2023-15 Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 9 - Transportation Services Department

Home Browse Search

OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER DATE: March 20, 2022 TO: Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council Members FROM: Jon Kindseth, Deputy City Manager Lacie Elzy, Transit Administrator SUBJECT: Ordinance Amending City Code Chapter 9 Transportation Services Department SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends City Council approval of an amendment to City Code to create the Transportation Services Department. BACKGROUND: The Transportation Services Department is being created to recognize that there is more to citizen mobility beyond public transportation. Previously, City employees in Decatur Transit reported to various departments, including the Community Development Department, and most recently in the Executive Department. The 2023 budget moves this function into its own new department, along with additional functions including planning and preparing electric vehicle infrastructure, electric scooters, non-motorized facility management and more. While the primary function of this department is public transportation in 2023, we see this department as accommodating many more transportation related services and functions in the years ahead. This new department's responsibilities have grown from only providing contract oversight for transit services to a multi-faceted department responsible for all modes of transportation including: micro transit solutions, micro mobility, fixed route, paratransit, electric vehicle charging,bike racks, and more. The Transportation Services Department is responsible for the first Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Plan, which includes the installation and maintenance of the electrical infrastructure required for Electric Vehicles. This extends to the procurement of Electric Vehicles and Buses. The Transit Services Department has procured land to extend the current Transit Admin/Maintenance facility by 3.7 acres,with plans to create a sustainable,state of the art, joint Transit & Municipal Services campus that will include the EV infrastructure, newly constructed bus &car wash, solar panels,renovated buildings, shared fueling stations, and ample vehicle storage. Shelters,bike racks,ADA accessibilities, and end of mile solutions are critical functions to a thriving community.