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ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERS OF THE CITY OF NEW HAVEN AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A MULTI-YEAR LETTER AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) AGREEMENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAPITAL REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (CRCOG) AND VEORIDE INC. TO IMPLEMENT SHARED MICROMOBILITY SERVICES IN NEW HAVEN.
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WHEREAS, 29% of the City of New Haven’s (“New Haven”) households are zero-car households with nearly 1in 3 households rely on transit, carpooling/rideshare, walking, or biking to move around the region;
WHEREAS, 21% and 26% of Black and Latino households, respectively, do not own cars, compared to 10% of white households and for these demographic groups, especially, unemployment and underemployment is correlated with less car ownership;
WHEREAS, New Haven’s hospitalization rates for chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, and heart disease are worsening at the highest rate in the region and the prevalence of asthma in New Haven’s school district (14.7%) is the highest of all other school districts in the region, as well as the statewide prevalence rate of 14.3%;
WHEREAS, New Haven’s Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking and the Office of Climate and Sustainability recognize the need to improve equitable and sustainable mobility options that would help meet the city’s broader climate goals, including ending community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, by enabling residents to rely less on cars;
WHEREAS, Micromobility is defined as new modes of short-trip, urban transportation, including light vehicles such as pedal bicycles, electric-assist bicycles, and electric scooters, typically accessed by users via a mobile app;
WHEREAS, Pursuant to a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) facilitated by the Capitol Region Council of Governments (“CRCOG”), VeoRide Inc. (“Veo”) was selected to implement a regional micromobility system at no cost to New Haven, Connecticut, and other participating municipalities;
WHEREAS, Veo’s response to CRCOG’s RFP for micromobility services has been incorporated in the CRCOG and VEO Professional Service Agreement;
WHEREAS, CRCOG and Veo have entered into a Professional Services Agreement to facilitate implementation of said regional micromobility system;
WHEREAS, CRCOG, Veo, and New Haven desire to enter and execute into a Side Letter Agreement formally acknowledging New Haven’s participation in the regional micromobility system as a member of the Capitol Region Purchasing Council and acknowledging New Haven’s agreement to be bound by the terms of the Professional Services Agreement;
WHEREAS, New Haven and Veo desire to enter into a Multi-year Memorandum of Understanding Agreement;
WHEREAS, the term of the Memorandum of Understanding Agreement shall be from the date of contract execution through and including June 30, 2029 and shall remain in force until terminated by either party in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Termination of Agreement Section in the CRCOG and Veo Professional Services Agreement; and
WHEREAS, an operating or per-vehicle Annual Electric Mobility fee of $100, as referenced in Section 17-201 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Haven shall not apply to Veo in alignment with the Side Letter Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED by the Board of Alders for the City of New Haven that the Mayor be authorized to sign a Multi-year Letter Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, and any subsequent amendments in partnership with CRCOG and Veo to provide shared micromobility services in New Haven.
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Mayor or designee, is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the City of New Haven such actions as may be considered necessary and appropriate to support and implement shared micromobility services in New Haven.