PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a resolution authorizing the City of New Braunfels to form an Urban Transit District as allowed under Chapter 458 Rural and Urban Transit Districts, of the Texas Transportation Code; and providing an effective date.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In February 2023 the City contracted with Alliance Transportation Group to develop a Transit Development Plan to guide the City in planning for transit and exploring public transportation options. The Transit Development Plan outlines the future of transportation in New Braunfels and provides a framework for implementing improved public transit. The plan was completed and presented to the City Council in October 2023 and was adopted by resolution on November 13, 2023.
In March, 2023, the Federal Transit Agency (FTA) informed the City that it had achieved a new Small Urban Area designation associated with the 2020 Census and became eligible to receive federal transit funds directly. New Braunfels was previously in the San Antonio Large Urban Area, with VIA Metropolitan Transit receiving federal funds and maintaining the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) Alamo Regional Transit (ART) demand response service in New Braunfels. As a small urban area, the City can be a direct recipient of federal and state transit funds or designate AACOG ART as the direct recipient for the New Braunfels UZA.
City staff has coordinated closely with Comal County, Guadalupe County and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) to gain concurrence from each agency for the City of New Braunfels to move forward with the creation of an Urban Transit District (UTD) as allowed by Chapter 458 of the Texas Transportation Code. The City received a resolution of support from AAMPO on January 22, 2024; from the Guadalupe County Commissioners Court on January 30, 2024 and Comal County Commissioners Court on February 1, 2024. Creation of the New Braunfels Urban Transit District (NBUTD) is required for the City to receive state and federal transit funds.
ISSUE:
Create a self-sustaining public transit system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Creation of the New Braunfels Urban Transit District allows the City to receive State and Federal Transit funds.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of a resolution creating the New Braunfels Urban Transit District and declaring an effective date.