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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 16 - Regional Rail Initiative/6 R!M ! ..1.1",�= MEMO TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: BRUNO RUMBELOW, ACTING CITY MANAGER 3Z MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 15, 2005 SUBJECT: REGIONAL RAIL INITIATIVE RECOMMENDATION: The City Council to consider a resolution supporting a regional rail initiative. FUNDING SOURCE: N/A BACKGROUND: A group of all of the state senators, state representatives, mayors and transportation providers in the Metroplex has been formed to study the feasibility of a Metroplex Regional Rail Project that could be funded through a half cent sales tax above the current cap of 8.25%. This project would provide seamless rail transportation between residents in Collin, Tarrant, Dallas, Johnson, Ellis and Denton counties. The Committee will begin meeting in December to work to complete their report by September 2006. The attached resolution of support is presented at the request of the Committee. JCH November 10, 2005 (10:08AM) October 24, 2005 The Honorable William D. (Bill) Tate Mayor City of Grapevine P. O. Box 95104 Grapevine, Texas 76099 Dear Mayor Tate: RECEIVED As you may be aware, one portion of House Bill 2702 as passed by the 79th Texas Legislature (extract attached) established a `Regional Transit System Review Committee' for a multi county area in North Texas. This Committee includes Senators and Representatives from these counties along with local elected officials and transportation provider representatives. We have established Tuesday, December 6th from 10:00am to 12:00pm in the Dupree Theater at the Irving Arts Center as the first meeting of the full Regional Transit System Review Committee as provided in HB 2702. You are encouraged to attend the meeting to review the RRA issue and discuss aspects of the RTI recommendations. The Center is located at 3333 North McArthur Blvd., in Irving. Parking will be available on the South side of the building. Please call (972) 252-7558 if you have any questions about directions. Prior to the meeting, we are requesting your local governing body (city, commission, or commissioners court) review the attached RTI recommendations, including the proposed commuter rail corridors. In order to evaluate the level of support for the corridors AND ADDITIONAL TAXES/FEES TO FUND AN RRA, a Resolution from your governing body is requested by Tuesday, November 22nd. Please forward a copy of the Resolution, or any other desired response, to Senator Shapiro's Capitol office, attention Sarah Bagwell. Members of the Legislative Delegation have reviewed work from the `Regional Transit Initiative (RTI)' conducted within the region in the last two years, along with recommendations submitted regarding creation of a Regional Rail Authority (RRA). It is noted that a key recommendation is additional revenue capability to fund an RRA with a preference to allow local option elections for additional sales tax capability above the current `cap' of 8.25%. This source of revenue seems to be highly unlikely within the near future due to other needs for sales tax revenue at the State level. Your interest and involvement is appreciated! Ax 1/ .je.v..,4SZr Senator Florence Shapiro Representative Fred Hill RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE REGIONAL TRANSIT INITIATIVE FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the urbanized area in the North Central Texas region needs seamless rail service in order to sustain regional mobility, a strong economy, and a high quality of life; and WHEREAS, DART, DCTA, and the T are existing regional transit service providers with established service areas and funding sources; and WHEREAS, much of the current and projected regional growth is occurring beyond the service areas of the existing transit service providers; and WHEREAS, seamless regional rail service should be provided by the existing three transit agencies and a single new entity working in cooperation with one another to achieve optimal efficiency and effectiveness; and WHEREAS, the provision of regional rail service outlined in adopted MPO planning documents will require a new annual revenue stream of approximately $165 million; and WHEREAS, legislative authority is needed to create an entity and funding source to build and operate regional rail service as outlined in adopted MPO planning documents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. This Council expresses its support for establishing a regional rail authority and levying an additional one half cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of seamless regional rail service on the corridors identified in the MPO -adopted regional rail plan. Section 2. This Council requests the Texas Legislature to grant authority to local governments to submit to their constituents a ballot issue to consider establishing a regional rail authority and levying an additional (beyond the two cent cap) one half cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of seamless regional rail service. Section 3. This Council commits in the event authority is