Port of Dbq Passenger Bdg Facil
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MEMORANDUM
April 27, 2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Port of Dubuque Passenger Boarding Facility
Transit Manager Mark Munson is recommending that the City delay current plans to
build a stand-alone transit passenger boarding facility in the Port of Dubuque. Federal
funding would be sought over the next few years to build a transit and intermodal facility
in the Port of Dubuque. This conceptual project will be submitted as part of the FY 2006
budget process.
Mark Munson is further recommending that the City redirect a portion of local matching
funds from an existing CIP to leverage a grant from the State of Iowa to expand the
existing waiting area at the KeyLine Transit Office to accommodate inter-City bus
passengers and to purchase an automated Greyhound ticket system. The remaining
funds in the CIP would be redirected to the additional costs anticipated in the new
garage project on Kerper Court and improvements to the shelter system.
Mark Munson also advises that Federal regulations do not allow the City to contract out
the operation of the downtown trolley service.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Bill Baum, Economic Development Director
Mark Munson, Transit Manager
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Michael C. Van Milligen .
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KeyLine Transit
2401 Central Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3302
(563) 589-4196 office
(563) 589-4340 fax
(563) 690-6678 roD
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April 20, 2004
FR:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Mark Munson, Transit Manager /fiN\.
TO:
Subject:
Downtown and Port of Dubuque route and stops
Purpose
The purpose of this memo is to update you on the Downtown and Port of
Dubuque shuttle route and related boarding facility project and to request
approval to redirect funds from the original boarding facility project to other transit
capital improvements.
Background
On Monday April 19th, the 4th Street Peninsula workgroup discussed the final
plans for the Downtown and Port of Dubuque shuttle route. The route will operate
in a loop on Bluff and Main Streets between 1st and 10th and then circle the Port
of Dubuque in front of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium,
Diamond Jo, Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark and Grand River Conference
Center. In addition to stopping at the businesses in the Port of Dubuque, the
shuttle will board passengers at bus stops at the following Downtown locations:
5th & Main in front of Five Flags Holiday Inn
8th & Main in front of the Security Building
th and Bluff across from Washington Park
5th & Bluff on Bluff
3rd and Bluff north of the Cathedral Church
1st & Main on Main
3rd and Main in front of Julien Inn
A total of three parking meters will need to be removed to create trolley stops at
th and Bluff, 5th and Bluff and 1st and Main. The stop at 5th & Main in front of the
Five Flags Holiday Inn is already a bus loading area and there is already a
KeyLine bus stop at 3rd and Bluff north of St. Raphael Cathedral. Bus shelters
are proposed for both of these locations as there is sufficient space to
accommodate this level of boarding amenity. Benches are proposed for the stops
at 8th and Main and 1st and Main. All shelters, benches and signage will be
subject to Port of Dubuque design standards and Historic Preservation review.
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The proposed shelters would be 5' X 10' in dimension, dark green aluminum
frame with decorative grill work, clear tempered glass, ridge roof, with pedestal
benches. A trolley stop logo would be displayed on each shelter that would
match the logo on the trolley stop signs located throughout the route. Total cost
for the shelters, benches and stop signs for the Downtown and Port of Dubuque
Shuttle route is estimated at $20,000.
KeyLine currently has an approved CIP for $510,000 for the construction of
Passenger Boarding Facilities in the Downtown and Port of Dubuque area. The
original project proposed construction of a comfort station in the Port of Dubuque
and shelters and canopy structures throughout the Downtown area. $102,000 in
local matching funds was budgeted and $128,644 in federal funds has been
secured. To date, $22,044 in expenses has been charged to this CIP for design
and consulting services provided by LSA Design.
The preliminary design work of LSA Design produced costs estimates of
$629,699 for the comfort station proposed for the Port of Dubuque which was
more than three times the original costs budgeted. Upon review of this estimate
and in consideration for the limited use such a facility could offer, the 4th Street
Workgroup determined that the original concept for the comfort station was not
cost effective and that a long term and comprehensive plan for a Transit and
Parking Intermodal facility in the Port of Dubuque area should be explored.
This preliminary design work conducted by LSA Design significantly reduced the
scope of the original Passenger Boarding Facility project to $20,000 leaving
$111,009 in federal funds and $98,991 in local match funds available in the
Passenger Boarding Facility CIP for potential use in other transit capital
improvements.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is aware of the City's efforts to maintain
intercity bus service in Dubuque with Greyhound Bus Lines and how limited the
existing transit facility is for passenger waiting and package and luggage
handling. Iowa DOT is also aware of how automated ticket systems have
benefited other Iowa transit systems offering intercity bus service through more
efficient ticket processing and package delivery. Estimated cost to extend
existing waiting area of the administrative office into the transit garage and to
purchase an automated ticket system is $43,783. To that end, the Iowa DOT
Intercity Bus Assistance Program has approved $35,026 as 80% funding for
estimated building and ticket system improvements at KeyLine. The 20% local
match required is $8,757.
Kueny Architect has increased the transit cost allocation estimates of the
Municipal Garage by $35,727 since the project was originally programmed in the
City's Capital Improvement Program. All of this increase could be funded using
$28,582 federal and $7,145 local funds in the Passenger Boarding Facility CIP.
In a related development affecting the Downtown and Port of Dubuque shuttle
service, it was determined that the City was obligated under the bargaining
agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union to negotiate jobs in the new
transit service with the transit union before contracting with a private carrier.
Personnel Manager Randy Peck and I are meeting with the union
representatives with the goal of reaching an agreement prior to the Memorial
weekend debut of the new service. All private carriers interested in providing the
service have been notified of this change in plan.
Action Requested
I am requesting the following actions regarding the projects referred to in this
memo:
. I recommend that the original concept ofthe Passenger Boarding
Facility project be delayed in favor of exploring federal funding
opportunities for a Transit and Parking Intermodal Facility in the Port of
Dubuque area.
. I am requesting approval to purchase and install shelters at the
locations identified earlier in this memo along the Downtown and Port
of Dubuque shuttle route at an estimated cost of $20,000. Funding for
this project is available in the approved Passenger Boarding Facility
CIP.
. I am requesting that $8,757 in local matching funds be redirected from
the approved Passenger Boarding Facility CIP to be directed to the
Iowa Department of Transportation Intercity Bus grant to expand the
waiting and boarding area at the KeyLine offices and to purchase a
Greyhound Bus Lines automated ticketing system.
. I am requesting that the balance of federal and local funds from the
Passenger Boarding Facility CIP be redirected to the increased transit
cost allocation estimates for the Municipal Garage currently estimated
at $35,727 and any other approved and eligible transit capital projects
including the purchase of additional transit bus shelters throughout the
KeyLine transit system.
Cc:
Bill Baum, Economic Development Director
Downtown and Port of Dubuque Shuttle
Proposed Frame, Grill Work
And Bench Design
For Downtown Trolley Shelters
lu PASSEN.GJ:A.S_IiELIER .
Proposed Ridge Roof Design
For Downtown Trolley Shelters
I PASSENGER SHELTER