Title
Ann Arbor Connector Background Information
Memorandum
Staff of the four partner agencies, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (AADDA), Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA), City of Ann Arbor (City) and the University of Michigan (UM), has agreed to move forward with the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each party committing to a share of the project. Initially, equal shares evolved as an approach to funding the effort. In the time since the preliminary understanding much has changed. Both the nature and cost of the project have emerged over time. This memo describes the evolution of the current funding concept.
First conceived in 2006, the cost of the feasibility study was envisioned to be in the $250,000.00 range. Roger Hewitt, AADDA, and Eli Cooper, City staff met with Greg Cook, former Executive Director of AATA, and discussed this undertaking. Greg committed the AATA to funding up to $200,000.00 of the project from AATA’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds. It was thought at that time the remaining three entities would share equally in the difference.
The project finally moved into the RFP phase in summer of 2008. It was agreed by all entities an MOU was desirable for this effort. It was understood the MOU would serve as a mechanism to define each entities’ share of funding of this effort.
The four partners initially anticipated funding a Phase I effort at $250,000.00. AATA was seen as committing up to $100,000.00 of that amount from their FTA funds and the other partners equally sharing the remaining $150,000.00. In spite of staff’s belief the work could be accomplished for a lesser amount the three proposals received were well in excess of the amount anticipated.
In light of the increased costs discovered through the selection process, the partner agencies’ staff met and decided to proceed with the process. The procurement has been conducted by AATA’s procurement office to assure compliance ...
Click here for full text