C-02 Council Resolution ASMP 6-10-2020.pdf — original pdf

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RESOLUTION NO. 20200610-002 WHEREAS, Austin faces growing demands on our existing transportation network, resulting in increased traffic congestion and travel delay; and WHEREAS, strategically planned transportation systems that supply our network with the appropriate infrastructure, in both size and location, are what enable us to travel around our community safely, reliably, and efficiently; and WHEREAS, on April 11, 2019 the Council unanimously passed Ordinance No. 20190411-033 adopting the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) as the transportation element of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to guide future growth of the city's transportation network; and WHEREAS, the ASMP establishes a 2039 target of 50-50 mode split, where 50 percent of residents are taking any mode other than driving a single occupancy vehicle, in order to increase system reliability and decrease personal WHEREAS, in order for the City of Austin to accomplish our mode share goals, our community must create a complete transit system, including investing in travel time; and high-capacity transit; and WHEREAS, the ASMP establishes a policy of investing in, and supporting, the creation of a high-capacity transit system in Austin, noting "we must work with Page 1 of 6 our public transportation partners and enhance services to create an experience that attracts and retains riders"; and WHEREAS, the ASMP establishes a policy for the City to coordinate transportation infrastructure projects with other public capital investments early in the planning process to increase cost-effectiveness and minimize disruptions to the community; and WHEREAS, the Street Network Table ofthe ASMP forms the basis for which the City negotiates with other partners to deliver transportation improvements collaboratively and therefore should be inclusive of all elements necessary to achieve the ultimate cross section; and WHEREAS, Project Connect is a vision for how we move people today and plan for tomorrow, and will create an integrated transit system that eases traffic, brings jobs to our region, improves the environment, and better connects people so everyone in our community can thrive; and WHEREAS, the Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority (Capital Metro) Board unanimously approved the Project Connect high-capacity transit vision plan for the Capital Metro service area on December 17, 2018; and WHEREAS, since 2018, Capital Metro, in partnership with the City of Austin, community members, and other stakeholders, has refined the Project Page 2 of 6 Connect vision plan in order to create an Austin-focused System Plan Recommendation; and WHEREAS, more than 50,000 people have participated in the creation of the draft System Plan Recommendation through in person and online public input opportunities; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the City o f Austin's Climate Action Plan and Capital Metro's vision of a zero-emission fleet of transit vehicles, Project Connect will amplify transit's positive effects on air quality in Central Texas; and WHEREAS, implementation of the Project Connect Vision Plan would generate 20,000 jobs per $1 billion spent, potentially creating 200,000 new jobs as a result of implementation ofthe full Proj ect Connect vision; and WHEREAS, an investment in public transportation is an investment in the economy, and we cannot have sustained economic development in this region without a significant investment in transit; and WHEREAS, investment in transit is an investment in equity, and a significant action we can take to correct historical inequities is to make the Capital Metro transit system more robust, more affordable, and more widely available; and WHEREAS, prevention of displacement of lower income residents from areas served by Proj ect Connect's new infrastructure is a guiding principle to Capital Metro and the City of Austin, the Austin City Council approved Resolution Page 3 of 6 No. 20200423-038 calling for data-driven policies and funding that "prevent transportation investment-related displacement and ensure people o f different incomes can benefit from transportation investments," and Capital Metro's longstanding Transit Oriented Development Policy has been designed to support equitable growth that acts as a force multiplier for transit's benefits for the entire community; and and WHEREAS, the preliminary draft System Plan Recommendation was presented to the Austin City Council and Capital Metro Board on March 9,2020; WHEREAS, the Project Connect System Plan includes multiple transit enhancements and expansions to help our community better connect to jobs, entertainment, school, and more; and WHEREAS, in order to apply for and receive federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to assist in building these necessary projects, Capital Metro is required to adopt locally preferred alternatives that incorporate sound technical analysis and community input, and Capital Metro will enter these projects into the federal funding process upon local voter funding approval; and WHEREAS, the Capital Metro Board ofDirectors adopted the Project Connect System Plan that includes the Locally Preferred Alternatives for the Orange, Blue, Gold, Green, and MetroRapid Lines on June 10, 2020; and Page 4 of 6 WHEREAS, changes to the System Plan may be considered and adopted over the course of time to add projects as additional transit studies are performed and completed, which shall include consideration of current studies being conducted by the City of Austin, Capital Metro, and CAMPO of the Bergstrom Spur and the MoKan corridor; and WHEREAS, the City's support for the Project Connect System Plan that includes the Locally Preferred Alternatives does not in and of itself commit the City's financial resources to the advancement of the System Plan Recommendation; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: The City Council formalizes its support for Project Connect System Plan that includes the Locally Preferred Alternatives for the Orange, Blue, Gold, Green, and MetroRapid Lines, as adopted by the Capital Metro Board of Directors on June 10,2020. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Manager is directed to immediately initiate a process to amend the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (Ordinance No. 20190411-033) to add the Project Connect System Plan that includes the Locally Preferred Alternatives for the Orange, Blue, Gold, Green, and MetroRapid Lines, as adopted by the Capital Metro Board of Directors, to the ASMP and associated technical elements. The Page 5 of 6 City Manager is further directed to bring the amendment or amendments to the City Council for consideration in 2021. ADOPTED: June 10 , 2020 ATTEST: Jajhnette S. Goodall City Clerk Page 6 of 6