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19 <br /> solidified route. She said this shows a general idea of what it looks like, and they can more <br /> clearly show that. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said it appears that the 15-501 route ends without a connection. <br /> Caroline Dwyer said it kind of does, because they don't have an exact endpoint at this <br /> time but more of a general area. She said there is a possibility that they could make a <br /> connection to Highway 54 and the possibility it could go a different direction if it heads down <br /> Franklin St. She said an alternatives analysis would hammer down some of those specifics. <br /> She said she would make sure that the non-draft version depicts the possible connections more <br /> clearly. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked if the infrastructure bill has opportunities for transit. <br /> Caroline Dwyer said yes and that there are two kinds of funding. She said one is <br /> formula funding to states based on size and that it will be up to the state for how that is spent. <br /> She said the second is discretionary grant programs and which have to be applied for and <br /> require a local match. She said there will be more opportunities than there have been in the <br /> past. She said a regional strategy would be useful so that entities are not competing against <br /> one another. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked how they might go about the priorities and possibly <br /> moving some of the projects in sooner, if they are only depending on the tax. <br /> Caroline Dwyer said only depending on the tax would make it a long process. She said <br /> they would have to acquire some federal funding. She said it is worth a conversation the DCHC <br /> to have a regional plan for that instead of everyone competing with each other. She said <br /> everyone working regionally is better for everyone because it is a very competitive environment. <br /> She said having the planning done will help you be ready for when the opportunities are <br /> announced. <br /> Commissioner Richards said she is assuming the efficiencies are included, such as <br /> energy savings. <br /> Caroline Dwyer said there are different ways to make transportation more sustainable. <br /> She said that the best thing to do is land use plans that make it easy to use transit to reduce <br /> vehicle trips. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked how committing to this plan affects the ability to use federal <br /> funds. <br /> Caroline Dwyer said that this set of projects will have a huge impact on the ability to <br /> compete for federal funding. She said there are opportunities to fund some studies but those <br /> are not so large that you would be precluded from pursuing those opportunities. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked where the funding would come from if dollars are <br /> committed to this plan. <br /> Caroline Dwyer said they will have to produce alternative sources of funding such as an <br /> increase in transit tax or public-private partnerships. <br />