Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

DATE:

5/14/2009

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

FROM:

Casey Toomay, Budget Manager / Interim Transit Administrator

CC:

Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager

RE:

Application for TIGGER funding

 

Please place the following item on the agenda for consideration by the City Commission at their meeting on May 19, 2009:

 

Authorize staff to submit a proposal to the Federal Transit Administration for funding under the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program.

 

Background

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriated $100 million for a new discretionary grant program for public transportation projects that reduce a transit system’s greenhouse gas emissions or result in a decrease in a transit system’s energy use.  Proposals for funding must be submitted by May 22, 2009.

 

Proposals must be for capital expenses and an applicant must be able to demonstrate how the project will assist in the reduction of energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions.  Each submitted proposal must request a minimum of $2,000,000, with a maximum of $25,000,000.  Consolidated proposals are allowed.  No local match is required. 

 

The City has already received $2.9 million through the ARRA.  These funds will be used to replace six vehicles in the fixed route fleet with heavy-duty biodiesel and biodiesel/electric hybrid vehicles. 

 

The City also has federal appropriations that could be used toward the purchase of vehicles, however, a local match is required.  The TIGGER program would not require a local match.  Additionally, if TIGGER dollars could be secured for fleet replacement, the appropriation dollars could be used toward construction of a new joint maintenance facility with the University of Kansas.

 

The University of Kansas transit system (KUOW) continues to have fleet replacement needs that are unmet.  They have vehicles on the road that are older, less energy efficient, and higher levels of emissions than those used by the City.  Unfortunately, KUOW can not directly apply for TIGGER funds.

 

 

City and University Proposal

The City and University would submit a consolidated proposal for $2,875,000 to purchase five medium-duty biodiesel/electric hybrid vehicles for the City and six heavy-duty vehicles for KUOW. 

 

The five medium-duty vehicles would replace five of the vehicles currently being used in the fixed route fleet.  Preliminary work done by Olsson Associates indicates smaller, body-on-chassis style vehicles are appropriate for some of our fixed routes.  The estimated total cost for these five vehicles is $625,000.

 

KU would purchase six, forty foot, biodiesel vehicles to be used in their fixed route fleet.  The total cost of these six vehicles would be $2,250,000.  These vehicles would be placed on routes designated as “public” routes, which would allow the City to include ridership data in our National Transit Database reporting.  Increased ridership could make us eligible for more federal money under the Small Transit Intensive Communities (STIC) program.

 

These vehicles could also be used on the jointly provided Route 11, and any other jointly provided routes that may result from Olsson’s recommendations for 2010.

 

Action Requested

Staff respectfully requests the City Commission authorize staff to submit a proposal to the Federal Transit Administration for funding under the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program.