Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. 2021-29:  A resolution of the Flagstaff City Council, approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transit Authority (hereafter Mountain Line) and the City of Flagstaff for the construction of the Mountain Line Kaspar & Linda Vista Improvements Project.

Mountain Line has completed design plans for the Kaspar Drive/Historic Route 66 Intersection for a new roadway connection from Kaspar Drive to Highway 89 at the existing Highway 89/Historic Route 66 intersection. Mountain Line’s goal was to improve safety and increase operational efficiency with a direct connection to Highway 89. The new roadway connection will provide operational efficiencies by reducing deadhead miles and travel time to the Downtown Connection Center (DCC.)

Mountain Line and City of Flagstaff (City) desire to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to define their respective roles and responsibilities in relation to the Kaspar & Linda Vista Improvements Project (the Project), which is located on and within City right-of-way near Mountain Line headquarters located at 3773 N Kaspar Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86004.

Mountain Line will be responsible for all costs associated with the design and construction of the public improvements, project management of the contracts and grant administration.  The City desires to contribute to the cost of the Project and is willing to cover the cost of City inspection and testing, plan review, traffic impact analysis review, chip seal, and stormwater user fees on behalf of Mountain Line for the Project, currently estimated to be around $250,000 (User Fees) and will accept, operate and maintain the work as a public improvement.

If approved, the City will pay User Fees on behalf of Mountain Line for the Project in the estimated amount of $250,000.00. The amount of $750,000 has been budgeted/programmed in the Streets/Transportation Fund under General & Partnering Opportunities each year for a total of $15M of the life of the Transportation Tax.  In FY2020-21 the $750,000 is budgeted in 048-05-121-3354-6-4421. In FY2021-22 the $750,000 was carried forward into 048-10-121-3354-6-4441. Additionally, in FY2021-22 $750,000 is budgeted in 048-10-121-3354-6-4421.

Approval of this Resolution/IGA supports current policy that User Fees cannot be waived.

It is also current policy that public improvements to be accepted into the City's systems be designed and constructed in accordance with the Engineering Standards and Mountain Line has followed that process.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
Sustainable, Innovative Infrastructure: Identify smart traffic management, multi-modal transportation, and alternative energy opportunities.

Livable Community: Create a welcoming community through partnerships, strong neighborhoods, civic engagement, and resident participation. 

Environmental Stewardship: Implement sustainable building practices and alternative energy and transportation options.

Regional Plan
Goal T.1. Improve mobility and access throughout the Region.

Goal T.7. Provide a high-quality, safe, convenient, accessible public transportation system, where feasible, to serve as an attractive alternative to single occupant vehicles.  

No, there has not been a direct Council decision made on this item however, several Council Members are on the Mountain Line Executive Board and have supported this project through study, grant award, design, and possible award of the construction contract if bids are favorable.

1. Approve the Resolution No. 2021-29.  This will authorize City's payment of User Fees in the estimated amount of $250,000.00.
2. Reject Resolution No. 2021-29.  This will require that Mountain Line pay all User Fees for the Project. 

Kaspar Drive Intersection: In 2015, Mountain Line completed the Kaspar Drive/Historic Route 66 Intersection Analysis for a new roadway connection from Kaspar Drive to Highway 89 at the existing Highway 89/Historic Route 66 intersection. Mountain Line’s goal was to improve safety and increase operational efficiency with a direct connection to Highway 89. The new roadway connection will provide operational efficiencies by reducing deadhead miles and travel time to the Downtown Connection Center.
 
In the 2015 study, Mountain Line worked with the City and MetroPlan, as primary stakeholders; the Project is viewed as supporting both the City and MetroPlan goals for improved access and connectivity identified as a key transportation goal (T.1) in the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 (FRP30). The successful multi-agency partnership resulted in a 15% plan of the preferred alternative. The Project is designed to accommodate the potential extension of Linda Vista Drive identified as a future roadway. The Kaspar Drive/Historic Route 66 intersection is identified in NAIPTA’s Capital Improvement Plan and MetroPlan’s FY 2019-2023 Transportation Improvement Program.
 
