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Port of Dbq Passenger Bdg Facil D~ ~<k~ 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 f{)uL..O c U~ nzJY.~ Michael C. Van Milligen . CH+) KeyLine Transit 2401 Central Avenue Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3302 (563) 589-4196 office (563) 589-4340 fax (563) 690-6678 roD D~ ~<k~ 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. 5ffvke People Integrity Re'ponsibility Innovation Teamwmk 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