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Urban Partnership Agreement
by and between
U.S. Department of Transportation
and its
San Francisco Bay-Area Urban Partner
Executive Summary
This Urban Partnership Agreement sets forth an agreement in principle between the U.S. Department of Transportation (the "Department") and the Department's San Francisco Bay-Area Urban Partner, comprised of Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, the California Department of Transportation ("CalTrans"), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the Bay Area Toll Authority, and the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transit District. Under this agreement, the Urban Partner agrees to (i) implement variable pricing on either Doyle Drive or the Golden Gate Bridge – in either case to reduce the level of traffic congestion on Doyle Drive; (ii) variably-price on-street and off-street parking in downtown San Francisco; (iii) improve regional ferry boat service; (iv) develop a simplified travel forecasting approach for a Very Small Starts project in the Grand/MacArthur bus rapid transit ("BRT") corridor; (v) provide travelers with integrated mobility accounts; (vi) upgrade hardware/software in key corridors leading to and throughout downtown San Francisco to improve the movement of traffic and transit vehicles; (vii) upgrade the regional 511 system to provide real-time pricing, parking, and transit information; (viii) create a Vehicle Infrastructure Integration ("VII)" test bed along Doyle Drive; and (ix) expand the technical and promotional aspects of San Francisco's telecommuting and related alternative commute programs. In addition, the Urban Partner agrees that all projects will be in operation by not later than September 30, 2009. In exchange for these commitments, the Department intends to allocate $158.7 million in Federal grant funding for projects (i) through (viii), according to the terms of a grant agreement (or a series of grant agreements) to be negotiated by the Department and the Urban Partner. The Urban Partner will be responsible for funding the expansion of the telecommuting and alternative commute programs.
THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (this "MOU"), dated as of August 6, 2007, is made by and among the Secretary of Transportation (the "Secretary"), the Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA"), the Federal Transit Administration ("FTA"), the Research and Innovative Technology Administration ("RITA") (the Secretary, FHWA, FTA, RITA, collectively, the "Department"), and the undersigned State, county and/or municipal governmental entities, as the case may be (collectively, the "Urban Partner").
Agreement in Principle
1. Agreement in Principle. This MOU sets forth an agreement in principle among the undersigned concerning the terms and conditions of Federal assistance to be provided by the Department for the transportation projects described herein. This MOU represents solely the intent of the parties (including, without limitation, the intent of the Department to allocate funds as set forth in Section 4(a) below), and no party shall be legally bound hereby. Any agreement between the Department and the Urban Partner concerning funding of the transportation projects described herein shall be set forth in a grant agreement (or a series of grant agreements) (the "Grant Agreements") to be negotiated and executed by the parties to this MOU. The Department reserves the right, in its discretion, not to fund the transportation projects (or any part thereof) described in this MOU or otherwise set forth in the application filed by the Urban Partner to the Urban Partnership Program.
- Background. Transportation system congestion is one of the greatest threats to our Nation's economic prosperity and way of life. Whether it takes the form of trucks stalled in traffic, cargo stuck at overwhelmed seaports, or airplanes stuck on the tarmac, congestion costs the Nation an estimated $200 billion a year. The problem of traffic congestion in our major metropolitan areas in particular is severe and worsening. In 2003, traffic jams in the Nation's largest 85 urban areas cost Americans 3.7 billion hours and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel. Congestion is also affecting the quality of life in America by robbing us of time that could be spent with families and friends and in participation in civic life.
The signatories to this MOU do not believe that gridlock is our inevitable fate. In May 2006, the Department announced a major initiative to reduce transportation system congestion. This plan, the National Strategy to Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network (the "Congestion Initiative"), provides a blueprint for Federal, State, and local officials to consider as they work together to reverse the alarming trends of congestion. One major component of the Congestion Initiative is the Urban Partnership Agreement (or "UPA"). As announced in the Department's solicitation for Urban Partners published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2006 (at 71 FR 71231 (2006)) (the "Federal Register Notice"), applicants designated by the Department as Urban Partners would adopt the "Four Ts:" tolling (congestion pricing), transit, telecommuting and technology – strategies believed to be effective on a combined basis in reducing traffic congestion. In return for such commitment, the Department, to the extent requested and appropriate, would support its Urban Partners' implementation of the Four Ts with financial resources, regulatory flexibility, and dedicated expertise and personnel.
