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1 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 UPDATE ON THE OGDEN TRANSIT PROJECT Receive a presentation from Utah Transit Authority (UTA) on the status of the Ogden Bus Rapid Transit Project Since 2004, the City has been working to study and develop a transit system in Ogden. Several studies have been undertaken during that time and these studies have led to the development of a Locally Preferred Alternative, or LPA, for a transit system connecting the UTA Intermodal Hub downtown to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital. In July 2015, the Council formally adopted the LPA by joint resolution as an important step in the completion of the feasibility study and environmental analysis. The completion of these elements of the study is necessary for applications for federal funding to be submitted. The LPA determined the mode and route of the proposed transit system. The LPA identified the mode as a Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, system over the alternative street car system and identified the route for the BRT as the 25th Street to Harrison Boulevard route instead of the alternative Washington Boulevard to 30th Street to Harrison Boulevard Route. Since the adoption of the LPA in 2015, UTA, City officials, and UTA’s consultants have been working to finalize the design and engineering of the project. The final mode and route were needed to perform detailed engineering analysis of the route and its potential impacts. This information was also needed to determine funding needs. The funding needs include both the capital expenditures for initial construction and the ongoing operations and maintenance (O & M) of the system. At the work session on July 11, 2017, representatives from UTA will be presenting an update to the Council on the status of the study and planned applications for federal funding for the project. November 4, 2004 The Ogden/Weber State Transit Corridor Study began. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 October 2005 The Ogden/Weber State Transit Corridor Study was completed by Michael Baker Jr., Inc. October 18, 2007 The Administration provided a document that briefly described eight transit corridor options: The Hub, WSU, BDO, Ogden Canyon, Ogden Airport, Newgate Mall, CBD Loop, and Cross-Country. These options were discussed at the work session. A map was provided that highlights each option. November 6, 2007 The voters approved a Weber County quarter cent local option sales tax for transportation purposes. May 15, 2008 A work session was held to receive a presentation regarding the Planning Commission’s recommendations, to receive information regarding the downtown loop and feasibility of a local streetcar system, and to discuss the results of the prioritization process. The Council and Mayor agreed that the preferred corridor should begin at the Intermodal hub and end at McKay-Dee Hospital. The Council had prioritized the 13 options being discussed with the 26th Street corridor being the preferred alternative. The Mayor proposed that the Washington to 30th and/or 36th Streets to McKay-Dee Hospital be added as options. The Council and Mayor agreed to proceed with an alternatives analysis and National Environmental Policy Act review for the three corridors. June 10, 2008 The Council adopted the following legislative intent in the FY2009 budget: Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis. It is the intent of the City Council to support and be an active participant in a partnership to pursue a combined alternatives analysis and environmental impact study that could expedite the City’s ability to determine a preferred transit route and mode of transportation from the three identified options on which we agreed jointly with the Mayor. The three routes begin at the ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 Intermodal Hub (23rd and Wall) and run east to Washington Boulevard, then south on Washington Boulevard to either 26th Street, 30th Street or 36th Street, then east on either of those streets to Harrison Boulevard and on to Weber State University and McKay Dee Hospital. This combined study would result in a Record of Decision that is required to enable the City to apply for funding from the Federal Transit Administration. September 2, 2008 A joint resolution adopting the interlocal agreement was approved by the Council. The agreement included: - Ogden City contribution of $290,000 - Creation of two committees - policy committee and project management committee - Establishes Utah Transit Authority and the Wasatch Front Regional Council and joint project managers. - Establishes the Utah Transit Authority as the local lead agency. - Defines the alignments to be studied – Intermodal hub to McKay-Dee Hospital via 26th Street, 30th Street and 36th Street. December 16, 2008 The Council adopted a joint resolution that includes the updated interlocal agreement that amends the previously approved scope of work for the alternatives analysis. June 24th and 26th, 2009 Public scoping meetings were held regarding the proposed Ogden-Weber State University Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. September 8, 2010 The City Council and Mayor jointly sent a letter to Andrew Gruber – Wasatch Front Regional Council and Jason Davis – Utah Department of Transportation Region 1 indicating their concern with the possible widening of Harrison Blvd. October 4, 2010 The Draft 2040 Regional Transportation Plan was presented to the Weber Area Council of Governments. The draft plan does not include the ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 widening of Harrison Blvd. from 20th to 40th. However, it includes widening from 40th to SR-89. It also includes projects to the north of the City that may impact the traffic demands and patterns on Harrison Blvd. and/or Monroe Blvd. The plan also includes two major transit projects within Ogden – the Ogden-Weber State University streetcar project, and the Ogden circulator. October 5, 2010 A presentation was given by the Trolley District Community Advisory Network regarding the transit alternatives analysis. Dialogue with the Council regarding alternatives occurred. November 1, 2010 The Weber Area Council of Governments adopted the proposed Draft 2040 Regional Transportation Plan with amendments. February 14, 2011 As follow-up to the January 13, 2011 work session the Council sent a letter to the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Utah Transit Authority, and the Utah Department of Transportation regarding the potential widening of Harrison Blvd. and other regional transportation issues. March 29, 2011 The Council unanimously concluded that the preferred alternative is a streetcar from 23rd Street to Washington, Washington to 25th Street, 25th Street to Harrison, and Harrison to WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital. June 8, 2011 At the Policy Committee on this date the City Council requested a pause in the finalization of the Ogden/Weber State University transit alternatives analysis. All seven Council members signed the letter requesting the pause. The Council also requested that UTA consider an express bus route from the Intermodal Hub to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital. The committee agreed to the pause on the project but requested that a report be provided within one month to outline what will occur during the pause. City Council representatives agreed to facilitate the development of the report. