Explanation
Background:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to renew a contract (renewal 2) with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District (Capital Crossroads SID) to participate in the Downtown C-Pass Program; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $33,088.50 from the Capital South Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $20,000.00 each from the General Fund for the Departments of Development and Finance and Management; to authorize the expenditure of $20,0000.00 from the Street Construction Maintenance Funds for the Department of Public Service; and to authorize the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the Development Services Fund for the Department of Building and Zoning Services.
The Capital Crossroads SID has developed a transit pass program called the Downtown C-Pass Program (the Program) for eligible employers and employees in downtown Columbus in partnership with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). The Program provides unlimited access to COTA transportation services at no additional cost to employees. Council approved city participation in the program pursuant to Ordinance 1465-2018, approved by Columbus City Council on May 21, 2018. The Program will last for 31 months from June 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020.
The goal of the Program is to proactively address parking shortages within the Capital Crossroads SID that threaten the further development of Downtown Columbus. Since June 2018, the C-pass program has provided 1.6 million rides and enrolled more than 440 companies and 15,100 employees. A survey completed by the Capital Crossroads SID in May and June of 2019 found that:
• 34% of surveyed companies reported that the Program is helping them retain workers
• 34% of surveyed companies reported that the Program is helping them recruit employees.
• 17 companies ...
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