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AGENDA RECOMMENDATION |
Consent Calendar 5.G.
City Council Regular Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 01/13/2025
Agenda Item:
Motion to apply to the Carbon Reduction Program for a Transit Pilot Project.
Recommendation/Action(s):
Move that transit applies to the Carbon Reduction Program for a Transit Pilot Project.
Summary:
The Carbon Reduction Program is a program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program provides Minnesota with annual funding over five years for projects that reduce carbon emissions from surface transportation. Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) are one of the jurisdictions available to select projects for CRP funding.
Pilot Project: Add access to the transit system that doesn’t exist for high-density student residential areas on Saturdays with service from 8:35 am – 8:35 pm. Currently, Route 1 operates Monday – Friday from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, averaging 27 passengers per hour.
For fiscal year 2026, Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization (MAPO) has $230,000 in available funding to reduce carbon emissions from surface transportation. Transit is requesting $115,895.52 for the pilot project; the 20% local share ($23,179.10) will be included in the 2026 budget if awarded. MAPO has $140,000 of available annual funding through 2029.
The Transit Development Plan 2023 includes extending service hours on Saturday for the fiscally constrained scenario. MnDOT is not planning on offering funding opportunities for service expansion.
When staff were encouraged to apply, the last Council meeting had already occurred on December 9, 2024. The application window opened December 2 and closed January 10. The application can be revoked if it does not receive Council approval.
Pilot Project: Add access to the transit system that doesn’t exist for high-density student residential areas on Saturdays with service from 8:35 am – 8:35 pm. Currently, Route 1 operates Monday – Friday from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, averaging 27 passengers per hour.
For fiscal year 2026, Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization (MAPO) has $230,000 in available funding to reduce carbon emissions from surface transportation. Transit is requesting $115,895.52 for the pilot project; the 20% local share ($23,179.10) will be included in the 2026 budget if awarded. MAPO has $140,000 of available annual funding through 2029.
The Transit Development Plan 2023 includes extending service hours on Saturday for the fiscally constrained scenario. MnDOT is not planning on offering funding opportunities for service expansion.
When staff were encouraged to apply, the last Council meeting had already occurred on December 9, 2024. The application window opened December 2 and closed January 10. The application can be revoked if it does not receive Council approval.