granted by the Legislature to submit to its electorate a ballot issue to consider establishing a regional October 24, 2005 The Honorable William D. (Bill) Tate Mayor City of Grapevine P. O. Box 95104 Grapevine, Texas 76099 Dear Mayor Tate: RECEIVED rlC-i 2 ` 700 As you may be aware, one portion of House Bill 2702 as passed by the 79th Texas Legislature (extract attached) established a `Regional Transit System Review Committee' for a multi county area in North Texas. This Committee includes Senators and Representatives from these counties along with local elected officials and transportation provider representatives. We have established Tuesday, December 6th from 10:00am to 12:00pm in the Dupree Theater at the Irving Arts Center as the first meeting of the full Regional Transit System Review Committee as provided in HB 2702. You are encouraged to attend the meeting to review the RRA issue and discuss aspects of the RTI recommendations. The Center is located at 3333 North McArthur Blvd., in Irving. Parking will be available on the South side of the building. Please call (972) 252-7558 if you have any questions about directions. Prior to the meeting, we are requesting your local governing body (city, commission, or commissioners court) review the attached RTI recommendations, including the proposed commuter rail corridors. In order to evaluate the level of support for the corridors AND ADDITIONAL TAXES/FEES TO FUND AN RRA, a Resolution from your governing body is requested by Tuesday, November 22nd. Please forward a copy of the Resolution, or any other desired response, to Senator Shapiro's Capitol office, attention Sarah Bagwell. Members of the Legislative Delegation have reviewed work from the `Regional Transit Initiative (RTI)' conducted within the region in the last two years, along with recommendations submitted regarding creation of a Regional Rail Authority (RRA). It is noted that a key recommendation is additional revenue capability to fund an RRA with a preference to allow local option elections for additional sales tax capability above the current `cap' of 8.25%. This source of revenue seems to be highly unlikely within the near future due to other needs for sales tax revenue at the State level. Your interest and involvement is appreciated! Senator Florence Shapiro Representative Fred Hill OPL -3,4, I"OS Senator John Carona Senator Bob Deuell Senato raig Estes Senator Chris Harris Of"IA101" Agle41,11 Senator Jane Nelson Represe tative Ray Allen Representative Mary Denny (Representative Charlie Geren Representative Linda Harper-Brown Representative Jim Jackson Representative Bill Keffer Representative Jodie Laubenburg Rpresentative Jerry Madden Representative Brian McCall AAO.... ?a�w� Representative Ken P ton Representative Elvira Reyna Representative Vicki Truitt Representative ill Zedler Attachments: Extract from HB 2702 RTI Brochure RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, SUPPORTING THE REGIONAL TRANSIT INITIATIVE FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the urbanized area in the North Central Texas region needs seamless rail service in order to sustain regional mobility, a strong economy, and a high quality of life; and WHEREAS, DART, DCTA, and the T are existing regional transit service providers with established service areas and funding sources; and WHEREAS, much of the current and projected regional growth is occurring beyond the service areas of the existing transit service providers; and WHEREAS, seamless regional rail service should be provided by the existing three transit agencies and a single new entity working in cooperation with one another to achieve optimal efficiency and effectiveness; and WHEREAS, the provision of regional rail service outlined in adopted MPO planning documents will require a new annual revenue stream of approximately $165 million; and WHEREAS, legislative authority is needed to create an entity and funding source to build and operate regional rail service as outlined in adopted MPO planning documents. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS: Section 1. This Council expresses its support for establishing a regional rail authority and levying an additional one half cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of seamless regional rail service on the corridors identified in the MPO -adopted regional rail plan. Section 2. This Council requests the Texas Legislature to grant authority to local governments to submit to their constituents a ballot issue to consider establishing a regional rail authority and levying an additional (beyond the two cent cap) one half cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of seamless regional rail service. Section 3. This Council commits in the event authority is granted by the Legislature to submit to its electorate a ballot issue to consider establishing a regional rail authority and levying an additional one half cent sales tax to fund construction and operation of seamless regional rail service. Section 4. That this resolution shall take effect from and after the date of its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this 15th day of November, 2005. ATTEST: RES. NO. 2