From
Lisset Leija
Title
Resolution for the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) three- year Cost Sharing Amendment with North Central Texas Council of Governments to pay a portion of the operating cost of the Trinity Railway Express in an annual amount of $69,764.
Presenter
Jim Sparks, Director of Transportation Services
Recommend Action
Approve
Analysis
The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) operates Commuter Rail Service linking Dallas and Fort Worth on the tracks along Rock Island Road, north of Grand Prairie. The City approved similar agreements on August 1, 2000, September 6, 2005 and October 2, 2007 agreeing to participate in the cost of operating this service. This amendment to the October 2, 2007 agreement is for a three (3) year period (October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2013).
Financial Consideration
The North Central Texas Council of Governments has asked the mid-cities whose residents use the Trinity Railway Express but are not members of either DART or the Ft. Worth Transportation Authority (The T) to continue the support of the TRE by paying a portion of the $5M operating shortfall. The total amount being distributed between the mid-cities $793,089 of which Grand Prairie's yearly portion is $69,764. The amount is payable in two equal installments each year of this three year contract. Funding for our payment is available in the FY10-11 Approved Budget for the Pooled Investment Fund (3900), Accounting Unit 223810, Account Code 61865.
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (NCTCOG) FOR THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE TO PAY A PORTION OF THE OPERATING COST OF THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS.
Whereas, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) has actively worked to implement commuter rail service in the area and facilitate the contribution by cities that are not members of a Transportation Authority to the operational costs of commuter rail service; and,
Whereas, The Regional Transportation Council Trinity Railway Express (TRE) monitoring Subcommittee was appointed by the RTC to meet on an as-needed basis to monitor policy issues related to the TRE service and the collection of operating funds for the service; and,
Whereas, it would be beneficial to the citizens of Grand Prairie to have access to commuter rail service connection the Cities of Dallas and Fort Worth with each other and with Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to relieve traffic congestion, provided transportation opportunities, and aid in attaining federal air quality standards; and,
Whereas, pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act, Chapter 791 of the Texas Government Code, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T), both metropolitan transportation authorities created and existing pursuant to Chapter 452 of the Texas Government Code, may exercise jointly the power to provide government services for the public health, safety, and welfare; and,
Whereas, pursuant to Article 1182k, Texas Revised Civil Statutes, all railroad-related activities by public agencies, separated or jointly exercised, are public and governmental functions for the public purposes and necessity; and,
Whereas, the Transportation Authorities have entered into an interlocal Cooperation Agreement to define there respective rights and responsibilities regarding the provision of commuter rail service along the Trinity Railway Express Corridor and have begun commuter rail service as the Trinity Railway Express; and,
Whereas, NCTCOG and the City of Grand Prairie desire to enter into an agreement to define there respective rights and responsibilities regarding cost sharing for the operation of the Trinity Railway Express;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas that:
Section 1. That the City Manager is authorized to execute on behalf of the City of Grand Prairie an amendment to the October 2, 2007 agreement with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for the City of Grand Prairie to make payments of $69,764 per year for fiscal years 2010/2011 through 2012/2013.
Section 2. That funding for amendment with the North Central Texas Council of Governments will not be provided with monies derived from General Fund or Operating Budget. Funding will be obtained from interest earnings from the Pooled Investment Fund.
Section 3. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect until this agreement has been fully executed.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 2ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2010.