Title
Discussion - Transit Expansion
Body
Issue/Request:
Discuss City Council interests in transit service expansion.
Key Issues:
- Fixed Route from Independence, MO (Independence Transit Center)
- Fixed Route from Kansas City, MO (3-Trails Transit Center)
- Potential Service Operations
- Potential Cost of Services (local share and FTA funding)
- Service Agreements
Background:
Transit is a City Council goal. A Transit Study for Lee's Summit was completed most recently in 2015/16 that resulted in significant changes to the demand response transit service implemented earlier in 2017 within Lee's Summit (e.g. RideKC Lee's Summit, operated by OATS). In addition to those transit service recommendations in the study, fixed route services other than the existing Lee's Summit Express (a park and ride commuter service to downtown Kansas City) were considered. Similarly, the KCATA and Mid-America Regional Council have been developing transit plans. Among those plans, the Eastern Jackson County Transit Plan and MARC Smart Moves 3.0 recommend new or extended fixed route(s) into Lee's Summit.
A new route is proposed between the 3-Trails Transit Center (located at Bannister and Blue Ridge/Cerner in Kansas City, MO) and downtown Lee's Summit, with a stop at MCC-Longview. A route extenstion (with revised service schedule) is proposed between the Indpendence Transit Center (located at Truman and Noland, downtown Independence, MO) and downtown Lee's Summit, with stops at TMC-Lakewood and St. Lukes East hospitals. The existing route from Independence follows Lee's Summit Road with service to TMC-Lakewood on a limited schedule. Both routes would likely operate Monday thru Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on an hourly schedule.
The cost of service for the two aformentioned described routes and operation is conceptually:
Indepedence Transit Center Connection - $325,000. Negotiate split/shared cost with Kansas City, MO ($162,500). Apply Lee's Summit's FTA Funding (Section 5307 operating funds at 50% match) to Lee's Summits share of service cost with a local cost of approximately $81,250.
3-Trails Transit Center Connection - $525,000. Negotiate split/shared cost with Kansas City, MO ($262,500). After Lee's Summit's FTA Funding is applied to Lee's Summits share of service cost, the local cost is approximately $131,250.
The total conceptual cost to Lee's Summits local share of both transit services is $212,500. The Lee's Summit FTA Funding (Section 5307) has unallocated capacity to support the costs noted above. There is no identified source of local funds for this expense. The City's existing transit services have been funded annually from the Transporatation Sales Tax at about $280,000, after FTA funding is applied. The Transportation Sales Tax, which is the source of funding for pavement, curb and bridge maintenance, does not have adequate capacity to absorb the additional costs.
Presenter
Presenter: Michael Park, PE, PTOE, City Traffic Engineer
Recommendation
Recommendation: [Enter Recommendation Here]