DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI)
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Joint Use Agreement: VIA Metropolitan Transit use of City-properties.
SUMMARY:
Consideration of the following ordinances related to the installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. An ordinance authorizing the execution of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, at 12 existing bus stops, located in Council Districts 1, 2, and 5 on city owned or controlled property.
B. An ordinance authorizing execution of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit for future placement of passenger amenities on city owned or controlled property, citywide.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
VIA has the right to construct bus stops within the public right-of-way as authorized under the Texas Transportation Code. In order to determine the need for a bus stop and its level of amenities, each location 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.
VIA has a three year plan to install approximately 1,000 “Next Gen” modular shelters throughout the City. These shelters include lighting, benches, trash cans, unobstructed landing pads and sidewalk connections. However, VIA is unable to place its Next Gen shelters in some areas due to a lack of, or constrained right-of-way.
A. VIA Metropolitan Transit requested a Joint Use Agreement to place passenger amenities and ADA improvements at existing bus stops on twelve City-owned properties. All sites require less than 300 square feet, with the exception of Fire Station #10 on Culebra and Zarzamora which is located on the corner of the street and has bus stops on both the Culebra side and the Zarzamora side.
The twelve City owned properties include:
1. Culebra at Zarzamora
2. S. St. Mary’s & Chavez
3. Buena Vista at Calaveras
4. Zarzamora at Culebra
5. Vance Jackson near La Manda
6. Fredericksberg Road at French
7. Nogalitos at Ripford
8. McCullough at Ashby
9. Nolan between Live Oak and Chestnut
10. Walters at Gabriel
11. New Braunfels at East Commerce
12. E. Jones Street at Broadway Street
B. 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. 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 ordinances related to installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. This ordinance authorizes the execution of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, at twelve existing bus stops, located in Council Districts 1, 2, and 5 on city owned or controlled property.
If approved, VIA may place amenities, shelters and improvements on 12 city-owned locations as identified in Exhibits A-C; and with conditions imposed and outlined in the Letter of Agreement (Exhibit D).
B. This ordinance authorizes approval of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit for future placement of passenger amenities on city owned or controlled property on city owned or controlled property, citywide.
If the Master Joint Use Agreement 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.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to authorize 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:
A. Staff recommends for the 12 bus stops a waiver of all payments and fees, including fair market value, since the improvements will be beneficial to the public in addition to enhancing access to city facilities. The estimated value of the waiver is approximately $9,780.00. 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.
B. Staff recommends for the Joint Use Agreement to provide waivers of all payments and fees, including fair market value, since the improvements will be beneficial to the public in addition to enhancing access to city facilities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of ordinances related to installation of VIA Metropolitan Transit improvements on city property:
A. An ordinance authorizing the execution of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit to place passenger amenities, at 12 existing bus stops, located in Council Districts 1, 2, and 5 on city owned or controlled property.
B. An ordinance authorizing execution of a Joint Use Agreement between the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit for future placement of passenger amenities on city owned or controlled property, citywide.