2008-02-11 (noon) - Laserfiche WebLink

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NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Monday, February 11, 2008 AT 12:00 noon IN THE Martha Jefferson Hospital Outpatient Care Center, Kessler Conference Room, 595 Peter Jefferson Parkway. THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Meeting with Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Metropolitan Planning Organization re: Regional Transit Authority BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY: Jeanne Cox MARTHA JEFFERSON HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT CARE CENTER February 11, 2008 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Mr. Harrison Rue, Executive Director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, said this is an opportunity for City Council and the Board of Supervisors to advise the Metropolitan Planning Organization and move toward a consensus on a governance structure for regional transit. Mr. Rue reviewed the regional vision for transit and the project activities to date. Mr. Frank Spielberg, transit consultant, said that a successful transit system matches land use with transit. He said transit potential exists in the following circumstances: residential and employment density; road congestion; parking availability; connectivity; transit friendly use plans and policies; and U. Va. employees as a percent of residents. He presented potential service strategies that were presented to the MPO, and a fourth, (4a) that was developed after the MPO review because the MPO wanted to see a higher level of service. He said the possibility of bus rapid transit (BRT) and a streetcar was discussed as part of the service. Service under option 4a is projected to be 55% in the County and 45% in the City. The projected annual operating costs for the options are as follows: baseline: $5.9 million; option 1: $8.8 million; option 2: $9.4 million; option 3: $10.9 million; option 4a: $10.5 - $16.7 million. The projected capital costs are as follows: baseline: zero; option 1: $4.6 - $10.3 million; option 2: $6.4 - $13.3 million; option 3: $8.1 – 17.6 million; and option 4/4a: $31.8 - $138 million. Responding to a question from Mr. Dennis Rooker, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors member, Mr. Rue said that a BRT bus typically costs approximately $1.3 million, and Mr. Bill Watterson, City Transit Manager, said that a regular bus costs $350,000. Responding to a question from Mr. Huja, Mr. Spielberg said that the cost per mile for a small streetcar system is approximately $10 million per mile and for larger systems approximately $30 million to $35 million per mile. Mr. Norris noted that the $138 million in capital costs for option 4/4a includes building a road for a dedicated lane. Mr. Ken Boyd, Chairman, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, asked what would be expect in return for option 4a, and Mr. Spielberg said a 10 – 15% reduction in traffic would be a reasonable expectation over a period of 10 to 15 years. Mr. Rue said there could be a 42% reduction of those choosing to move into high density areas that are within half a mile of a bus route. Dr. Brown asked if there is evidence that the cost of energy impacts people choosing to use transit, and it was noted that people are absorbing the increased cost of energy now, but another increase could have that effect.