3. Designation as Urban Partner. In accordance with the Federal Register Notice and for purposes of this MOU, the Department designates each of the following entities, collectively, as an "Urban Partner:"
- Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District;
- Bay Area Toll Authority;
- San Francisco County Transportation Authority;
- California Department of Transportation;
- Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District;
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission; and
- San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.
4. Grant Agreements. The Department and the Urban Partner agree to negotiate a grant agreement (or a series of grant agreements) that would reflect the following terms and conditions:
- Federal Projects and Sources of Funding. The Department shall provide funding for each of the following projects (the "Federal Projects") under the Federal programs and in the amounts provided below, in each case subject to the statutes, regulations and the implementing guidance of the Department governing such programs and subject to the Urban Partner's agreement to commence the Local Projects set forth in Section 4(b):
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Tolling (congestion pricing) projects
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Transit projects
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Technology projects
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- Local Projects to be Implemented by Urban Partner. In connection with the implementation of the Federal Projects, the Urban Partner shall agree to commence the following projects (the "Local Projects"):
- The Urban Partner will expand the technical and promotional aspects of San Francisco's telecommuting and related alternative commute programs.
- Completion of Projects. Unless otherwise agreed by the Department and the Urban Partner, both the Federal Projects and the Local Projects shall be in operation by not later than September 30, 2009 (except for reconstruction of Doyle Drive, which shall be completed not later than 2015, provided that such reconstruction does not interfere materially with the pricing of the facility). In the event that the action(s) funded in connection with the Urban Partnership Agreement experience delay due to circumstances beyond the control of the Urban Partner, the Department may either negotiate an extended completion date or terminate the action(s).
- Other Terms and Conditions. Each of the Grant Agreements shall additionally provide that:
- Except for $1.6 million in funds allocated to the Urban Partner under the Value Pricing Pilot Program for pre-implementation purposes, no funds obligated by the Grant Agreements shall be drawn down by the recipient unless and until all legal authority necessary to implement each of the Federal Projects (including, without limitation, legal authority to implement congestion pricing) has been duly adopted and taken effect, which authority shall be adopted and in effect not later than March 31, 2008;
- No funds obligated by the Grant Agreements shall be drawn down by the recipient unless and until each member of the Urban Partner with the authority to toll has agreed to exempt privately operated over-the-road buses from tolls to the same extent it has exempted (or proposes to exempt) public transportation from tolls in connection with the Federal Projects;
- The Department reserves the right to de-obligate funds obligated under any of the Grant Agreements (or to require the return of such funds) in the event a recipient breaches or otherwise fails to perform under any of the Grant Agreements;
- The recipient shall not assess congestion charges against any vehicles owned or operated by any foreign government or international organization or its representatives, officers, or employees if notified by the U.S. Department of State that, pursuant to U.S. international legal obligations, the vehicles are exempt from such charges;
- The recipient makes customary representations to the Department that the Federal Projects comply (or will comply) with all applicable Federal, State and local laws;
- The recipient agrees to provide to the Department (and its designees) access to the Federal Projects and all data collected by the recipient with respect to the Federal Projects for purposes of the Department's oversight of the Federal Projects; and
- To the extent requested by the Department, the recipient agrees to designate an independent third party to perform all program evaluations required by law or as reasonably directed by the Department in order to assist in the evaluation of the Federal Projects.
- Actions Prior to Execution of Grant Agreements. Prior to the execution of the Grant Agreements, the Department shall have received the following, in addition to usual and customary deliverables:
- A new or amended application to each of the following grant programs, as required by the Department: FHWA Ferry Boat Discretionary Program (to be filed by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District), FHWA Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program, FHWA Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program; and
- An opinion of counsel from each respective recipient, satisfactory in form and substance to the Department, concerning the Federal Projects.
5. Non-Disclosure. Prior to the public announcement of the Urban Partner by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the undersigned agree not to disclose the contents hereof to any third party, except by written agreement of the Department or as required by law.
[Signatures appear on the following page.]
United States Department of Transportation
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Mary E. Peters, Secretary of Transportation
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
J. Richard Capka, Federal Highway Administrator
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
James S. Simpson, Federal Transit Administration
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
John A. Bobo, Jr., Research and Innovative Technology Administrator (Acting)
Urban Partner
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Will Kempton, Director, California Department of Transportation
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Steve Heminger, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Rick Fernandez, General Manager, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Steve Heminger, Executive Director, Bay Area Toll Authority
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
Celia Kupersmith, General Manager, Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District
Signature__________________________ Date ____________________
José Luis Moscovich, Executive Director, San Francisco County Transportation Authority