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Regional Transit AuthoritySince January 2006, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Board has been discussing the possibility of creating a regional transit authority (RTA) to serve Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville. Regional transit has been a topic at monthly MPO Policy Board meetings. The staff research and other work products provided for those monthly discussions are available through the hyperlinks below. This is an ongoing process and as the RTA process evolves, the information below will also evolve. Work Session: Regional Transit AuthorityThe Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council will attend a joint work session on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm in City Space at the Charlottesville Community Design Center, 100 5th Street NE, on the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. Board of Supervisors and Council members will review findings and recommendations contained in the draft Final Report. Presentations will include a summary of recommendations regarding an organizational chart, staffing plan, cost allocation, funding sources, and a transition plan. The work session builds upon the Regional Transit Authority study and the February 11, 2008 joint work session during which all members of both bodies expressed consensus on pursuing a Regional Transit Authority. Regional Transit Authority Work Session HeldThe Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Members of the Charlottesville City Council attended a joint work session on Monday, February 11, 2008. The work session provided a forum for active discussion among City and County policymakers about the potential for a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in the Charlottesville-Albemarle region that offers fast, frequent, dependable, and seamless service. The work session was intended to build upon the Regional Transit Authority Plan study that is currently underway, which investigates three key components of regional transit: management and governance, service and operations, and cost estimation and funding should a RTA be established in this community. Regional Transit Authority Plan Development UnderwayWork to develop a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Plan for the Charlottesville-Albemarle Region began in May 2007. This RTA Study builds upon previous RTA efforts including development of the Regional Transit Vision and the November 2006 Regional Transit Work Session. The process will address three key components of regional transit: management and governance, service and operations, and cost estimation and funding. The study is funded by the City of Charlottesville, County of Albemarle, and a grant from the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). It is managed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Transit Technical Team (which includes City, County, JAUNT, UVA, and MPO representatives). Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) is the lead consultant. Click here to download the summarized RTA Plan Scope of Work. Regional Transit Authority Plan Draft Reports AvailableThe RTA Study examines three core elements for establishing a regional transit authority: management and governance, service and operations, and cost estimation and funding (operating and capital). The project scope of work follows these tasks and includes a fourth task that addresses the development of a transition and cost allocation plan, once a service strategy and preferred governance structure are selected. The major goal of the RTA study is to determine how best to implement the regional transit vision. The study began by identifying the unique characteristics of the Charlottesville-Albemarle area that will inform decisions about both service and governance options. The initial results are documented in the three Technical Reports below. To obtain a higher resolution copy of the reports, please contact TJPDC. After review of the Transit Service Strategies Technical Report by the MPO Policy Board at their meeting on November 21, 2007, the Board expressed support for the more extensive options – Option 3 and Option 4 - but requested that an additional option be developed that would include a more direct service connecting the Pantops area with the northern portions of the Route 29 corridor, service on Rio Road east of Belvedere, and more frequent service on the CTS routes operated in the City of Charlottesville. The materials in this addendum present the requested option. Transit Work Session: Regional Transit Opportunities and Challenges for the Charlottesville-Albemarle AreaThe work session provided a forum for active discussion among City and County policymakers about the potential for a regional transit system that offers fast, frequent, dependable, and seamless service. Participants identified specific questions, concerns, and suggestions about transit in the Charlottesville-Albemarle region. Click here to download the agenda, or here for the Work Session Booklet. Click here to download the Work Session Summary. Overall Vision: Research includes a Resolution of Intent signed by the City Council and Board of Supervisors, overall regional transit vision endorsed by the MPO Policy Board, and summaries of previously created plans and studies that incorporate transit.
Transit Service and Operations: Research includes reviewing existing residential density along key corridors and outlining the location of major employment, commercial, and destinations. Also included in service and operations is examining how to a regional transit authority would provide services to people with disabilities.
Structure: Research includes examining the components of potential management and organizational structures including human resources, overall management, and administration.
Legislation and Funding: Research includes a review of existing available funding options and legal authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Additional ResourcesTransportation Funding Options Report, October 10, 2005 |
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