RESOLUTION NO. 120294

Expressing the City Council’s support for a federally funded alternatives analysis for the next phase of the streetcar project and directing the City Manager to submit the appropriate grant application.

WHEREAS, on December 21, 2010, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the region $1.8M, $540,000.00 of which was allocated to fund an alternatives analysis for a downtown mass transit circulator; and

WHEREAS, the consultant team engaged to conduct the alternatives analysis recommended that the downtown mass transit circulator be a modern streetcar operating generally on Main Street between the Rivermarket area on the north and Pershing Road on the south, and the City Council adopted the same as the City’s preferred mode and route in Resolution No. 110764; and

WHEREAS, the City’s commitment to an open and inclusive process and collaboration with stakeholders has resulted in widespread support for a downtown streetcar project and the economic benefits to be realized through its implementation; and

WHEREAS, the City is committed to making the project a reality and is currently seeking to establish a transportation development district for the purposes of funding the design, engineering, construction and operation of the downtown streetcar project; and

WHEREAS, the City also filed an application requesting $25M in federal TIGER IV funds and has directed the City Manager to identify and pursue a variety of other supplemental funding mechanisms, cost-saving project delivery methods and alternative funding options for the downtown streetcar project; and

WHEREAS, implementation of the downtown streetcar on Main Street generally between the Rivermarket area on the north and Pershing Road on the south is only the first phase of a fully expandable streetcar system; and

WHEREAS, the City would like to continue the streetcar system from a general location on Pershing Road to the Plaza/UMKC area on the south; and

WHEREAS, the FTA recently issued a Notice of Funding Availability for approximately $25M from its FY 2012 Section 5339 Alternatives Analysis program; and

WHEREAS, grant applications for those funds are due on April 19, 2012; and

WHEREAS, the City is committed to pursuing all relevant funding as it becomes available; and

WHEREAS, the City’s Parking and Transportation Commission has considered this issue as well and supports the City’s effort to pursue the alternatives analysis funding; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That the City Council supports a federally funded alternatives analysis for the next phase of transit service connected with the downtown streetcar project.

Section 2. That the City Manger is directed to submit the appropriate grant application to the Federal Transit Administration.

Section 3. That the City prefers to continue the streetcar systems from a general location on Pershing Road to the Plaza/UMKC area on the south.

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