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<br />cost estimated at $3,600 will be added to the Ramsey Star Express contract to provide a spare <br />vehicle to the fleet used for the service. <br /> <br />Using an average of $30,000 per month for the net capital and operating cost and $3,600 for two <br />months (spare vehicle) it can be estimated that another $397,200 will be incurred by the end of <br />January 2010. The estimated total cost by the end of January 2010 will be $1,192,000. This will <br />leave about $360,000 remaining from the full federal grant amount of $1,551,395 ($1,241, 118 <br />Fed 80%, $310,279 local 20%). If the City could continue to operate the service using the federal <br />funds for both operation and capital, it would be possible to fund close to an additional eleven <br />months of Ramsey Star Express Service. <br /> <br />In discussions with Anoka County (administrates the contract with First Transit) and First Transit <br />(provider of service) the following has been stated: <br />. Anoka County will be willing to continue administering the service contract for the City. <br />. First Transit is willing to consider flexibility in the sixth month contract extensions, if it has <br />to be shortened. <br />. First Transit needs to know by this summer what direction the City may be taking. As <br />soon as Northstar Commuter Rail service begins, the buses used for the Northstar <br />Commuter Coach service will be transferred to other operations. First Transit, who also <br />has the contract for the Ramsey Star Express, currently is leasing the VanHool vehicles <br />used for this service. First Transit is considering transferring the Northstar Commuter <br />Coach vehicles (which they own) to the Ramsey Star Express service. <br /> <br />Issue <br /> <br />We are in the process of receiving the first grant application/funding request for the 2009 federal <br />funds. The Year 2009 funds will be $408,518. As part of this request we have stated that there <br />will be remqining funds after the three year period and would like to continue service until these <br />funds are expended. The FHWA CMAQ Program Guidance states that operational funds can't be <br />expended beyond the three year period. <br /> <br />City Goal <br /> <br />The City wants a Northstar Commuter Rail station located at Ramsey Town Center and has been <br />taking steps to make this possible. One of the critical steps is to demonstrate ridership potential at <br />this location. Ramsey Star Express has continued to increase ridership since its inception. The <br />City wants to continue Ramsey Star Express service beyond the initiation of Northstar Commuter <br />Rail service to continue to show the potential ridership a Ramsey Town Center station would <br />bring to the rail service and along the corridor. <br /> <br />Options <br /> <br />The City must identify and pursue options for continuing the Ramsey Star Express service <br />beyond January 2010. The following options take into account the following assumptions: <br />. The City of Ramsey does not join the Transit Taxing District. <br />. The Ramsey Star Express continues to solely service the Ramsey Town Center station <br />and not other stations along the rail corridor such as Anoka. <br /> <br />1. The City should request an exception to the FHWA Guidance on the maximum three year <br />operating assistance. <br />a. A meeting with Mn/DOT Office of Transit to discuss this will be held on April 22, <br />2009. We will also discuss what the split is between capital and operating and <br /> <br />20f4 <br />