Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	Mike Wildgen, City Manager
FROM:	Karin Rexroad, Public Transit Administrator Danny Kaiser, PTAC Chairman
CC:	David Corliss, Assistant City Manager
Date:	January 21, 2005
RE:	Maintenance Facility

BACKGROUND:

The Lawrence Transit System has received the following federal earmarks:

$491,839       Bus and Bus Facility   5309 funds – FY 03            80 federal/20 local

$400,000       Maintenance Facility   Section 115 funds – FY04     No local match $388,711      Maintenance Facility 5309 funds – FY 05            80 federal/20 local

Bus and Bus Facility designates that the funds can be utilized for the purchase of buses and/or any facility related to the provision of transit service.  The Maintenance Facility designation means that the funds can only be used for that specific purpose.   5309 designates the funds as federal transit earmarks.  Section 115 designates the funds as a federal highway earmark.  The funds received in FY 03 ($491,839) must be applied for prior to September 30, 2005 or the funds will no longer be available for Lawrence.  This earmark would be matched by utilizing our state CTP funding.

DISCUSSION:

In October 2002, PTAC and the City Commission decided not to pursue the Santa Fe Depot as a transfer station.  Utilizing the Santa Fe Depot was the basis for our original request for the federal earmark in the amount of $491,839.  The Amenities sub-committee has explored several alternatives, including partnering with the public library.  At this time, a solid site or plan for a transfer facility has not been found.  In addition the Route Review sub-committee is exploring route changes, including an on-board transit study, which could lead to a change in location or need for the downtown hub.  Therefore, proceeding with a transfer facility does not seem appropriate at this stage of the transit system’s growth.

A meeting was held with Jon Monson, President of MV Transportation on January 9, 2003 to explore ways to reduce the operational cost of the transit system.  MV presently leases a maintenance facility on Haskell.  One of the ideas was to explore construction or acquisition of a maintenance facility.  In January 2003, the City made a request to our congressional delegation to receive a federal earmark to fund a maintenance facility.  The rationale provided was to facilitate cost efficiencies by having our own facility that included a wash bay, fueling station and administrative offices. In addition, by the city owning our own facility, we would eliminate the ongoing lease payments in the operator agreement and have greater long-term control of our inventory.  Facility ownership would also greatly diminish any service interruptions as a result of any change in transit provider in the future.

At the direction of the Amenities sub-committee, transit staff met with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to discuss the flexibility of our funds and the required steps to apply for the funds and proceed with the project.  FTA estimated that grant application, completion of a feasibility study and environmental assessment, and preliminary engineering and site plan development would take approximately nine (9) months to a year.

A feasibility study would determine the existing and future transit operations and maintenance needs; evaluation of the existing facility to meet those needs; evaluation of sites if a new facility is warranted; preliminary design of a new transit maintenance facility; development of staging and finance plans.  One of the purposes of the initial study will be to obtain a better cost estimate for the proposed maintenance facility. 

At the December 16, 2004 board meeting, the Amenities sub-committee made a recommendation to the full Public Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) that the City of Lawrence combine all federal earmarks and proceed with the concept of a city owned maintenance facility at this time. The combination of funds would provide funding for the completion of the feasibility study which includes site selection, environmental assessment and preliminary engineering and plan of site.  In addition, funds would be available towards the construction phase if approved.  PTAC approved the recommendation of the sub-committee. 

ACTION REQUEST:

PTAC recommends that the City of Lawrence proceed with the combination of our federal earmarks and proceed with federal grant application, consultant RFP, feasibility study, and preliminary design as appropriate. 

Thank you for your consideration of PTAC’s request.