Fiscal Note
This resolution authorizes the City to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Amtrak to accept $35,000 and amends the Transportation Department’s 2026 adopted Capital Budget for Passenger Rail Station Planning (capital project 13781) by increasing federal revenue and corresponding expenditure authority by $35,000. The funding will reimburse the City for a portion of passenger rail modeling work completed under an existing consultant contract and will provide additional budget authority for passenger rail-related planning work and local match support within the same capital project.
Title
Authorizing the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to accept $35,000 for passenger rail modeling work and amending the Transportation Department’s 2026 Capital Budget (Citywide).
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has undertaken passenger rail planning work to evaluate and advance the return of intercity passenger rail service to Madison; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council previously authorized a contract with HNTB Corporation to support passenger rail-related planning and modeling work; and
WHEREAS, the completed modeling work supported overall corridor planning efforts; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak has offered the City $35,000 to offset a portion of those costs; and
WHEREAS, the City and Amtrak have developed a Memorandum of Understanding governing the City’s acceptance of the $35,000 and provision of the related modeling information; and
WHEREAS, the Amtrak funding was not included in the City’s 2026 adopted Capital Budget and will increase the available budget for Passenger Rail Station Planning (Capital Project 13781), supporting additional passenger rail-related planning work and local match needs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the City to accept $35,000 from the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) under the Memorandum of Understanding; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Transportation Department’s 2026 adopted Capital Budget is amended to increase federal revenue and corresponding expenditure authority by $35,000 in Passenger Rail Station Planning (Capital Project 13781);
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to enter into amendment(s) to the HNTB Corporation contract authorized by RES-23-00272 for the purposes of ensuring grant compliance and to allow expenditures under that contract to qualify as a local match for grant purposes;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute a contract and related documentation with Amtrak, in a form approved by the City Attorney for the purposes above, and that the appropriate City officials are authorized to take actions necessary to implement the agreement.