Sponsor: Public Works
Title
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Transit Impacts Research Program Presentation and 2024 Funding Request
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Recommendation
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Approve the expenditure of $30,000 for Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority’s share of the Transit Impacts Research Program for 2024.
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Background and Rationale
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Professor Jason Cao of the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs will present the results from the last Transit Impacts Research Program (TIRP) funded research project: the value of dedicated right of way to transit ridership. Professor Cao will also give an overview of the current, proposed research project to be funded with the 2024 funding request.
The TIRP studies the economic and community impacts of transitway projects. The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority (RCRRA), an active participant in the program since 2008, along with other local governments and the University of Minnesota support various research initiatives through the TIRP. The 2024 TIRP funding request to RCRRA is in the amount of $30,000 to research strategies to connect riders to suburban transitway stations.
Continued research will take advantage of skills at the University of Minnesota to provide useful information for decisions on transitway development. Additional information about the Transit Impacts Research Program can be found on their website:
<https://www.cts.umn.edu/programs/tirp>
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Throughout Ramsey County and the Twin Cities metro, transitways provide reliable, low-cost, and high-amenity transportation options. These transitways serve many transit-dependent households and areas of racially concentrated poverty. Additionally, transitways provide access to jobs, workforce training opportunities, and other key destinations. The $30,000 in funding will allow further research to be done to better understand the impacts of transitways and how best to design and improve lines to serve marginalized communities, reduce racial and economic disparities in accessing high-quality transit, and ensure they equitably meet the needs of the public.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Research done by the Transit Impacts Research Program includes qualitative and quantitative methods of gathering input from those who currently use or benefit from transitway projects, as well as those in need of improved access.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding in the amount of $30,000 is available in the 2024 Multimodal Planning operating budget.
Last Previous Action
On April 12, 2022, Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority authorized $25,000 for the Transit Impacts Research Program in 2022 (Resolution R2022-011).
Attachments
1. Presentation 1
2. Presentation 2
3. Letter