Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Naming TAPS the McKinney UZA Direct Recipient and the Urban Transit District
Summary
MEETING DATE: May 7, 2013
DEPARTMENT: Development Services/Engineering
CONTACT: Gary Graham, PE, PTOE, Transportation Engineering Manager
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
· Approval of the Resolution.
ITEM SUMMARY:
· Approval of this Resolution will:
- Designate TAPS as the Direct Recipient for the McKinney UZA.
- Designate TAPS as the Urban Transit District for the McKinney UZA.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
· An Urban Transit District is a local governmental body or political subdivision that operates a public transportation system in an urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000 but less than 200,000 and is eligible to receive funds from the Texas Department of Transportation.
· Chapter 458 of the Texas Transportation Code requires the designation of an Urban Transit District.
· On April 15, 2013, the City Council received a presentation regarding transit issues related to the McKinney UZA. A copy of the memo for that agenda item is attached for reference.
· At the conclusion of the discussion at the work session, the Council directed the City Manager to start negotiating an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with TAPS to define expectations of both parties.
· The initial term of the ILA is recommended to be two years. After two years, the City Council will revisit the Direct Recipient issue and determine if the ILA should be extended or if a different course of action is needed.
· The deal points of the ILA include the following:
- Assurance that TAPS will meet the needs of the McKinney UZA.
- Planning of new routes and services based on the Collin County Needs Assessment that will be completed this summer and public outreach.
- Reporting to the City Council on financial stability and ridership reports.
- Planning for the development of a transit station in McKinney.
· The following actions will occur after this resolution is approved:
- The City Manager will continue to negotiate the ILA with TAPS. As soon as the negotiations are complete, the ILA will be brought back to Council for approval.
- TxDOT is tentatively scheduled to take action finalizing the change in Direct Recipient status from CCART to TAPS at the May 30th Texas Transportation Commission.
- TAPS will expand its Board of Directors to include an additional seat to represent the McKinney UZA.
- A representative will need to be appointed to the TAPS Board of Directors to represent the McKinney UZA.
· At the April 22, 2013 Collin County Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners named TAPS as the Rural Transit District.
· As the Collin County Rural Transit District, TAPS has expanded its Board of Directors to include two additional seats; one seat for the County and another seat for McKinney (as the County Seat).
· A representative will need to be appointed to the TAPS Board of Directors to represent McKinney as the County Seat.
· The effective date for TAPS to be the Rural Transit District is July 1, 2013.
· TxDOT has indicated they would prefer that the effective date of the transition of Direct Recipient and Urban Transit District status be the same date as the Collin County Rural Transit District transition, July 1, 2013.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
· The City currently provides $100,000 per year in funding for public transportation.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
· N/A