PRESENTER: Presenter
Brenadette Faust, Capital Projects Manager, Transportation & Capital Improvements
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SUBJECT: Title
Presentation and discussion on the recently formed Urban Transit District
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation & 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 Urbanized Area (UZA) 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.
On February 12, 2024, the New Braunfels City Council approved the Resolution 2024-R20 creating the New Braunfels Urban Transit District. This presentation will inform the Downtown Board about this newly formed District.