Having delivered nearly $9 billion in federal funding for 22 major transit projects since he took office in 2001, President Bush today recommended a $1.62 billion funding package for Fiscal Year 2009 that includes new projects in nine cities across the nation. This New Starts amount is part of a total public transportation budget proposal of $10.1 billion, a 6.8 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2008.

“Well planned, cost-effective transit is crucial to relieving congestion, protecting the environment and reducing dependence on foreign oil,” said Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters.

The budget proposes $200 million in funding for nine new projects in the “Small Starts” program, and four existing small starts projects in the following cities: Flagstaff, Arizona; San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside County and Livermore-Amador, California; Fort Collins, Colorado; Fitchburg, Massachusetts; Kansas City, Missouri; Portland and Springfield, Oregon; and two projects in King County, Washington. The Small Starts program was created under the most recent surface transportation authorization bill so that smaller transit projects would not have to compete with larger projects for federal funding.

The spending plan also recommends $160 million for two larger construction projects, Denver’s West Corridor Light Rail and Seattle’s University Link, which are currently pending under the Federal Transit Administration’s major capital funding program known as “New Starts.” Additionally, $1.14 billion is proposed for 15 other projects that have active long-term commitments for federal funding, and are already under construction: Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; Minneapolis-Big Lake, Minnesota; Hudson-Bergen, New Jersey; New York, New York {2}; Norfolk, Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington and Weber County-Salt Lake City, Utah.

“We are particularly enthusiastic about the projects that we have recommended for funding this year,” said FTA Administrator James S. Simpson. “When you consider the projects we have recommended for funding on a cost-per-mile basis, we are putting tax dollars where they will move the greatest number of people so taxpayers get a good return on their investment.”

The ratings and recommendations are part of the Federal Transit Administration’s Annual Report on Funding Recommendations for New and Small Starts for Fiscal Year 2009. The report proposes $60 million in funding for Denver’s West Corridor Light Rail, a 12-station light rail extension that begins at the existing Auraria Station in downtown Denver and extends 12.1 miles west, parallel to West 6th Avenue, which carries the second highest traffic volume in the region.

Funding of $100 million is also proposed for Seattle’s University Link, which will serve the most densely developed residential and employment area in the Central Puget Sound region and the state of Washington.

A complete list of projects recommended for FY 2009 is available online at http://www.fta.dot.gov/2009newstartsreport.

FY 2009 ANNUAL REPORT ON FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

NEWLY PROPOSED SMALL STARTS PROJECTS (9)
The President’s budget sets aside a total of $200 million to be available for Small Starts projects for capital costs associated with new fixed guideway systems, extensions, and bus corridor improvements. Requests must be for under $75 million in Small Starts funds and total project costs must be under $250 million. The following nine Small Starts projects are being recommended for the first time in the proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget:

Fitchburg, MA – Commuter Rail Improvements – $30 million in FY 2009 (Medium High Rating, Project Development Phase)
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) of the Fitchburg/Leominster, Massachusetts, metropolitan area, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), has proposed to modernize an existing commuter rail line to provide improved service and reliability for riders at 18 urban and suburban stations over a 49.5-mile corridor extending from Fitchburg to Boston’s North Station. With a federal Small Starts share of $75 million, the $150 million project, which includes 8.5 miles of double tracking and track upgrading, will provide a more attractive, more reliable, and faster travel alternative. It is expected to carry 10,800 daily riders when it opens in 2012.

Flagstaff, AZ – Mountain Links BRT - $6.24 million in FY 2009 (Medium Rating, Project Development Phase)

This proposed 5.8-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) line will serve the campus of Northern Arizona University (NAU), nearby shopping centers, and downtown Flagstaff. The proposed line will combine two existing local bus routes as well as an on-campus shuttle system and would feature 1.3 miles of dedicated guideway. In addition, through an intergovernmental service agreement with NAU, the proposed on-campus service will be combined with existing Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority service and will be operated throughout Flagstaff as “Mountain Links.” With a federal Small Starts share of $6.24 million, the proposed $10.41 million project extends from a local shopping and residential center located southwest of NAU’s campus onto the campus itself, continuing north into downtown Flagstaff. The Mountain Links BRT project includes 24 new stations, signal prioritization, and the purchase of eight electric-hybrid vehicles. The proposed service would carry 4,150 daily riders when it opens in 2010.

Fort Collins, CO – Mason Corridor BRT – $11.18 million in FY 2009 (Medium Rating, Project Development Phase)
The City of Fort Collins, is proposing a 5-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) system within its Mason Transportation Corridor (MTC). The “Mason Express” or “MAX” right-of-way would operate at-grade in mixed traffic from the existing North Transit Center 1.2 miles to the northern edge of Colorado State University (CSU) and continue in a 3.8-mile exclusive right-of-way to the proposed South Transit Center. Service would operate at 10-minute peak frequencies. With a federal Small Starts share of $59.35 million, the $74.2 million project includes construction of the South Transit Center, traffic signal priority in general purpose lanes, a bus guideway facility, eight transit stations, eight enhanced bus stops, 250 park-and-ride spaces, and five new low-floor vehicles. It is expected to carry 3,900 daily passengers when it opens in 2010.

King County, WA – Bellevue-Redmond BRT – $10.95 million in FY 2009 (Medium Rating, Project Development Phase)
King County Metro is proposing to construct and operate a 9.25-mile long street-running bus rapid transit (BRT) line connecting downtown Bellevue, Crossroads Mall, the Overlake urban center, and downtown Redmond. The project includes 12 new stations, real-time bus arrival information, signal prioritization, and 18 low-floor hybrid vehicles. With a federal Small Starts share of $20.21 million, the $27 million line would carry 3,500 daily riders when it opens in 2011.

Livermore, CA – Livermore-Amador Route 10 BRT – $7.99 million in FY 2009 (Medium-High Rating, Project Development Phase)
The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) is proposing to construct and operate a 12.0-mile arterial and highway-running bus rapid transit (BRT) line serving the communities of Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin. With a $10.93 federal Small Starts share, the $21.66 million Livermore-Amador Route 10 BRT project includes 34 new stations, signal prioritization, and the purchase of 14 electric-hybrid vehicles. The proposed service is expected to carry 4,500 daily riders when it opens later this year.

Los Angeles – Wilshire Boulevard Bus-Only Lane – $10.95 million in FY 2009 (Medium Rating, Project Development Phase)
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), in coordination with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), is proposing to implement a dedicated bus lane along portions of a 12.5-mile stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between downtown Los Angeles and the City of Santa Monica. Wilshire Boulevard is the site of LACMTA’s first Metro Rapid “arterial” bus rapid transit (BRT) line, which opened for service in June 2000. The proposed Wilshire Boulevard Bus-Only Lane project features 9.6 miles of curb lanes converted into an exclusive facility during peak-period operations. The lanes will be differentiated in their appearance with pavement markings and line delineators, and traffic restrictions will be enforced by the Los Angeles Police Department. With a federal Small Starts share of $23.32 million, the $31.51 million project is expected to carry 40,000 daily riders when it begins service in 2011.

Portland, OR – Streetcar Loop – $50 million in FY 2009 (Medium High Rating, Project Development Phase)