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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/2005, PH1 - PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2005-06 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR THE 2005-06 FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (F council `" °"°.s 3/eS_ l acEnaa nEpout PN C I T Y OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jay Walter,Director of Public Works Timothy Scott Bochum,Deputy Director of Public Works Prepared by: Austin O'Dell, Transit Manager SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2005-06 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR THE 2005-06 FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) GRANT CAO RECOMMENDATION Conduct a public hearing to review and approve the FTA 5307, FY 2005-06 Program of Projects. DISCUSSION Background Since the 1990 census, the City has been classified as an urbanized zone area (UZA) and is eligible to receive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula grants for operating and capital assistance. To apply for these grants, the Council must annually: 1. Publish the Program of Projects (POP); 2. Hold a public hearing on the proposed POP for Federal transit assistance; 3. Seek approval by the San Luis Obispo Urbanized Zone Area Technical Committee; 4. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Public Works Director to file a grant application and execute the grant agreement; and 5. Forward the approved POP to San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) for review and amendment into the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). The 2005-06 POP was published in the Tribune on March 26, 2005. Development of Program of Projects The 2005-06 POP represents the second year that the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (SLORTA) is an eligible recipient of available San Luis Obispo Urbanized Zone Area (SLO UZA) FTA 5307 funding. This is a significant change from prior years because, in the past, the City was the sole recipient of the urbanized zone area FTA 5307 funds. This change was the result of the FTA's requirement that all transit operators within an UZA execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing how FTA 5307 funds would be made available to eligible transit operators within each UZA. In accordance with the adopted MOU, the proposed POP has been reviewed and approved by the SLO UZA Technical Committee. The Committee, comprised of the City, SLORTA, Air Pollution Control District, and SLOCOG, has been meeting to review, rank and approve this year's grant requests. This year is the first time that the FTA POP has been presented to the Council before the Transit Program of Projects—2005-06 Page 2 beginning of the fiscal year rather than at the end of the calendar year. Changes to federal and state deadlines now require the City to submit our documentation to program FTA Section 5307 funds earlier in the annual process. Therefore, failure to modify the City's schedule and adhere to the mandated deadlines could jeopardize federal funding for this year. A public hearing on the 2005-06 POP is required by the FTA to 1) notify the public how the UZA will spend its FTA grants, and 2) provide the public an opportunity to comment on those recommendations. This public hearing is a formality to satisfy FTA requirements and will allow the SLO UZA to receive FTA grant reimbursements in the amount of $870,979 for the current fiscal year. The City will receive $805,879 of the total apportionment in the SLO UZA. The projects approved by the San Luis Obispo Urbanized Zone Area Technical Committee are listed below in Table 1: (Table 1: Reconumnded2005-06 ProgramofProlects I I I I Transit Total Federal Local Operator Cost Share. Share SLD Transit Operations for 2605-06 SLO Cit $ 1,999,600 $291,439 $1,708,161 Capital Cost of Contracting SLO City $ 175,000 $140,000 $ 35,000 Trolley Replacement Vehicle SLO City $ 193,050 $154,440 $ 38,610 Bus Replacement Vehicle SLO City $ 275,000 $220,000 $ 55,000 Runabout I DMVAVL SLORTA $ 105,000 $ 65,100 $ 39,900 (Total I $ 2,747,650 I $870,979 I $1,876,671 I Finally, the FTA grant agreement requires annual certifications of compliance with regard to regulations such as civil rights, procurement procedures, and substance abuse. Authorizing the Public Works Director to apply for the grant and execute the agreement is required by state and federal guidelines. CONCURRENCES The San Luis Obispo Urbanized Zone Area Technical Committee approved the recommended POP on March 10, 2005. The Mass Transportation Committee reviewed the City's Draft 2005-06 POP on March 30, 2005. There was consensus to forward the POP to Council.. FISCAL IlVIPACT 1. SLO Transit Operations for FY 2005-06. The federal share of the SLO Transit operational assistance for FY 2005-06 is $291,439. 2. Trolley Replacement Vehicle. There are several reasons this vehicle needs to be replaced. The primary reason is due to a recent change in California emission requirements. The California Air Resource Board (CARB) has changed the definition of an urban transit vehicle to include medium-duty and medium-sized public transit vehicles. This means that CARB can impose an accelerated replacement on the City's diesel trolleys. CARB is not imposing the requirement on .gasoline trolleys. Because of this new mandate, the City is required to decommission the 1992 Chance trolley and replace it with a trolley that meets the CARB /-Z Transit Program of Projects—2005-06 Page 3 emission requirements. The second reason for replacement is that this vehicle is beyond its useful life according to Federal Transit Administration guidelines. Medium-duty and medium-sized transit vehicles have a seven-year useful life and the 1992 Chance Trolley has exceeded this by 6 years. In addition, the Transit Manager has received complaints regarding the appearance of the wood trim on the 1992 Chance Trolley. Staff has been reluctant to rehabilitate the trolley in the past, in anticipation of the CARB rule change. Rehabilitation and re-powering the trolley will cost the same as buying a new trolley without the added benefit of a new vehicle. This project will replace the 1996 Chance Trolley, (T-101, green). This vehicle is the City's primary trolley vehicle that provides service from upper Monterey Street to the Downtown from Thursday to Sunday. Staff will be returning to City Council at a future meeting to approve the solicitation of the trolley. 