DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI)
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1, 2 and 5; City-wide
SUBJECT: Disposition. Joint Use Agreement: VIA Metropolitan Transit use of City-properties.
SUMMARY: Consideration of the following resolutions related to installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements at thirteen existing bus stops at twelve locations owned, and one location controlled by, the City of San Antonio.
B. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements on city owned or controlled property throughout the City of San Antonio, including all 10 city council districts.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
VIA Metropolitan Transit requested a Joint Use Agreement to place passenger amenities and ADA improvements at existing bus stops on twelve City-owned properties, and one property controlled by the City’s Parks Department. The locations are 1107 Culebra Road (one stop on Culebra and one stop on Zarzamora), 107 King William, 2322 Buena Vista Street, 1310 Vance Jackson, 1430 W Cesar E Chavez Blvd., 726 Fredericksburg Road, 2100 Nogalitos Street, East Ashby Place (McCullough @ Ashby in NCB 2995, Block 5), 210 Nolan, 1526 N. Walters, Cemetery #4 (in NCB 1418, New Braunfels @ East Commerce) and Maverick Jones Park (E. Jones Street @ Broadway Street in NCB 459), Council Districts 1, 2 and 5. All sites require less than 300 square feet, with the exception of Fire Station #10 on Culebra and Zarzamora which requires a stop on both Culebra and Zarzamora. (Exhibit A and B)
Due to a lack of, or constrained right-of-way, VIA has been unable to place adequate passenger amenities, and in many cases, achieve ADA accessibility at these locations. Amenities include modular shelters with lighting, benches and trash cans. ADA accessibility includes unobstructed landing pads and sidewalk connections.
The proposed improvements impact a significant number of VIA’s ridership. Each bus stop is scored based on average daily boarding information, average peak hour headway (how often the bus comes), number of routes at each stop, and presence of nearby educational, medical, elderly, grocery or multi-family facilities. The score assists in the placement of VIA investment and passenger amenities to insure the most benefit will be realized by the improvement. In general, a stop must score 15 or higher to warrant a shelter. (Exhibit C)
The City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit anticipate future requests to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements on city-owned or controlled properties. The improvements will facilitate and encourage use of city facilities such as parks, senior centers and other municipal facilities. The city provided a list of city properties (Exhibit E) that could be potential sites for future improvements by VIA. A Master Joint Use Agreement has been drafted in which the parties have set up a review process by the Proprietor Department, Traffic Engineering, Fire and the Office of Historic Preservation for future requests to use city properties. If the property is approved through the review process, the location(s) will be added to the Master Joint Use Agreement.
ISSUE: Consideration of the following resolutions related to installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements at thirteen existing bus stops at twelve locations owned, and one location controlled by, the City of San Antonio.
If approved, VIA may place amenities, shelters and improvements on twelve city-owned; and one city-controlled location as identified in Exhibits A-C; and with conditions imposed and outlined in the Letter of Agreement (Exhibit D).
B. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements on city owned or controlled property throughout the City of San Antonio, including all 10 city council districts.
If the Master JUA is approved, Council is approving future requests to use properties as listed in Exhibit E, so long as VIA coordinates future requests with the Proprietor Department, Traffic Engineering, Fire and Historic Preservation.
SUMMARY: Consideration of the following resolutions related to installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements at thirteen existing bus stops at twelve locations owned, and one location controlled by, the City of San Antonio;
B. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements on city owned or controlled property throughout the City of San Antonio, including all 10 city council districts.
ALTERNATIVES:
Planning Commission could choose not to support this request, however, if the Joint Use Agreement is not approved, the stops will remain without adequate passenger amenities and ADA connectivity and VIA Metropolitan Transit may need to seek other locations for the installation of shelters and amenities to improve service for its passengers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The processing fees are waived for this Joint Use Agreement under Municipal Code, Chapter 37-2(r). Staff recommends waiver of any additional payment or fee, including fair market value, since the improvements will be beneficial to the public in addition to enhancing access to city facilities. VIA Metropolitan Transit completed the required metes and bounds surveys at its expense and will pay for design and construction of proposed improvements. Once completed, VIA will maintain all improvements.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of resolutions related to installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements at thirteen existing bus stops at twelve locations owned, and one location controlled by, the City of San Antonio.
B. A resolution recommending approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, including bus shelters, and ADA improvements on city owned or controlled property throughout the City of San Antonio, including all 10 city council districts.