MEMORANDUM

TO: Ronald Wm. Drathman, Assembly President

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Members

FROM: Mike Navarre, Borough Mayor

DATE: December 22,1998

SUBJECT: Public Transit Planning Grant

The Central Peninsula Public Transportation Task Force has requested the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly support and adopt Resolution 99-004, A Resolution in Support of the Central Peninsula Public Transportation Task Force Seeking Funding for a Public Transit Planning Grant.

The Central Peninsula Public Transportation Task Force, comprised of 17 individuals representing 40 agencies, has been meeting since September 1998 to develop a plan for instituting a public transit system on the Kenai Peninsula.

The task force, working with the U. S. Department of Agriculture Resource Conservation and Development District, seeks to acquire a planning grant to develop an areawide transportation plan. The goal is to evaluate the transportation needs and options for meeting the transportation needs of senior citizens, disabled, youth and low-income families.

A copy of the transportation plan will be made available to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CENTRAL KENAI PENINSULA

Task Force Report by Dick Troeger

WHY NOW

The state Department of Transportation has selected the Kenai Peninsula as the next focus area of the State for public transit. Senior citizens, the disabled, youth, low-income families and those who have trouble driving in winter conditions can all benefit. The DOT has contracted with the Community Transportation Association of American in Washington, D. C. to provide assistance. CTAA has experience all across the country in successfully developing rural transit systems, and has provided direction for the planning and implementation of public transportation in Kodiak, then in Mat-Su, and now for the Kenai Peninsula. Kristin Lambert, of Central Peninsula Counseling Services, was contacted by DOT to facilitate the coordination of a community Task Force to sponsor a Planning Grant which has been promised funding by DOT and MHTA.

WHAT IS HAPPENING

In September, a representative was sent by CTAA to help the public with strategic planning and vision design. A Task Force of representative local agencies was designated and is committed to the project. In October, a second CTAA representative conducted a public workshop on coordination and public transportation design. The Task Force was active in participating in the State DOT Public Transportation Conference in Anchorage late in October.

WHO IS DOING THIS

The Task Force is comprised of 17 members representing some 40 agencies and diverse community interests. It has continued to have regular meetings and has set a scope of work and has begun collecting resource information and needs data. A list of the membership is attached.

WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM

• Planning - Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority & Dept. Of Transportation, $500,000 available in 1999
• T-21 Highway Funding - 50% increase this year, for Alaska $200 million to $330 million
• 5310 Older Americans and Disabled Funding - 7% increase over last year, 20% local match
• 5311 Rural Transportation Funding - 30% increase over last year, $115 million to $250 million by 2003
• 2-3/4 cents tax per gallon of gasoline dedicated to public transit, with 90% rebate to each state. If our community has no transit, the money goes to Anchorage or elsewhere.
• Access to Jobs - Work Fair Funding - $50-75 million for transportation in the first year.
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WHAT NEXT?

• Planning grant in January, with Resolutions of Support from the borough and the cities, as well as from the private and public sectors.
• Memorandum of Agreement between all 40 participating agencies
• Plan completion by Spring, including design, costs, operation plan, and types of service
• Capital Grant to be submitted in the 2^nd round of 1999 funding in July, assurance has been given that with community coordination and compliance with the Plan, funding will be awarded.
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