INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM"

James York
5 years ago
Views:

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: City Cuncil FROM: Michael Zuzel, Mayr s Office DATE: August 5, 2008 SUBJECT: Alternative Transprtatin Initiatives Recent dramatic increases in fuel csts, cupled with the

transprtatin and air quality. In respnse t an inquiry frm Cuncil Member Clegg, I have assembled the fllwing infrmatin regarding these initiatives, bth prpsed and already in place.

1 INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: City Cuncil FROM: Michael Zuzel, Mayr s Office DATE: August 5, 2008 SUBJECT: Alternative Transprtatin Initiatives Recent dramatic increases in fuel csts, cupled with the grwing likelihd that the federal gvernment will declare the Treasure Valley an air quality nnattainment area, underscre the imprtance f the City f Bise s effrts in the areas f alternative transprtatin and air quality. In respnse t an inquiry frm Cuncil Member Clegg, I have assembled the fllwing infrmatin regarding these initiatives, bth prpsed and already in place. It is imprtant t nte that implementatin prcesses have already been established fr mst prpsed new initiatives. Fr example, changes t fleet management, such as the take-hme vehicle plicy, are being reviewed and enacted by the Executive Management Team. Similarly, the 87 recmmendatins by the Climate Prtectin Prgram Advisry Cmmittee (CPPAC) are being vetted and priritized by Public Wrks staff fr presentatin t the Mayr and City Cuncil at a September wrkshp, per the Cuncil s request. It is als wrth nting that cnsiderable verlap exists between the recmmendatins and initiatives f varius subunits f City gvernment. Fr example, the CCPAC s recmmendatin that the City adpt an anti-idling plicy has already been enacted by EMT. The Mayr s Office welcmes suggestins regarding initiatives nt included n this list and/r thse that shuld be fast-tracked tward implementatin. Emplyee Initiatives: Current A list f City f Bise sustainability initiatives is available t the public n the City s Web site ( The infrmatin is easily accessible by clicking n the Sustainable Bise lg n the hme page. Amng the City s initiatives pertaining t alternative transprtatin fr emplyees: Bise City emplyees can participate in the BEAT (Bise Emplyee Alternative Transprtatin) Prgram, which prvides incentives fr emplyees t keep their cars at hme. During the mnth f

2 July 2008, 64 emplyees participated in BEAT, saving a ttal f mre than 2,000 single-ccupancy vehicle trips (tw per wrk day). Incentives include a variety f items, such as: Free bus passes fr all City emplyees (ID badges are bus passes). Free parking fr cars with three r mre riders. Pre-tax payrll deductin f up t $100 per mnth fr a tax-free vanpl pass. Up t $40 per year fr walking shes fr emplyees wh walk t and frm wrk at least 60% f the time between April and Octber. Free bike lcks and up t $40 bicycle repair credit per year fr emplyees wh ride a bike at least 60% f the time between April and Octber. The City maintains an alternative transprtatin page n the Inside Web site, where emplyees can get infrmatin regarding the prgram, including mnthly prizes fr participatin. The page als includes links t ACHD s latest Wrd n the Street newsletter, recent changes t ValleyRide bus rutes and schedules, and the Rideshare Online Web site, which allws individuals t hk up with ther cmmuters t frm carpls. Parking Services currently uses tw bicycles fr n-street parking patrl. Future plans include adding mre bicycles t the Parking patrl fleet. City emplyee use f alternative transprtatin is such that the City this year was named a Platinum Transprtatin Champin, the highest level, in the annual May in Mtin prgram. T earn the Platinum citatin, an emplyer must prvide at least five alternative transprtatin incentives and/r subsides; achieve a 15% r higher participatin f emplyees during the mnth f May; and cnduct five different internal prmtins. With the award, the City f Bise received recgnitin at the Alternative Transprtatin Champin awards lunchen and thrugh ads/prmtinal spts n ValleyRide buses and in the Idah Statesman, Idah Business Review, Bise Metr Chamber f Cmmerce newsletter and NPR News 91. The City f Bise s Emplyee Wellness Prgram distributes a newsletter mnthly via t all City emplyees. The newsletter frequently includes infrmatin n the benefits f walking, bicycling and ther frms f physical activity. Past newsletters are archived n the City s Inside Web site. The City has a flexible schedules regulatin, 3.10b, in the Emplyee Plicy Handbk. That regulatin indicates that as a benefit t emplyees, the City allws emplyees t adjust their wrk requirements t accmmdate persnal, family, and ther bligatins. The City allws emplyees t have flexible schedules and cmpressed wrkweeks when these arrangements align with the City s r a department s business needs and the requirements f this regulatin are fllwed. Emplyee Initiatives: Prpsed The City s Executive Management Team is currently assessing a range f alternative wrk schedules that have the ptential t reduce fuel csts and prtect air quality. Amng the alternatives under cnsideratin are telecmmuting and a fur-day, 10-hur-a-day wrk week fr emplyees whse wrk assignments might permit them. The City f Bise s Climate Prtectin Prgram Advisry Cmmittee cmpleted its wrk last mnth and will present its final reprt t the City Cuncil during a wrk sessin in September. Amng its 87 recmmendatins are many pertaining t transprtatin including: Develp a database with infrmatin n fuel use and mileage recrds fr each city vehicle. This database shuld be cmpleted and a baseline year data established by July Reduce use f fssil fuels frm baseline year by 40% by 2014 r within 5 years f the cmpletin f baseline database. Strategies t reduce fssil fuel use shuld include, but nt be limited t: imprving efficiency f vehicle use; the right vehicle fr the right functin analyzing driving practices 2