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 July 15, 2011 As requested by the Policy Committee a report was published. The report answers five questions and provides the next steps for the project. January 10, 2012 A fact-finding work session was held on this date regarding the Ogden Streetcar Project. GB Arrington presented his report entitled “Ogden Streetcar: Peer review and Next steps.” Representatives from UTA provided an update on the project and an overview of the commuter rail project from Ogden to Brigham City. Representatives from Weber State University, The Trolley District, and the Sierra Club made presentations. The public was also invited to share their views on the project. April 2, 2012 A meeting was held for representatives of the City Council, Mayor’s Office, UDOT, Wasatch Front Regional Council, and UTA to discuss the transit project. Each group agreed to specific action steps. July 20, 2012 A local TOD tour was conducted in the Salt Lake City area. The tour included the University of Utah and West Valley’s Fairbourne Station and MAX line. July 25/26, 2012 A tour of the Portland, OR streetcar and Eugene, OR bus rapid transit system occurred. September 11, 2012 A presentation was given to the Council regarding the Portland streetcar and Eugene BRT. December 18, 2012 A work session was held on this date to provide the City Council with an update on the project. Mayor Caldwell requested a scope of work related to the NEPA review and conceptual engineering for the project. ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 February 6, 2013 UTA provided a draft scope of work for the NEPA review and conceptual engineering with an estimated cost of $745,410. The costs would be split between UTA, UDOT, Weber State University and the City. April 9, 3013 A work session was held with the City Council and Mayor to allow them to provide direction regarding the project. Direction was given to draft a joint resolution agreeing to proceed with the project subject to the City’s portion of the funding being provided from quarter cent sales tax as approved by the Weber Area Council of Governments. Two routes will be included in the study: 1) 23rd Street to Washington, Washington to 25th Street, 25th Street to Harrison, and Harrison to WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital, and 2) 23rd Street to Washington, Washington to 30th Street, 30th Street to Harrison, Harrison to WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital. The Mayor expressed that a streetcar is likely too expensive. He wants to determine what is reasonable given the uncertainty of receiving Federal funds and to look at new technologies for such systems. May 15, 2013 On this date, representatives from Ogden City, Utah Transit Authority, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Utah Department of Transportation, Weber County, Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce, Weber State University, and McKay-Dee Hospital met to discuss the status of the project. It was determined that the changes in route agreed upon by the City Council and Mayor on April 9, 2013 will require an increase of $100,000 to the cost of the study. The new estimated total cost of the study is $845,410. The draft joint resolution was then discussed with the City Council and Mayor at the May 21, 2013 work session. May 21, 2013 On this date, the Council and Mayor discussed the draft joint resolution, and the draft stakeholder letter of support. Direction was given to place the joint resolution on the May 28, 2013 City Council agenda for consideration. May 28, 2013 On this date, joint resolution 2013-10 was adopted authorizing a transit system study between the Intermodal Hub and Weber State University – McKay-Dee Hospital that includes Architectural/ Engineering design ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 work and environmental review in accordance with NEPA and USDOT requirements. The study included two routes: 1) 23rd Street to Washington, Washington to 25th Street, 25th Street to Harrison, and Harrison to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital; 2) 23rd to Washington, Washington to 30th Street, 30th Street to Harrison, and Harrison to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital. The mode alternatives will be evaluated in the study. It was estimated that the study would cost $845,410. Funding of the study was to be shared as follows: UTA ($422,705), UDOT ($50,000), Weber State University ($100,000), McKay-Dee Hospital ($20,000) and Ogden City ($252,705). Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) was to contribute travel model support. Support by the City was contingent upon receipt of the City’s portion of the funding from quarter cent sales tax as approved by the Weber Area Council of Governments. Weber State University’s financial support is contingent upon one route being determined after the public process for the study is completed. September 9, 2013 On this date, the Weber Area Council of Governments approved the funding request for the Ogden/Weber State University Transit Project Study. October 29, 2013 On this date, the Weber County Commission approved the appropriation of funds for the transit study. November 19, 2013 On this date, the Council adopted joint resolution 2013-19 approving the Ogden/Weber State University Transit Project Study interlocal agreement. ---PAGE BREAK--- 8 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 May 14, 2014 UTA began a feasibility study of a transit project connecting Ogden’s Intermodal Hub with WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital as identified in joint resolution 2013-19. June 14, 2014 On this date, the first of three open houses was held by UTA on the transit study. This open house was held at Ogden High School. October 14, 2014 On this date, the second open house was held by UTA on the transit study. This open house was held at Weber State University. January 15, 2015 On this date, the third open house was held by UTA and was held at James Madison Elementary. This open house also included participation from the Latino community and materials for the open house were provided in both English and Spanish. June 23, 2015 On this date, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) met and provided a recommendation to the Policy Committee on the locally preferred alternative. June 23, 2015 On this date, the Policy Committee met and forwarded its recommendation to the Mayor and Council for the locally preferred alternative. The LPA recommended by the TAC and the Policy Committee was a BRT on the 25th Street route with the BRT running with mixed traffic on Harrison between 25th and 30th and in an exclusive lane from 30th to the WSU campus. July 7, 2015 On this date, UTA held another open house on the third floor of the Municipal Building and the Council received a presentation from UTA on the LPA and received public input. July 28, 2015 The Council adopted Joint Resolution 2015-24 adopting the Locally Preferred Alternative for the BRT project. ---PAGE BREAK--- 9 Ogden City Council Work Session: July 11, 2017 August 2015 – April 2017 The technical advisory committee met periodically to receive updates from UTA and the consultants on the ongoing engineering, design, and traffic modeling work. July 11, 2017 The Council will receive an update on the status of the project. 1. Joint Resolution 2015-24 – Adoption of the Locally Preferred Alternative Council Staff Contact: Glenn Symes, AICP (801) 629-8164 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK---