Fiscal Year 2004 Proposed Budget

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENT BUDGET SUMMARY

MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality of life in the County by building and maintaining the County's water, sewer (storm and sanitary) and street systems, and by providing related emergency services in the most effective, efficient, and environmentally responsible way possible.

FY 2004 PRIORITIES: The FY 2004 priorities of the Department of Public Works are:

• To continue to identify creative and effective ways of implementing County Board initiatives.

• To continue to evaluate the best ways for the appropriate uses of sidewalks, bikeways, streets, and highways.

• To continue to make Arlington more pedestrian friendly.

• To continue to evaluate the proper mix of transportation options.

• To continue to evaluate and implement improved business processes in capital design and surveys.

• To continue to look for better ways to interact and communicate with customers.

• To continue to look for ways to maximize the use of new technologies and integrate them into our business processes.

• To continue to improve the management and leadership of the Department of Public Works.

PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: The Divisions of the Department of Public Works are:

• Traffic Engineering

• Planning

• Water, Sewer and Streets (WSS)

• Engineering

• Administrative Services

Each division has operations budgeted in the General Fund. Engineering and Water, Sewer, and Streets have operations (including wholesale water purchase) in the Utilities Fund, and Traffic Engineering has operations budgeted in the Ballston Garage Fund.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHANGES: The FY 2004 proposed budget for the Department of Public Works is $25,442,077, a 17 percent increase over the FY 2003 adopted budget.

• The Commuter Assistance Program (CAP) has traditionally been budgeted at a flat level. As grants were approved, they were added to the budget subsequent to budget adoption. Because the grants have continually exceeded the budgeted amount, in FY 2004 the budget is being updated to reflect probable grants. This adds $2.55 million in non-personnel expense and revenue. Excluding this additional CAP grant funding, the Department's FY 2004 budget would show an increase over FY 2003 of six percent.

• Full year costs are budgeted for operating the Arlington Transit (ART) expansion routes that were adopted in FY 2003. These routes include the Ballston lunch shuttle (ART67), Fort Meyer Heights and N. Highlands (ART61), and the Cross town Express (ART40). Both ART61 and ART40 were budgeted for partial year operation in FY 2003. The increase of $499,306 in FY 2004 includes full year costs for ART 40 and ART 61 as well as increased contract costs for all ART routes.

• Paratransit operations will see a projected cost increase of $99,108 for trips provided by the STAR program.

• The increased expense in the non-personnel budget reflects the increased cost of energy ($76,049) for street lights, traffic signals, and the energy to operate new equipment installed as a result of capital construction through FY 2004.

• One FTE, which is funded by capital, was added to the Engineering Division to complete staffing needed to operate the Real Estate unit. The responsibility for all right-of-way negotiations and purchase was transferred from the Office of Support Services to the Engineering Division to improve project coordination.

• Two FTEs were added to the Engineering Division to implement remaining parts of the Virginia Erosion/Sediment Control Act, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, the County's municipal stormwater permit and the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. Revenues were increased to cover the cost of these inspections and plan review positions, which accounts for $200,000 increased revenue. Non-personnel was increased by $17,172 for operating expenses.

• Parking meter revenue increases $575,100 because of additional parking meters that will be installed in FY 2003. The number of meters will increase to an average of 4,200 meters in service. Revenue will also increase by $89,100 as a result of the state share reimbursed to the County for operating the state signals in the County. Reimbursement is based on the percent of signals that the County operates that are the state's responsibility. That percentage is currently 49%.

• Farebox revenue has decreased $108,192 from the FY 2003 adopted budget due to WMATA not yet determining a cost share arrangement or reimbursement plan for flash pass use on ART buses. At present, this ridership revenue is credited to the County Metro budget.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Pavement rating is determined by regular inspection and evaluation of street conditions and calculated on a County-wide basis through the pavement management software. A condition rating of 70 to 75 is considered good.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• Program staff has been responsive to localized planning studies (such as North Tract and Clarendon studies), seeking outside funding for projects, improving project coordination with the Commonwealth, enhancing citizen contact, and trying to adjust for vacancies and turnover across the Planning Division. The localized planning study assignments have delayed comprehensive review of the Public Works Master Plans. The street and pedestrian plan updates will proceed very slowly unless more staff resources become available. Management of the Arlington Walks initiative is currently done through temporary, part-time staff. With the significant expansion of the program to areas outside the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, additional permanent staff will be required to continue the program. The Master Plan for Transit is also in need of a comprehensive review and more resources will be needed to complete that plan.

• Requests for traffic analysis continue to grow. Staff reallocations were made to respond to demand, but ongoing growth may require further staffing or contract expense.

• Electronic data needs continue to grow and data is essential in developing a sound asset management plan. Funds may be needed for a contractor to create a geo-based information system for remaining elements of the Traffic Engineering and Water, Sewer, and Streets infrastructure. Additional staff may be needed to maintain it.

• Additional markings for on-street bike trails, pedestrian upgraded crosswalks, and traffic calming devices add to the inventory of markings that require maintenance.

• As additional street lights and signal devices are installed throughout the County as part of redevelopment, neighborhood conservation, and streetscape projects, additional operating funds will be required to pay for the increased energy consumption.

• A steadily growing inventory of signs with considerable variety and application is needed to address the increasing demand need for traffic and parking control devices in Arlington to ensure safe travel for all methods of mobility.

• STAR ridership will continue to increase due to greater familiarity, improved reliability and growth in the number of certified residents.

• Engineering staff levels have remained static for many years while capital funds and expectations for faster project completion have increased. Although the Engineering Division reengineers its operations to try to better meet demand, capacity to deliver projects in a fair length of time continues to suffer. Increasing capacity of the Engineering staff may require more resources.

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