It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Adopt the attached ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Culture and Tourism Operating Fund (20101) in the amount Up to $150,000.00, from fund balance, for the purpose of funding The Dash Electronic Bus Service; and
   
   
2. Authorize execution of an Interlocal Agreement with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (Trinity Metro) for funding a portion of operational costs for The Dash electric bus service in the amount of $150,000.00 per year for three years.
   

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (Trinity Metro) has secured funding from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) in the amount of $6,264,000.00 for five electric buses and charging stations. The buses are expected to arrive in April 2019. Funding for operations of the service will be shared between Trinity Metro (75%), City of Fort Worth, and private entities along the corridor. The estimated annual operating cost is $1.4 million.  The City of Fort Worth will contribute up to $150,000.00 contingent upon final matching fund raising to be raised from the private entities.  

The electric bus service (The Dash) is a bus circulator designed to link the Cultural District and downtown Fort Worth by way of West 7th Street. Service will be on 15-minute headways, seven days a week with Sunday through Thursday hours 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday hours 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Service is expected to begin on September 22, 2019. This Mayor and Council Communication will allow the City to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Trinity Metro to fund its portion of the operational costs for three years.  Funds for future years will be included in the City Manager's proposed budgets in the Culture and Tourism Operating Fund.

A map of the proposed route is attached below.

This agreement is in COUNCIL DISTRICTS 7 and 9.