3 instituting an anti-idling plicy preparing a life cycle analysis that includes purchase/fuel payback perids, maintenance csts and a phase ut gal fr each vehicle using mre bifuels purchasing additinal hybrids and electric vehicles encuraging use f plug-in hybrids as they cme int the market Expand the emplyee alternative transprtatin ptins t include, but nt be limited t: a plicy allwing fr telecmmuting a plicy allwing emplyees t take vehicles hme t imprve efficiency f fuel use The airprt shuld wrk with airlines t reduce emissins frm airline activities. Increase signage and rute infrmatin fr the bus stp at the airprt. Cntinue t supprt the public transit system. Explre ptins t encurage city emplyees t live in Bise. The City s new fleet management system is taking steps t reduce fuel use and emissins. Amng the steps nearing cmpletin are an anti-idling plicy, preference fr alternative-fuel r high-mileage vehicles, and prcedures requiring justificatin fr additins t the fleet. In Nvember 2007, the City Cuncil hsted a cmmunity Air Quality Summit t gather citizen input regarding ways t address the Treasure Valley s wrsening air pllutin prblem. As a result f that prcess, Cuncil staff develped the fllwing recmmendatins regarding City peratins: Cntinue t supprt the City s Fleet Manager as he creates and maintains a tracking prgram n the fuel needs f the city fleet. Included in this is a gradual mve t acquire mre fuelefficient vehicles (such as hybrids) t replace the City s existing fleet as they are phased ut. Create and maintain a database f the amunts f water, electricity and natural gas used by all City departments in rder t track reductins and surces. Citizen Initiatives: Current The City f Bise is the largest single prvider f alternative transprtatin services in the Treasure Valley, prviding a General Fund subsidy f nearly $4.8 millin (69%) f ValleyRide s $7 millin FY 2008 perating budget (nt including additinal expenditures fr capital equipment, inter-cunty express services and dues). Amng the ther alternative transprtatin initiatives spnsred by the City f Bise t benefit its citizens: Annually, the Mayr presents the City f Bise s EnvirGuard Awards t businesses that implement pllutin preventin measures, wrk t reduce their envirnmental ftprint and serve as stewards f ur natural resurces. Amng the initiatives cnsidered fr recgnitin are a business effrts t encurage alternative transprtatin amng its emplyees. The City f Bise each year is a majr spnsr f May in Mtin, a mnth-lng prmtin designed t reward Treasure Valley emplyers fr educating their emplyees abut transprtatin-related issues and encurage their participatin in transprtatin alternatives thrugh a variety f exciting events and activities. City Hall Plaza each year hsts the kickff f Bise Bike Week, designed t encurage cmmuters t leave their cars behind and use bikes as much as pssible. Citizen Initiatives: Prpsed Amng the City f Bise Climate Prtectin Prgram Advisry Cmmittee s cmmunity recmmendatins regarding transprtatin: 3

4 Supprt reginal planning activities that prmte crdinated land use and transprtatin planning, such as: Cmmunities in Mtin Treasure Valley High Capacity Transit Study State Street Crridr Implementatin Study ACHD's Transprtatin Land Use Integratin Plan (TLIP) Blueprint fr Gd Grwth (specifically the requirements fr adequate public facilities) Cnsider carbn reductins in reginal transprtatin planning activities, such as encuraging high-ccupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes n 1-84 between Caldwell and Muntain Hme. Supprt State legislatin that allws a lcal ptin sales tax fr transprtatin prjects that include transit ptins. Supprt Blueprint Bise and the incrpratin f sustainable plicies that reduce the use f fssil fuels. Supprt Transit Oriented Develpment (TOD) by: cnsidering and implementing methds and strategies t reduce carbn emissins in transprtatin planning activities giving incentives fr Accessry Dwelling Units (ADUs) t increase density and supprt transit alng traffic crridrs encuraging lenders t ffer Lcatin Efficient Mrtgages (LEMs) t prmte clser living and wrking prximities reducing barriers and prviding incentives t develp wrkfrce husing in the dwntwn area Examine distributin f city services as strategies t reduce custmer vehicle miles travelled (VMT), including, but nt limited t facilities such as libraries and City Hall West. Encurage mre emplyer alternative transprtatin prgrams by creating a Transprtatin Demand Management Plan (TDNIP) prgram fr develpers, building wners, and emplyers. Bise City culd prvide incentives including, but nt limited t: density bnuses fr large, mixed use develpments zning changes allw parking space reductins where apprpriate expand existing dwntwn parking districts t increase the size f areas where ptinal parking schemes are allwed Create a Transprtatin Demand Management Plan (TDMP) fr dwntwn Bise. Develp an anti-idling rdinance. Develp cmbustin free znes where vehicles are prhibited. Prvide free, shrt term, street parking fr hybrids and/r electric vehicles r ther lw C02 emitting vehicles t encurage cmmercial traffic and discurage dwntwn emplyee parking. Wrk with apprpriate entities t: increase the number f effective traffic calming techniques at apprpriate lcatins develp a scaled fee system fr parking garages where fuel efficient vehicles are charged less than ther vehicles prvide electric vehicle charging statins partner in neighbrhd/shared (Flex) vehicle prgram prvide better transprtatin t Bgus Basin Ski Resrt encurage the revitalizatin f the PACE car prgram 4

