Title
Request Authorization to Submit Federal Transit Administration Grant Application and Enter into Grant Agreements - South Central Extension/Downtown Hub Light Rail Project (Ordinance S-47015)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant assistance for the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub (SCE/DH) Project and execute an agreement with FTA to accept an awarded grant, and then enter into an agreement with Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (VMR) to pass-through the awarded FTA grant funds from the City to VMR. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to receive, and the City Controller to disburse, grant funds in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned grants and agreements. The total grant funds in the application will not exceed $530 million.
Report
Summary
The SCE/DH Project is a 5.5-mile light rail project extending south along Central Avenue from Jefferson Street to Baseline Road. This Project will also include construction of a transfer hub in downtown Phoenix, nine new stations, and two park-and-rides (one located at the existing Ed Pastor Transit Center on Central Avenue and Broadway Road, and the other located at the end-of-line on the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Baseline Road).
Phoenix is the designated recipient of FTA grant funds for the Phoenix-Mesa Urbanized Area, and as the designated recipient, submits FTA grant applications on behalf of all local governments and agencies in the region.
The SCE/DH Project's application will be submitted as a New Starts Project in the FTA’s Capital Investment Grant Program. This Project is in the Maricopa Association of Governments' approved Transportation Improvement Program and the Arizona Department of Transportation's approved State Transportation Improvement Program.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact to the City. However, grant funds passed through to VMR will be used to reimburse the City for funds advanced to cover the federal share of the Project's costs.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval at the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee meeting on Oct. 7, 2020, by a vote of 3-0.
Location
Central Avenue from Jefferson Street to Baseline Road.
Council Districts: 7 and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.