Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service, or a designee, to enter into necessary administrative and maintenance and/or operations agreements with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project.
In 2019, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, and COTA formed a collaborative relationship for the purpose of facilitating the design and construction of certain public infrastructure improvements to accommodate predicted population growth in key regional growth corridors through denser development and coordinated investments in “high-capacity transit”.
The Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project, which is being administered by COTA, is a 9.3-mile mobility infrastructure project to improve transit service along the Broad Street corridor, consisting of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and up to seventeen (17) enhanced BRT stations between Rockbrook Crossing Avenue/Doherty Road and Washington Avenue, including segments off Broad Street along Cleveland Avenue, Long Street, and Washington Avenue. This effort is aligned with other City-led projects in the area.
The Department of Public Service and COTA mutually agree it is necessary for the parties to execute several agreements relative to the project outlining the obligations and responsibilities each will assume during the final design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and post-construction phases of the aforementioned project. This legislation seeks to authorize to execution of the following agreements between the Department of Public Service and COTA: 1) a Memorandum of Agreement or a similar instrument, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary; 2) an infrastructure maintenance agreement to facilitate the upkeep of general improvements constructed or installed within the public right-of-way as part of the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project; and 3) maintenance and operations agreements specifically concerning the Columbus Traffic Signal System (CTSS), the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) System, and the fiber optic components needed to support expansion of said systems. It also may be necessary for the Department of Public Service to waive certain permit application fees to facilitate the construction and maintenance of the planned public infrastructure improvements.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
The encumbrance and expenditure of any capital or operating funds the Department of Public Service may need to fulfill the obligations and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to the agreements contemplated herein will be legislated separately.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to facilitate the execution of the requisite Memorandum of Understanding by the parties on or about November 1, 2024, in order to maintain the project schedule established by COTA.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service, or a designee, to enter into necessary administrative and maintenance and/or operations agreements with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project, a 9.3-mile mobility infrastructure project to improve transit service along the Broad Street corridor; to authorize the Director of Public Service, or a designee, to waive application fees for permits controlled by the Department of Public Service and applied for by COTA and/or its contractor relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, and COTA previously formed a collaborative relationship for the purpose of facilitating the design and construction of certain public infrastructure improvements to accommodate predicted population growth in key regional growth corridors through denser development and coordinated investments in “high-capacity transit”; and
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) currently is administering the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project, described as a 9.3-mile mobility infrastructure project to improve transit service along the Broad Street corridor, consisting of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and up to seventeen (17) enhanced BRT stations between Rockbrook Crossing Avenue/Doherty Road and Washington Avenue, including segments off Broad Street along Cleveland Avenue, Long Street, and Washington Avenue; and
WHEREAS, that effort is aligned with other projects being administered by the Department of Public Service; and
WHEREAS, it is it is necessary for the parties to execute several agreements relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project outlining the obligations and responsibilities each will assume during the final design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, and post-construction phases of the aforementioned project; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service, or a designee, to enter into the requisite administrative and maintenance and/or operations agreements with COTA, and other entities as necessary, and to waive all application fees for permits controlled by the Department of Public Service and applied for by COTA and/or its contractor relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the passage of this legislation in order to facilitate the execution of the requisite Memorandum of Understanding by the parties on or about November 1, 2024, in order to maintain the project schedule established by COTA, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service, or a designee, is hereby authorized to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement, or a similar instrument, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, with the Central Ohio Transit Authority relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service, or a designee, is hereby authorized to enter into an infrastructure maintenance agreement with the Central Ohio Transit Authority, and other entities as necessary, to facilitate the upkeep of certain general improvements constructed or installed within the public right-of-way as part of the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service, or a designee, is hereby authorized to enter into maintenance and operations agreements with the Central Ohio Transit Authority, and other entities as necessary, specifically concerning the Columbus Traffic Signal System (CTSS), the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) System, and the fiber optic components needed to support expansion of said systems in conjunction with the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service, or a designee, is hereby authorized to waive all application fees for permits controlled by the Department of Public Service and applied for by COTA and/or its contractor relative to the Roadway - LinkUS - W Broad Corridor BRT project.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this ordinance.