HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5f. Authorization to apply for 2020-21 Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) Grant Funds Item 5f
Department: Public Works
Cost Center: 5201 (Transit)
For Agenda of: 3/1/2022
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Matt Horn, Public Works Director
Prepared By: Austin O’Dell, Transit Manager
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT 2020-21 LOW CARBON TRANSIT
OPERATIONS PROGRAM (LCTOP) GRANT APPLICATIONS, ELECTRIC
VEHICLE (EV) INFRASTRUCTURE
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution entitled, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo, California, authorizing the City Manager or their Designee, to file, execute and
fulfill any related Low Carbon Transportation Operations Program Grant Applications,
Certifications, Assurances, Forms, Agreements, and Associated Documents on behalf of
the City.”
DISCUSSION
Background Information on California’s LCTOP
The LCTOP is one of several programs that are part of the Transit, Affordable Housing,
and Sustainable Communities Program established by the California Legislature in 2014
by Senate Bill 862. The California Legislature created LCTOP to provide operating and
capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve
mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities. Approved projects in
LCTOP support new or expanded bus or rail services, expand intermodal transit facilities,
and may include equipment acquisition, fueling, maintenance, and other costs to operate
those services or facilities, with each project reducing greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG). Since 2015-16, Senate Bill 862 continuously appropriates five percent of the
annual auction proceeds in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (Fund) for LCTOP.
The LCTOP is administered by California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in
coordination with the California Air Resource Board (ARB) and the State Controller’s
Office (SCO). Caltrans is responsible for ensuring that the statutory requirements of the
LCTOP are met in terms of project eligibility, greenhouse reduction, disadvantaged
community benefit, and other requirements of the law.
Per Public Resource Code § 75230(f)(1)(3) funds shall be expended to provide transit
operating or capital assistance that meets any of the following thr ee criteria:
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Item 5f
1. New and Expanded. Expenditures that directly enhance or expand transit service
by supporting new or expanded bus or rail services, new or expanded water -borne
transit, or expanded intermodal facilities, and may include equipment acquisition,
fueling, and maintenance, and other costs to operate those services or facilities.
2. Increased Modality. Operational expenditures that increase transit mode share.
3. Zero-Emissions. Expenditures related to the purchase of zero-emission buses,
including electric buses, and the installation of the necessary equipment and
infrastructure to operate and support zero-emission buses.
Relevancy of LCTOP to the City
The City of San Luis Obispo may seek a portion of
LCTOP funds annually. Each transit operator is
entitled to funds based on a statewide formula. The
City’s currently identified allocation is $5,899; this
amount may change slightly based upon revised
State numbers.
Regionally, a discretionary amount of $285,233
available to all local transit agencies to apply for is
also projected. These specific and regional LCTOP
funds require an annual grant application. This grant
application requires City Council approval. SLOCOG determines the grant awards based
on one of following criteria:
Expenditures that directly enhance or expand transit service by supporting new or
expanded bus or rail services, new or expanded water-borne transit, or expanded
intermodal facilities, and may include equipment acquisition, fueling, and
maintenance, and other costs to operate those services or facilities.
Operational expenditures that increase transit mode share.
Expenditures related to the purchase of zero-emission buses, including electric
buses, and the installation of the necessary equipment and infrastructure to
operate and support zero-emission buses.
City LCTOP Grant Application for Supporting EV Infrastructure
Staff is recommending that this year’s 2021-22 LCTOP grant application be made toward
supporting the infrastructure costs related to the purchase and installation of electric bus
charging units.
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Item 5f
The State of California’s Air Resource Board has manded that transit agencies convert to
zero emission vehicles by 2040. The City of San Luis Obispo’s Climate Action Plan also
has the ambitious goal for City services to be carbon neutral by 2030. In support of this ,
City Council has previously approved the purchase of two (2) electric transit vehicles on
July 7, 2020, to replace two aged diesel transit buses. These electric transit vehicles are
expected to be delivered in early 2022.
These two new vehicles will therefore need to be supported with appropriate EV
infrastructure and charging units. The design for this EV infrastructure and charging units
is in progress. Funding to support the construction phase of this work will come from both
an Air Pollution Control District and PG&E grants. Supplemental funding from LCTOP
meets the intended purpose of the funds by supporting reduction in GHG emission.
Policy Context
Financial Management Manual Policy 740 requires that the City Council approve grant
applications equal to or greater than $5,000. The application will request $291,132
combined with the City allocated and discretionary LCTOP funds.
Further, this project is consistent with the City’s adopted 2019 Major City Goals Financial
Plan, Climate Action Plan, 2017-22 Short Range Transit Plan, the regions SLO Regional
Zero Emission Bus Plan and the state’s Innovative Clean Transit Rule.
Public Engagement
This is an administrative item, so no outside public engagement was completed. Public
comment can be provided to the City Council through written correspondence prior to the
meeting and through public testimony at the meeting.
CONCURRENCE
This proposed project has been reviewed by the San Luis Obispo Council of
Governments (SLOCOG) before submission to the City Council. SLOCOG board,
Transportation Technical Advisory Committee, and Social Services Technical Advisory
Committee are recommending funding for the City’s project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended actio n in
this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines
Sec. 15378.
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Item 5f
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes – Grant Funding Budget Year: 2021-22
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources
Total
Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
Transit Fund $ $
State – LCTOP
Discretionary
$285,233
State – LCTOP Direct $5,899
Other: APCD
Other: PG&E
Total $291,132 $ $
There is no impact on the City’s General Fund as a result of applying or receiving these
grant funds. Rather, securement of these funds will assist and supplement the Transit
Enterprise fund in achieving its capital project goals.
ALTERNATIVES
Deny authorization request for the grant application. This is not recommended as this
will leave the transit program without another funding source to pursue this vital project.
ATTACHMENTS
A - Draft Resolution authorizing submission of LCTOP grant applications
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2022 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR THEIR
DESIGNEE, TO FILE, EXECUTE AND FULFILL ANY RELATED LOW
CARBON TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS PROGRAM GRANT
APPLICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, ASSURANCES, FORMS,
AGREEMENTS, AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY
WHEREAS, City of San Luis Obispo (City) operates the San Luis Obispo (SLO)
Transit system; and
WHEREAS, the City and SLO Transit are eligible applicants for the States Low
Carbon Transportation Operations Program (LCTOP) grant annually, throughout the life
of the program; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined to use the City app ortionment and pursue
discretionary amounts to fund SLO Transit capital projects; and
WHEREAS, the City is requesting 100% of its annually allocated amount and
additional annually awarded discretionary amounts; and
WHEREAS, the filing and receipt of such LCTOP grant will impose certain
reporting obligations upon the City; and
WHEREAS, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in coordination
with the Air Resource Board (ARB) and the State Controller’s (SCO) office have been
authorized to administer the LCTOP program as defined in Senate Bill 862.
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Resolution No. _____ (2022 Series) Page 2
R ______
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City if San Luis Obispo City
Council does hereby authorize the City Manager or their Designee, to file, execute and
fulfill any related Low Carbon Transportation Operations Program grant applications,
certifications, assurances, forms, agreements, and associated documents on behalf of
the City.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by
_______________________, and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2022.
________________________________
Mayor Erica A. Stewart
ATTEST:
________________________
Teresa Purington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of San Luis Obispo, California, on ______________________.
________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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