5 supprt the return f Amtrak service t Bise investigate ptins t "unbundle" parking space csts fr leases and membership fees at public and private supprt and encurage purchases f lcally prduced fd Supprt public educatin prgrams t raise the cnsciusness abut the benefits f fuel efficiency and lwering VMT's. Assist ACHD in btaining at least a silver rating in 5 years and a gld rating in 10 years frm the League f American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly Cmmunity Prgram. Supprt ACHD's Radways t Bikeways: Bicycle Master Plan fr Ada Cunty and prmte bicycling by assisting with: Bicycle and pedestrian safety, including but nt limited t: encuraging develpment f safe walk/bicycle rutes t schls cmpleting the sidewalk netwrk prviding public educatin n pedestrian and bike safety building safer bike lanes that are physically separated frm vehicle traffic (such as the bike path n Federal Way) increasing maintenance prgrams and regular sweeping f bike rutes prviding a cmprehensive bike trail system linking all majr emplyment and residential areas creating an fficial, safe, bike path thrugh dwntwn between State Street and the Greenbelt. supprt the installatin f a traffic signal at 8th and River Streets t assist pedestrian and bicycle Traffic Bicycle parking, including but nt limited t: increasing secure bicycle parking by subsidizing bike parking in parking garages. These areas shuld be mnitred and secure, prtected frm the elements, and in prximity t garage attendants incentivizing businesses with 50+ emplyees (r ver 20,000 ft2) and retailers t prvide bike strage and shwers: and increasing cde requirements fr bicycle parking and strage in high activity areas Supprt bicycling in public transit prjects including but nt limited t: installatin f a premium bicycle strage facility in the Multi-mdal Center that includes cvered, secure parking, shwers, restrms, lckers, and changing rms; repair statin; vending machines ffering patch kits, tubes, glves, and ther biking accessries; and increasing the bicycle carrying capacity n public transit vehicles. Study ptins fr a dwntwn "flex" bike prgram with lckers, lcks, and helmets. Cnsider a partnership with bicycle shps. As part f the Transprtatin Land Use Integratin Plan (TLIP), investigate the ptential fr narrwing rads when resurfacing s that bicycle lanes can be added. Increase the use f the Greenbelt by: widening lanes prviding lighting creating separate lanes fr pedestrians and cyclists prviding mre access spurs As a result f the Cuncil s Nvember 2007 Air Quality Summit, Cuncil staff develped the fllwing recmmendatins affecting citizens: Cntinue t supprt the enacting legislatin fr the expansin f the emissins testing prgram t cver a brader area than Ada Cunty. 5

6 Create free r reduced-cst parking spaces fr hybrid vehicles as well as identify areas that culd be used as pwer statins fr electric cars as mre becme available. Imprve the pen-burning rdinance. Enact a cvered-lads rdinance. Enact an anti-idling rdinance. Fllw the prgress f the State f Idah s prgram t investigate carbn-reductin methds and bring back any f the state recmmendatins that the City shuld lk at implementing. Lk int the cst f purchasing a secnd air-quality camera. Investigate a public educatin prgram fcusing n what members f the public can d t help imprve ur air quality as well as infrming them abut effrts currently under way in the City. Next Steps As nted previusly, review prcesses are under way fr the City s prpsed initiatives t address air quality and/r alternative transprtatin. If ther pprtunities have nt been addressed, r implementatin f particular initiatives shuld be accelerated, the Mayr s Office and EMT will wrk t address thse items. 6

2017 Active Allegheny Grant Program Program Guidelines

Redevelpment Authrity f Allegheny Cunty Nte: Fr infrmatin purpses nly. Prgram guidelines subject t change prir t next funding cycle. 2017 Active Allegheny Grant Prgram Prgram Guidelines Intrductin The