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 2023 capital budget will be submitted at a later date should the City be awarded the grant funding from the FTA.
Title
SUBSTITUTE: Supporting Madison Metro's FY23 Areas of Persistent Poverty Grant Application to Federal Transit Administration for planning work for Madison’s North-South “B” BRT Line
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 $20,041,870 in funding for FY 2023, which will be awarded competitively for planning, engineering, or development of technical or financing plans for projects that assist areas of persistent poverty.
WHEREAS, Resolution 67119 Supporting Madison Metro's FY21 Areas of Persistent Poverty Grant Application was adopted on 10/5/2021 and Resolution 73468 Authorizing the FY21 Areas of Persistent Poverty Grant award was adopted 9/20/2022.
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-21-00689, RES-21-00771 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 2023 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 2023 capital budget to incorporate the grant funding of $180,000 $1,125,000 in 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 $180,000 $1,125,000 for planning work for Madison’s North-South “B” BRT 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 $21,176 $125,000.