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HomeMy WebLinkAboutST_Auburn 2021 Realignment Update 0707212021 Sound Transit Update Responding to the pandemic and economic recession Auburn Transportation Advisory Board July 7, 2021 2 Agenda •System Expansion & the Auburn Parking and Access Improvements Project •Discuss the 2021 realignment process to adjust project plans and schedules Powering Progress 4 ST3 –A Regional Investment 252-mile network across the Puget Sound •91 miles of commuter rail •116 miles of light rail •45 miles of bus rapid transit 5 Auburn Parking & Access Improvements •Subject to Sound Transit's Board Realignment Process •September 2020: ST Board adopted Motion 2020-55 on near - term realignment actions •Authorized execution of DBPM consultant contract for Sumner, Kent and Auburn garages with focus on cost savings alternatives •ST Board adopts realignment plan(s) in July 2021 Ridership changes & service levels 7 Ridership & service changes Reduced Service •Ridership has been down 70-80%, particularly on commuter - heavy routes, but is beginning to return. •Northgate Link Extension opens October 2. •Some express bus routes suspended until more workers return to offices. •Normal passenger capacity has resumed for all Sound Transit services (masks required). 8 Current service levels •Sounder –9 Sounder South roundtrips, 2 Sounder North roundtrips. •Link –8 minute peak, 10 minute midday, 15 minute evenings. •Tacoma Link –full service. •ST Express –some routes at full service, some partial, others suspended due to reduced demand. Realigning expansion plans 10 What is realignment? A required response to estimated shortfalls •The Board responds to estimated affordability gaps by ‘realigning’ the financial plan to balance costs and revenue. •Options include cutting costs, raising new revenues, and/or delaying or phasing projects. 11 Revenue sources 1 1 Sales Tax 53% MVET (car tabs) 9% Property Tax 5% Grants 8% Fares 7% Debt 18%•Tax revenues fund 66%. •Debt funds 18%. •Grants fund 8%. •Fares fund 7%. 12 Financial Challenges 25-year ST3 program runs 2016 -2041 The Sound Transit Board is required to maintain an affordable financial plan, defined as have sufficient projected funds to cover projected expenditures through 2041. Current estimated affordability gap of $7.9 billion mainly driven by •Lower tax revenues: The COVID recession will reduce long term revenue by an estimated $1.5 billion. •Higher cost estimates: Net impact of $6.4 billion through 2041 (with higher grants and bonds) 13 Realignment tools available to Sound Transit •Cutting costs through reduced project scope, suspending or canceling projects, etc. •Raising new revenues through issuing higher debt or seeking additional state or federal funding. •Delaying or phasing projects to spread costs over time and keep total agency debt within current legal limits. 14 Board criteria for re-evaluating projects Criterion Concept Ridership potential How many daily riders is the project projected to serve? Socio-economic equity How well does the project expand mobility for transit -dependent, low-income, and/or diverse populations? Connecting centers Does the project connect designated regional centers? Tenure How long have voters been waiting for the project? Outside funding Are other funding sources available,secured or at risk? Completing the spine Does the project advance development of the regional HCT spine? Advancing logically beyond the spine Is the project a ‘logical next step’ beyond the spine and within financial capacity? Phasing compatibility (constructability)Can the project be constructed and opened for service in increments? 15 Tier 1 ≤ 2 years delay Tier 2 ≤ 6 years delay Tier 3 ≤ 9 years delay Tier 4 10+ years delay System Bus Base North (2025) OMF South (2029) OMF North (2035) 2nd DSTT (2038) Sounder Maintenance Base (2034) ST2 Bus Base (2045) Bus-on-Shoulder (2045) North Lynnwood-SW Everett NP (2038) SW Everett-Everett NP (2042) Edmonds &Mukilteo (2034) Everett Link Parking (2046) East 405 Stride S. NP (2026) 522 Stride NP (2026) 405 Stride N. NP (2027) S. Kirk.–Issaquah (2045) 522 Stride parking (2034) 405 Stride parking (2034) N Sammamish P&R (2045) Central Alaska Jct.-SODO (2032) SODO-Smith Cove (2038) Smith Cove-Ballard (2040) NE 130th (2037) Graham St. (2037) RapidRide C/D (2045) South Kent, Auburn, Sumner (2025) T-Dome Link NP (2032) Lakewood, S Tacoma (2032) TCC Tacoma Link (2041) Boeing Access (2037) Sounder platforms & access (2036) Sounder trips (2045) DuPont Sndr (2045) T-Dome Link Parking (2040) SR-162 (2045) NP = no parking; DSTT = Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel Chair’s proposed realignment scenario 16 Realignment timeline overview December 2020 Board approves TIP with placeholder 5 year delay for all projects, pending realignment December 2021 Adopt 2022 final Budget & TIP March 2020 Pandemic begins July 2021 Potential adoption of flexible framework April 2020 Board informed that program is unaffordable April 2021 Public engagement via online survey Next Steps 18 Next steps Anticipated realignment work through July Ongoing public engagement July 8 System Expansion Committee meeting Amendments due July 15 Finance and Audit Committee meeting Discuss resolution with focus on finances July 22 Board Meeting –Consider action Thank you. soundtransit.org