Explanation
Background: This resolution supports the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter a grant application to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) which will be used to create a regional pilot expansion for the CoGo Bike Share Program. The project will provide 26 bike share stations and 232 additional bikes to expand the existing CoGo network. The project involves direct collaboration of Columbus, Bexley, Grandview Heights, and Upper Arlington jurisdictions. The grant requires a 20% match. Pilot expansion will provide:
Upper Arlington 5 stations
Grandview Heights 4 stations
Bexley 4 stations
Columbus 13 stations
CoGo Bike Share launched in 2013 in the downtown core of Columbus. The 30 station network was limited in size and scope, and data shows that ridership increased significantly as the system expanded from downtown into the Harrison West, Short North, OSU campus, and Weinland Park areas. August 2016 projections show that ridership in 2016 will increase over 15% from 2015. Public survey response clearly indicates that expanding the reach of bike share into the inner ring suburbs of Grandview Heights, Bexley, and Upper Arlington is a high priority, and the four jurisdictions have joined together for this funding application. The expansion offers much wider utilitarian use for bike share, including access to more transit stops, community retail centers, cultural destinations, trails, employment centers, and attractions. In early 2016, MORPC convened a summit to gauge the interest of communities surrounding Columbus about initiating bike share within their area. From these early sessions, a four city joint collaboration was formed, and several individual planning sessions during March to June lead to a proposed pilot project. The planning phase looked at costs, system connectivity, funding options, and an intercity MOU operational plan. Each city was charged with identifying proposed sites, with Columbus charged with planning how their expansion could tie together with the existing 46 station network with the expansion area.
Principal Parties:
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
111 East Liberty Street, Columbus, OH 43215
William Murdoch 614-228-2663
31-1009675
Emergency Justification: An emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to receive this resolution of support as it is required to be submitted by September 30, 2016.
Benefits to the Public: Bike Share provides a low cost, easy access network of bikes throughout an 8 mile service area for thousands of residents, workers, and visitors.
Bike sharing is a rapidly growing piece of the nation's urban transportation fabric. The economic impacts of expanding transit options such as bike share in large cities is well documented. A key economic impact will also be the expansion of bike share into low opportunity areas of bike access---Linden, Near East side, Milo Grogan and Franklinton.
The expansion project each year is projected to reduce the carbon footprint of the region by over 60 tons of CO 2. (Coupled with the existing system, bike share would attribute to a total reduction of over 180 tons/year of CO 2.) Currently CoGo accounts for almost 4,000 miles/week of use.
Community Input Issues: The following stakeholders have been involved in this expansion pilot project:
Columbus Departments: Recreation and Parks, Economic Development, Planning, Public Service, Health
City of Bexley
City of Grandview Heights
City of Upper Arlington
MORPC (Transportation Section)
Public surveys
Private developers (NRI, Kaufman, Casto, Ruscilli)
Franklinton Development Association
Franklinton Trade Association
Franklinton Civic Association
CCSID (Capital Crossroads Special Improvements District)
YAY Bikes
Area(s) Affected:
Columbus: Expanded network to Fifth by Northwest (9), Linden (14), Near East side (19), Franklin Park (19), University District (13)
Bexley: Downtown
Grandview Heights: Downtown, Grandview Yard
Upper Arlington: Downtown, Lane Avenue corridor
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the mission of the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors; improving the environmental health of the city; and improving access to parks, employment centers, community centers, retail, and attractions.
Fiscal Impact: None. A future ordinance will address appropriation of matching funding.
Title
To issue a resolution of support for the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter a grant application to create a regional pilot expansion for the CoGo Bike Share Program, and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is currently accepting applications for funding; and
WHEREAS, a Resolution of Support from City Council, included in the grant applications, is required by the grantor in order for the application to be complete; and
WHEREAS, the Recreation and Parks Department wishes to apply for a grant for the improvements to create a regional pilot expansion for the CoGo Bike Share Program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to obtain approval to apply for said grant as it is required to be submitted by September 30, 2016; and NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized and directed to apply for a grant with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to create a regional pilot expansion for the CoGo Bike Share Program
SECTION 2. That this resolution of support authorizes an application for the grant funds only, and is not a commitment to expend City funds.
SECTION 3. That future legislation will follow to authorize acceptance, appropriation and expenditure of funds.
SECTION 4. That the City of Columbus does agree to obligate the funds required to satisfactorily complete the proposed project and become eligible for reimbursement under the terms and conditions of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this resolution is hereby 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.