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FY 2023-2024 State Capital Outlay Request: Vehicle Ferry Replacement Study
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DESCRIPTION: Requesting to Apply for Capital Outlay Funds |
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 seek $500,250.00 in State of Louisiana Capital Outlay funds to evaluate, study and plan to replace two vehicle ferries that service the Chalmette maintenance barges located at the maintenance facility in Lower Algiers.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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In 2014 the LADOTD and the RTA entered into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) that allows the RTA to operate and maintain ferry services in Orleans Parish. This arrangement is a result closure of the Crescent City Connection Division (CCCD) of LADOTD and the removal of the tolls on the CCC. The tolls provided a revenue stream to offset the cost of ferry operations. The LADOTD still owns the fixed and most of the movable assets, specifically these maintenance barges. The Chalmette route is a required ferry route since there is no alternative method to cross the Mississippi River in this location.
The agency is currently responsible for operating two vehicle ferries on behalf of LADOTD. The Captain Levy was built in 1977 and the Thomas Jefferson was built in 1942. The FTA has recently launched a $49 million competitive grants pilot grant program for Electric or Low Emitting Ferry and set aside $3.25 million for low or zero-emissions ferries of the $36 million available in the Passenger Ferry competitive grant program.
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DISCUSSION:
Staff is requesting $500,250.00 to conduct a comprehensive assessment and study of the existing vessels and plan for the fleet to modernization to include a cost-benefit analysis based on current and projected ridership. The study will provide an estimate to replace the vehicles, identify potential funding/financing mechanisms, and a schedule for replacement, inclusive of operational strategy until the new fleet is operational.
The estimated cost of the study is $667,000, the required agency match is 25%, $166,750.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The RTA will be responsible for the local match of $166,750.
NEXT STEPS:
Upon Board approval, staff will submit the grant application for Capital Outlay.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
Prepared By: Lona Edwards Hankins, lhankins@rtaforward.org
Title: Deputy CEO of Infrastructure, Planning and Information Technology
Reviewed By: Lona Edwards Hankins, lhankins@rtaforward.org
Title: Deputy CEO of Infrastructure, Planning and Information Technology
Reviewed By: Mark Major
Title: Deputy CEO Administration & Finance
10/3/2022
Alex Wiggins Date
Chief Executive Officer