Regional Transit Authority

Since 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.

RTA Joint Working Group Meetings

The Regional Transit Authority Joint Working Group made up of two each from the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Members of the Charlottesville City Council, met on Friday, October 31, 2008, from 9:00 am -11 am at the TJPDC Offices, 401 East Water Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902. The agenda for the work group is printed below. The public is invited and encouraged to attend Working Group meetings.

• Summary of RTA October 17 and October 23, 2008 Meetings
  • 10-17-08 – RTA JWG meeting with TFOWG members
  • 10-23-08 – RTA JWG meeting with Legislators
• Direction for moving forward towards 2009 General Assembly Session
  • Review of draft of RTA enabling legislation
  • Discussion of funding options

Agenda
RTA Joint Work Group Meets with Regional Legislators

• Summary of RTA Efforts To Date
• Discussion of draft of RTA enabling legislation
• Discussion of Potential Funding Options and Draft List of Priority Transportation Projects

• Summary of joint work session on October 10th
• Discussion of draft of RTA enabling legislation
• Review of final draft list of Priority Transportation Projects
• Presentation of TFOWG Positions on Formation and Funding of the RTA

Friday, October 10, 2008, from 9am -11am

• Summary of joint work session on October 3rd
• Discussion of second draft of RTA enabling legislation
• Review of revised draft list of Priority Transportation Projects
• Strategy for RTA JWG meeting with legislators October 23rd

Friday, October 3, 2008, from 9am -11am

• Summary of joint work session on September 19th
• Review of revised draft list of Priority Transportation Projects
• Overview of Planning District Commissioner’s October 2nd meeting
• Strategy for RTA JWG meeting with legislators October 23rd
• Discussion of first draft of enabling legislation
• Deputy Director, Chip Badger of VDRPT to visit

Third Regional Transit Authority work session held

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council attended a joint work session on the RTA on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 at CitySpace on the Downtown Mall. During the work session, City and County policymakers reviewed the Draft Final RTA Study Report by consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, and discussed the governance structure and revenue options desired for the RTA.

In order to present draft enabling legislation to the General Assembly for the 2009 session, policy makers must make decisions on issues such as the composition of the Authority Board, who can join and their voting rights. They must also address funding mechanisms that could be implemented locally to provide operating revenue for the RTA. Both bodies agreed to establish a joint working group that includes City Mayor Dave Norris and Councilor Satyendra Huja, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors David Slutzky and Dennis Rooker, with advisory membership from Rebecca White of UVA Parking and Transportation and Donna Shaunesey, Executive Director of JAUNT. The working group will begin meeting in the coming weeks and will report directly back to the County Board of Supervisors and City Council with recommendations for the draft legislation in late Fall 2008.

To download the August 5th agenda click here.
To download the participant packet click here.
To download the draft final report click here.

Appendices:
• Appendix A Regional Transit Management and Governance 07312008.pdf
• Appendix B Labor Analysis and Staffing Plan 07312008.pdf
• Appendix C Transit Supportive Corridors and Areas 07312008.pdf
• Appendix D1 Service Strategies Report 07312008.pdf
• Appendix D2 Service Strategies Addendum 07312008.pdf
• Appendix E Service Standards 07312008.pdf
• Appendix F Prior Investment in CTS 07312008.pdf
• Appendix G Service Strategy and Operating Costs 07302008.pdf
• Appendix H Existing and Potential New Funding Sources 07312008.pdf
• Appendix I Regional Cost Allocation Options 07312008.pdf
• Appendix J Plan for Transition to RTA and Implementation Schedule 07312008.pdf
• Appendix K In-Kind Cost Recordkeeping 07312008.pdf

Regional Transit Authority Plan Development Underway

Work 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 Available

The 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.

• Transit Management and Governance
• Transit Supportive Corridors and Areas
• Transit Service Strategies

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 Service Strategies Addendum

Transit Work Session: Regional Transit Opportunities and Challenges for the Charlottesville-Albemarle Area

The 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.

1. Resolution of Intent to Establish
2. Endorsed Regional Transit Vision
3. Summary of transit related plans and studies
4. Summary of Public Involvement in transit related plans and studies

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.

1. Overall Charlottesville-Albemarle Urban Area map
2. Charlottesville-Albemarle Urban Area Population Density
3. Charlottesville-Albemarle Urban Area Population Density with Existing Transit Routes
4. Charlottesville-Albemarle Urban Area Population Density with Existing Transit Routes, with approved, new developments in Albemarle County and Charlottesville
5. Memo reviewing how other areas have incorporated paratransit, compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and University services

Structure: Research includes examining the components of potential management and organizational structures including human resources, overall management, and administration.

1. Memo outlining three options for a Single Regional Transit Agency
2. Memo outlining key actions and questions that will need to be addressed

Legislation and Funding: Research includes a review of existing available funding options and legal authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

1. Memo reviewing the current legal authority, available funding, and other issues
2. Review of Issues and Considerations involved in considering a regional transit authority
3. Memo reviewing fare free transit

Additional Resources

Transportation Funding Options Report, October 10, 2005