AGENDA DATE: 8/17/2022
TITLE:
Title
Transit Shelter Agreement - Northside Library
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Authorize the County Executive to sign a Transit Shelter Agreement to allow Charlottesville Area Transit to construct and maintain a transit shelter at Northside Library
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Herrick, Filardo, Rapp, McDermott, Hersh-Ballering
PRESENTER (S): Jessica Hersh-Ballering
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: Portions of Albemarle County are served by Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT), a department of the City of Charlottesville. The County has agreed to pay CAT for the transit service provided to the County. CAT is responsible for the maintenance and/or improvement of all transit stops within the County.
Although shelters and benches are a desired amenity for many and a necessity for transit users with disabilities, few transit stops within the County have transit shelters or benches. County staff is working with CAT staff to identify and prioritize transit stops and to install transit shelters and benches. Factors considered in the identification and prioritization process are ridership rates at each transit stop and the right-of-way/physical constraints at the site.
Northside Library has been identified by County and City staff as a location where a transit shelter and bench can be immediately installed. Though no transit stop currently exists at the Northside Library, CAT would relocate the existing transit stop southeast of Northside Library (stop ID 13306) to the northwest corner of the County-owned Northside Library parcel. See Attachment A for the exact location of the proposed transit shelter. The existing transit stop has neither a shelter nor a bench.
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) leases the Northside Library parcel from Albemarle County. JMRL staff is in full support of relocating the existing transit stop and installing a transit shelter and bench to better serve their patrons (see Attachment B).
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment - Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: Because the Northside Library parcel is owned by the County, any agreement to allow the City of Charlottesville to construct and maintain a transit shelter on County-owned property requires County approval.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no foreseeable budget impact for the proposed Agreement. The City of Charlottesville would be responsible for the cost of construction and maintenance of the transit shelter.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment D) authorizing the County Executive to sign a proposed License Agreement and any related documents on behalf of the County, once approved as to substance and form by the County Attorney.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Northside Library Site Plan Showing Transit Shelter Location
B - Letter of Support from JMRL Director Plunkett
C - Albemarle County-City of Charlottesville Transit Stop License Agreement (proposed)
D - Resolution