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FY23 Federal Appropriations Request (NOUPT)
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DESCRIPTION: A request to receive federal funding for the NOUPT Upgrade Project and to enter into an agreement to establish RTA occupancy of the facility. |
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to receive federal funds not to exceed the amount of $5,000,000 for upgrades to the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT). The total project amount is estimated at $5,000,000; the local match is 20% with the RTA share not to exceed $1,000,000.
Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to enter an agreement with the NOUPT property owner or its designated representative to allow the RTA to begin design, engineering and construction to spend down the appropriation within the preferred 12-18-month timeline.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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RTA staff submitted and was subsequently awarded a $5,000,000 appropriation in the H.R.8294 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023.
The requested $5,000,000 was requested to fund improvements to the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT). The improvements include plumbing, electrical, and ADA upgrades, wireless access, asbestos abatement, air conditioning, and other enhancements to make the space second floor suitable for RTA office space. This is part of a larger regional multi-modal transit-oriented communities (TOC) project to include government offices, housing, retail, and critical regional transit connections to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport, a proposed West Bank and New Orleans East TOC projects.
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DISCUSSION:
In 2022, RTA submitted the $5M appropriations request to US Representative Troy Carter and US Senator Bill Cassidy to fund the NOUPT Upgrade Project to allow the RTA to relocate a portion of its administrative offices to the second floor of the facility. By leveraging underutilized office space in NOUPT for new RTA administrative offices, tax dollars are being invested to existing publicly owned property that will not only provide much need office space for the RTA but also will improve the transit station itself. Will increase foot traffic, making the terminal more inviting to new customers and visitors. RTA occupancy is also important as the terminal will serve as main multimodal transit hub needed for plans to connect Baton Rouge, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport to the Downtown New Orleans and the key housing and job nodes in the area like the West Bank and New Orleans East.
The RTA will begin design, engineering, and construction once a legal agreement is signed between the RTA and the property owner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The RTA will be responsible for the local match not-to-exceed $1,000,000.
NEXT STEPS:
The RTA is working with the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission to access to funding award. This will include adding the project to the TIP and the STIP which is required to receive thus funding.
Staff is also working with the New Orleans Building Corporation to establish an agreement that will allow the agency project team to begin design.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution for FY23 Appropriations Request
Prepared By: Ana Rodriguez
Title: Marketing Coordinator
Reviewed By: Dwight Norton
Title: Interim Chief of Infrastructure and Planning
Reviewed By: Gizelle Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
4/4/2023
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer