Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution expresses support for Metro Transit's Areas of Persistent Poverty grant application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for planning work for Madison’s BRT Green Line, bringing a much higher quality of transit service to low income neighborhoods on Madison’s north and south sides. A separate resolution accepting the grant award and amending the 2022 capital budget to move the project timeline up will be submitted at a later date should the City be awarded the grant funding from the FTA.
Title
Supporting Madison Metro's Areas of Persistent Poverty Grant Application to Federal Transit Administration for planning work for Madison’s BRT Green Line, bringing a much higher quality of transit service to low income neighborhoods on Madison’s north and south sides.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison seeks to expand Transit to meet the growing transportation needs of the City, and;
WHEREAS, that the Imagine Madison Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Transportation Strategy 1 recommends improving transit service, especially peripheral employment and planning areas, and Strategy 2 recommends implementing Bus Rapid Transit, and;
WHEREAS, that the 2013 to 2017 Transit Development Plan, prepared by the Madison Area Transportation Planning Board and adopted by the City of Madison, Recommendation 13 advocates for transit supportive roadway features, Recommendation 18 advocates for Bus Rapid Transit, and Recommendation 23 advocates for diversifying Metro’s fleet with 60-foot buses, and;
WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration has a competitive funding program, Areas of Persistent Poverty Program that currently has $16,259,614 in funding for FY 2021, which will be awarded competitively for planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans for projects that assist areas of persistent poverty.
WHEREAS, BRT Planning to improve transit service to Census Tracts: 11.01, 12, 14.01, 14.02, 23.01, 24.02, 25 on the north and south sides of Madison would qualify for a federal grant under this program, and;
WHEREAS, the program requires a commitment for a local funding match with the application, and that such commitment would make Metro’s application for such grant more competitive, and;
WHEREAS, the Madison Common Council has taken similar action (RES-15-00342, RES-19-00471 and RES-20-00282) to amend and adjust the city budget to demonstrate the City’s commitment to providing local match for a federal grant to fund transit supportive investments, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Madison’s 2021 Six Year Capital Improvement Plan includes city funding for Bus Rapid Transit planning, of which this grant submittal supports and helps implement.
WHEREAS, a separate resolution will be introduced to accept the Areas of Persistent Poverty grant funding and amending the 2022 capital budget to provide planning funding of $950,000 in 2022 rather than 2023 if Metro Transit is awarded this grant.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that if the Federal Transit Administration awarded the City of Madison a grant of up to $850,000 for planning work for Madison’s BRT Green Line, bringing a much higher quality of transit service to low income neighborhoods on Madison’s north and south sides, the City of Madison would provide the match funds required, up to $100,000.