Question: What is the status of staff’s assessment of the viability of an e-bike voucher program for Alexandria residents, focusing on equitable qualification parameters? What are the costs associated with the creation, administration and implementation of such a program? As an example, what would be the costs for a voucher pilot program in FY25 serving 100 residents? What would be the costs associated with investment and administration of an e-bike lending library? (Councilmember Bagley)
Response:
Staff resources dedicated to administering an e-bike voucher initiative encompass several tasks including formulating equitable eligibility criteria, developing, and managing the application process, liaising with retailers (if rebates are offered pre-purchase), and conducting outreach efforts to publicize the program. Assigning one Urban Planner 2 (Grade 19) staff member to spend 50 hours on setup, 50 hours on promotion, and 50 hours on administration would cost approximately $10,000 in staff time.
In response to this request, the City could consider adopting the District E-Bike Incentive Program, which is already in place in Washington, D.C.; however, the cost of the rebate depends on the value of the rebate. Assuming a rebate of $1,500 per e-bike, for 100 residents, the total cost of the rebates would amount to $150,000. This mirrors the value of the rebate currently offered in DC to preferred applicants (applicants enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or DC Healthcare Alliance). Considering that a typical e-bike costs $3,000, this rebate would cover 50% of that cost. Thus, the total cost of an e-bike voucher pilot program serving 100 residents could amount to approximately $160,000.
While staff can provide a rough order of magnitude cost of approximately $80,000, producing a refined and accurate estimate for an E-bike lending library would require further research and a detailed assessment, possibly through partnerships with libraries. The $80,000 estimate includes the cost of 10 E-bikes, maintenance, storage, staff time, training, and supplies.