Title
Transportation 2050 Mobility Improvements Program Update
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee with an update on the Transportation 2050 (T2050) Mobility Improvements Program and requests the Subcommittee recommend City Council approval of the $17.5 million, five-year Updated T2050 Mobility Improvements Program for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2021-25.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
On Aug. 25, 2015, Phoenix voters approved Proposition 104, T2050, making a strong commitment to expanding investments in Phoenix for major improvements in bus service, light rail and roadway infrastructure. The plan allocates a total of 13.8 percent of local sales tax revenues (or approximately $2.3 billion over 35 years) to the Street Transportation Department (Streets) for the construction and maintenance of City roadways. Of these T2050 Streets revenues, the Mobility Improvements Program is allocated 15 percent. The Mobility Improvements Program is one of four investment categories that also include Pavement Maintenance, New and Expanded Major Streets, and Technology Enhancements.
Due to the significant commitment for new bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the T2050 Plan, the Mobility Improvements Program was established to implement additional projects that increase Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility and mobility through new sidewalks, ADA ramps, bicycle facilities, and connections to existing transit stops. Through the life of T2050, the Mobility Improvements Program is committed to construct 135 miles of new sidewalks and 1,080 miles of new bike lanes.
The two primary focus areas for the Mobility Improvements Program include: (1) developing study areas to identify locations for mobility improvement needs and associated recommendations; and (2) sidewalk improvements on major, collector and local streets to improve connectivity to transit stops along with ADA accessibility.
On Nov. 27, 2018, the Aviation and Transportation Subcommittee approved the use of $3.5 million in T2050 Mobility Improvements Program funding for a five-year program (FY 2019-23) to complete projects recommended through mobility assessment studies and to initiate additional mobility assessment studies. The Aviation and Transportation Subcommittee also approved the use of $8 million in T2050 Mobility Improvements Program funding through FY 2024 to improve sidewalk connectivity to bus stops.
Mobility Assessment Studies
At the outset of T2050, Streets staff developed a list of 39 mobility assessment study locations focused on pedestrian and bicycle facilities (Attachment A). The initiation of the first 11 (out of 39) mobility assessment study locations were previously recommended.
Mobility assessment studies for these locations (1 through 11) were initiated, except mobility area 9. Mobility area 9 focuses on the downtown Phoenix area. Given that there were and are several other planning efforts occurring in this area (Reinvent Phoenix, Downtown Parking Study, Downtown Transportation Plan Update, Key Corridors Master Plan, and to some extent, the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Transit Framework Study Update), mobility area 9 was postponed to avoid possible overlap but will be revisited in the future as needed. In its place, Streets staff proceeded with mobility area 12. Mobility assessment studies for all 11 locations (1 through 8 and 10 through 12) have been completed. Attachment B provides a map of the 11 mobility assessment study locations.
Each mobility assessment study recommends improvement projects that may include installation of sidewalk, vertical curb and gutter, crosswalks, bike lanes, street lighting, landscaping and/or shade trees, pedestrian and traffic signals, as well as other traffic calming measures. Streets staff has reviewed the recommended projects generated from the mobility assessment studies with the assistance of other City departments, with the goal of delivering as many projects as funding permits. Potential projects are prioritized based on the scope of work, budget, and how the project will be constructed.
Mobility Improvements Infrastructure Funding
Streets staff continuously monitors opportunities to leverage T2050 Mobility Improvements funding with regional and federal funding in order to implement a greater amount of mobility infrastructure improvements.
An example of this is Streets' use of the Achieving Transit Accessibility Now (ATAN) grant program created by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) in order to address immediate needs to improve access to transit stops throughout the region. Streets has successfully participated in multiple rounds of ATAN competitive grant opportunities over the past several years. Streets used T2050 Mobility Improvements Program funds for its local match for ATAN-funded projects.
Earlier this year, Streets staff initiated a partnership with the City’s Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) to implement mobility improvement projects recommended from the completed mobility assessment studies using federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. CDBG program funds must be used in Title VI low-income, in-need communities, which in many cases correspond to the T2050 mobility areas. Projects using CDBG funds may begin construction in summer 2021 and both Streets and NSD anticipate using CDBG funds in future years as well. Streets will use T2050 Mobility Improvements Program funds for its local match for CDBG-funded projects.
Streets also submitted for several competitive grants in response to a MAG Call for Transportation Alternatives (TA) projects which have a bike, pedestrian and mobility focus. The City of Phoenix was awarded TA funding for three projects totaling $5.2 million. The local match of approximately $1.4 million will utilize T2050 Mobility Improvements Program funds.
Program Accomplishments
Under the Mobility Improvements Program, Streets staff has implemented projects that improve safety, promote mobility, and enhance the city’s connectivity and growing active transportation network. Project elements include bicycle facilities, sidewalk improvements, streetlights, safe crossings, shade, and landscaping. To date, staff has completed the following T2050 Mobility Improvements over the past two years (FY 2019-20):
- Installed 45 of the recommended 71 ADA curb ramps in mobility area 1 (South Downtown). The remaining 26 ramps are planned for construction in FY 2021;
- Addition of 42 new streetlight locations in mobility area 1 (South Downtown). Design work was initiated in January 2020, and construction is planned to begin by June 2021;
- Initiated one new mobility assessment study (mobility area 13 - Attachments A and B), which should be completed by January 2021; and
- Completed 12 ATAN-funded mobility improvement projects (Attachment C).
Program Update
Streets has developed an Updated T2050 Mobility Improvements Program for FY 2021-25 (Attachment D).
The updated $17.5 million, five-year program includes a consolidated view of previously approved projects and lump sum budgets that will be used to fund future projects, including local match funding for leveraged regional and federal funded projects.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Citizens Transportation Commission recommended Council approval of this item on Dec. 17, 2020, by a vote of 12-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.