Transportation in Washoe County Lee Gibson, Executive Director February 15, 2011
RTC OF WASHOE COUNTY Metropolitan Planning Organization Meet long term needs Deliver federal funding Program projects in coordination with local partners and NDOT Street and Highway provider Administer RTC highway revenues Design and deliver regional roadways Public Transit Provider Operate fixed route services Provide paratransit services E-2
Street and Highways County fuel tax Sales Tax RTC Funding Sources Regional Road Impact Fee Federal Highway Administration funds Surface Transportation Program Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds (CMAQ) Other federal funds Note: Fuel tax is indexed to inflation pursuant to NRS. 373.066 E-3
RTC Funding Sources Continued Public Transportation Sales tax, Passenger Fares, Advertising Federal Transit Administration Formula funds Discretionary funds Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Funds Note: CMAQ and Sales tax revenues are the only fund sources that RTC can use for both transit and highway projects E-4
MPO Planning Framework Public Involvement Fiscal Constraint 20 Year Regional Transportation Plan 4 year Transportation Improvement Program 2 Year Unified Planning Work Program Project Development Safety & Security Economic Vitality Access, Connectivity, Efficiency & System Preservation Implementation & Operation E-5 Environment
What Does RTC Mean to Our Community? Investment and Jobs In FY 2011, the RTC will invest approximately $236 million in Washoe County: Street and Highways: Public Transportation Capital: Public Transportation Operating: RTC Agency Exp: $172 million $23 million $33 million $8 million What Does This Mean? Approximately 2,038 Construction jobs and 500 Transit Jobs. E-6
How Does RTC Operate? Public Private Partnerships Street and Highway Program Transit Program Consensus and cooperation Local government and NDOT E-7
Streamlined Agency Operations Employees E-8
Street and Highway Accomplishments of FY 2010 and 2011 Completion of Vista Blvd. Widening - $10 million RTC Investment Meadowood Interchange RTC Investment of $18.3 million (ARRA Funds) U.S. 395 Northbound RTC Investment of $20 million I-80 Corridor Shared investment with NDOT Geiger Grade Roundabout Pavement Preservation Program 2009-2011 - $136 million CY2009-282 Miles CY2010-552 Miles CY2011-253 Miles E-9
Big 6 Projects Could create an estimated *10,560 jobs in today s dollars South East Connector Moana Lane Widening Pyramid/McCarran Intersection US 395/Pyramid Connector Southeast McCarran I580 Meadowood Interchange *Estimated Jobs Based on Restrepo Report E-10
What Does Transit Mean To This Community? 218,000 Paratransit Rides per year: 597 per day Serving people with special needs Majority of rides are for medical appointments Over 8 Million rides per year on Fixed Route System 22,000 Rides Per Day 50% of all Rides are Work Related E-11
Public Transportation Accomplishments 4 TH STREET STATION October 2010 Approximately $15.2 million construction investment (ARRA Funds $3.7 million, Federal and CMAQ Funds) Jobs estimated at 467 (June 2009-October 2010) RTC RAPID Service (Virginia Street Corridor) Implemented October 2010. Increased ridership of approximately 7% New RAPID Transit Stations - August 2011 Design concept E-12
Public Transportation Challenges Sales Tax Revenue Decreases Farebox Revenue Decreases Service Cuts Nearly 13% Currently operating service levels similar to 1991 Cannot keep up with needs in our community E-13
Public Transportation Actions Restructure route and schedules Implement new delivery model Make investments in key corridors Virginia Street streetcar 4 th Street Corridor E-14
Regional Transportation Plan Update Develop community-based vision to address changing needs Promote livability & prosperity Focus on operations Leverage federal funding Schedule March 2011 Begin traffic model update August 2011 Develop goals & objectives Spring 2012 Develop alternatives Fall 2012 Complete draft RTP Spring 2013 Finalize RTP E-15
Traffic Operations Infrastructure Program Designed to deploy technology and provide real time signal coordination Provides enhanced on-street operations Improved level of service Reductions in emissions E-16
Virginia Street Streetcar Project Most productive transit route in the system 6,000 riders per day 7.5 percent increase this year Connects the region s largest employers UNR; Downtown; RSCVA Center; 8,500 hotel rooms. E-17
Virginia Street Streetcar Project (continued) Promotes economic development Generates $1.0 billion in new projects 6 times return on project investment Reinforces pedestrian access, livability, and neighborhood identity Uses existing RAPID investment for stations E-18
Complete Streets Program Designing roads for all transportation users: Improves safety & health Enhances multimodal connectivity Promotes economic development Includes landscaping/beautification Implementation Bike lanes added during road maintenance / resurfacing Multimodal features included in new construction design Bike/ped & ADA plan identify needs throughout community E-19
Support for Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition Participating in venue and transportation needs identification process Providing GIS support to RTWGC Will incorporate transportation needs into regional transportation plans E-20