Department of Public Works
Reference: Approving the peer agency support of the BRT CO 7 Starter Service TIP #3
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Christopher Montoya, Assistant Director of Public Works
Date Prepared: September 22, 2022
PURPOSE
Requesting City Council’s approval of the Peer Agency Support for State Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Starter Service with the financial contribution of $200,000.00 to be paid in the amount of $100,000.00 per year and approving the resolution giving the City Manager, or Designee, authority to sign the letter of support to be submitted with the grant application by the City of Boulder. Per City Code Section 3-8-90, “All materials, supplies, equipment, service and construction contracts, except as otherwise provided in this Article, with an estimated cost of greater than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), shall be awarded through the formal bid process or the formal RFP process by the City Council.
STRATEGIC FOCUS AREA
Strong Regional Relationships and Partnerships
Financially Responsible
BACKGROUND
State Highway 7 (also known as CO7) is the major regional arterial from the City of Brighton to Boulder that crosses multiple cities and counties, providing the future planned location of the Bus Rapid Transit system and a corridor that connects the numerous communities for transportation and transit. In an effort to advance the BRT, a starter service has been proposed and supported by all the cities and counties along the corridor, including Boulder, Erie, Lafayette, Broomfield, and Thornton. Each local agency will be contributing the amount of $200,000.00 to support the grant funding requirements for the approximately $9,264,000.00 project.
The contribution of funds is necessary in order to meet the minimum grant funding requirements. The funding is anticipated to be required in the fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The service will provide needed transit along the corridor and provide the opportunity for residents to have alternative modes of transportation that currently do not exist. By 2040 it is projected there will be 56,000 new residents, 38,000 new jobs, and 8,500 to 9,800 boardings per day within the communities along the corridor.
Projects of large scale such as this can only be achieved by regional partnerships. This project is critical to connecting the communities along the region and the investment is project returns on investment in excess of 400%.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funding will be budgeted for the stated fiscal years.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the letter of support and financial contribution.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
Ø Approval as presented
Ø Reject
Attachments:
Ø FY2022-2027 TIP PROCESS: REQUEST FOR PEER AGENCY SUPPORT form
Ø Presentation