The final plan reflects the requirements to accommodate future traffic levels, bike and pedestrian connectivity, landscaping, and traffic signal technology. The new 4^th leg connection at Highway 89 will tie to Kaspar Drive creating a new stop controlled intersection on Kaspar Drive. Sidewalk connections, including coordination with FUTS development, are also to be accommodated in the planned improvement. The existing Kaspar Drive bus stop, in front of Mountain Line offices, will be relocated to the new stop-controlled intersection for improved ADA mobility access.
 
In fall 2018, Mountain Line received an award of grant funding for Kaspar Drive/Historic Route 66 intersection in the amount of $2.77M and proceeded with procurement for a design professional. Subsequently, Mountain Line awarded a design contract including construction phase services to Woodson Engineering in February 2020; final design plans are complete.
 
Construction procurement is underway with anticipated bid opening on May 21st. Mountain Line will utilize SWI Engineering, as a third party owner representative during construction. Construction is anticipated to be complete by spring, 2022.

Transit Signal Priority: The Highway 89/Historic Route 66 intersection will have Transit Signal Priority (TSP) installed and this will be the first intersection in Flagstaff to have this type of technology. TSP helps meet the Mountain Line 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Goal of Service Excellence, Objective 2: “Invest in capital to improve efficiencies and infrastructure to enhance customer-first service.” One of the keys to improve travel time reliability and the ridership experience is to reduce delay at signalized intersections. TSP consists of a group of tools and strategies that provide preference to transit at signalized intersections, which reduces delays for transit. TSP can help improve the quality of service of transit by decreasing travel times, reducing travel time variability, and improve schedule adherence.
 
Mountain Line is working with AECOM and City's Transportation Engineering Section to evaluate and develop a plan for implementing TSP at the Highway 89/Historic Route 66 intersection. Staff are ensuring that whichever TSP system is purchased for that intersection is compatible for future network implementation of TSP and to minimize impacts to general traffic operations; however, no additional intersections for TSP installation have been identified. 
 
Mountain Line staff have identified several goals for a TSP system, and they include:

• Ease of future expansion and scalability
• Automated TSP operation
• Improve travel time reliability for Mountain Line buses
• Develop a TSP solution that is mutually beneficial to Mountain Line and stakeholders (City of Flagstaff & ADOT)

 
Based on the goals identified, AECOM and City's Transportation Engineering Section recommend the TSP system is conditional, meaning it requires one or several parameters to be validated before TSP is activated. This may include schedule adherence, time of service, and passenger load. AECOM also recommended a distributed TSP system architecture, compared to a centralized system because it is more resilient and stable compared to a centralized system.

The project is designed to accommodate the potential extension of Linda Vista Drive identified as a future roadway. A future study will need to be conducted to evaluate alternatives, provide for robust public involvement, and to seek community support for a preferred alignment. 

The intersection width required for the number of lanes and turn lane lengths were determined based on the 2030 traffic horizon. The project will lower the roadway profile of Kaspar Drive to accommodate the horizontal and vertical intersection geometry required by City Engineering Standards.

Based on the engineer’s cost estimate, construction costs are tracking to exceed the grant budget.

Bids will be opened on May 21 and results will be shared with Council at the time Resolution No. 2021-XX is being considered by City Council.

The Project, if Mountain Line has adequate funds to proceed, will be a two-season project requiring the closure of Kaspar Drive to facilitate the lowering of numerous utilities.  It is anticipated that Kaspar Drive will be reopened during the winter shut-down period. 

Mountain Line staff have been coordinating with the City's Transportation Engineering Section and Public Works Division staff on defining roles and responsibilities between Mountain Line, City, and a TSP vendor on operations and maintenance of a TSP system. The next steps include developing a request for a proposal (RFP) to purchase TSP software and hardware. An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) will also be developed between Mountain Line and the City to outline the roles and responsibilities between all parties. This IGA will be the foundation for future TSP implementation if network expansion occurs. 

There has been no community involvement associated with Resolution No. 2021-29.