 in FDOT Block Grant funding for operating assistance is provided.

Priorities are set for StarMetro for fiscal year 2010.

ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES

Due to the size of the 2009 TDP Minor Update, a copy has been placed in the City Commission Conference Room, City Manager’s Office