3. Bus Replacement Vehicle. Originally, the City planned to replace the three buses in fiscal year 2005-06. However, this project is being phased over the next three years because of the federal programming process to minimize the impact of capital purchases on the Transit Program, and because the City is no long the sole recipient of FTA 5307 funds in the San Luis Obispo Urbanized Zone Area (SLO UZA). San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority can now apply for these funds. The City and the San Luis Obispo Urbanized Zone Area Technical Committee concurred with this approach and favorably supported this change. The result of this change is that busses will be purchased over time and the City will continue to experience some increased maintenance and lost vehicle hours. 4. Capital Cost of Contracting. Capital Cost of Contracting allows the City to meet it's required farebox ratio for the transit system. Capital Cost of Contracting fluctuates yearly due to the balance between capital and operating demands on FTA Section 5307 funds in the SLO UZA area. 5. Runabout MDT/AVL. The Runabout Mobile Data Terminal/Automatic Vehicle Locator (MDT/AVL) project is sponsored by SLORTA; therefore, this project is not to be reflected in the City's budget. SLORTA will be responsible for securing its matching funds. This project ($105,000) will install vehicle location and dispatch devices on Runabout vehicles to improve system efficiency of the countywide ADA complimentary service. The City supports this project but believes that SLORTA should seek funding from other regions in the County with federal and local transit funding sources, to better reflect the countywide nature of the program. Thus, it is recommended that $65,100 of SLO UZA FTA 5307 funds be applied to SLORTA's Runabout MDT/AVL project, and that SLORTA seek the remaining balance from other federal and local match funding sources that do not increase the City's annual TDA contribution. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution for FTA Grant Application 2 FTA Program of Projects 3. MTC Minutes of March 30, 2005 /-3 ' ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. (2005 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF THE 2005-06 FEDERAL CAPITAL AND OPERATING ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration has been delegated authority to award Federal financial assistance for a transportation project; and WHEREAS, a grant of federal assistance will impose certain.obligations upon the City of San Luis Obispo and may require the City of San Luis Obispo provide the local share of project costs; and WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has or will provide all annual certifications and assurances to the Federal Transit Administration required for the project; and WHEREAS, a grant of federal assistance will impose certain obligations upon the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority and may require the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority provide the local share of project costs; and WHEREAS,the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority has or will provide all annual certifications and assurances to the Federal Transit Administration required for the project. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. The City of San Luis Obispo and San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority are eligible recipients as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5307. SECTION 2. The Public Works Director is authorized to execute and file an application for Federal assistance on behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo with the Federal Transit Administration for Federal assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53,Title 23,United States Code and other Federal statutes authorizing a project administered by the Federal Transit Administration. SECTION 3. The Public Works Director is authorized to execute and file with the application the annual certifications, assurances, and other documents the Federal Transit Administration requires before awarding a Federal assistance grant. SECTION 4. The Public Works Director is authorized to execute grant agreements with the Federal Transit Administration on behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo and San Luis Obispo Transit Authority. Resolution No SECTION 5. The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority shall: a) Satisfy all requirements associated with submitting its FTA Section 5307 grant application documents (including, but not limited to, the annual certifications, assurances); b) Provide the City with all requested information required to submit grant, submit electronic fund transfers, and manage grant. Upon motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 2005. Mayor ATTESTED: APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Clerk Ci ttoiney �S I 1 i MACHMN 2 FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION GRANT APPLICATION for SLO TRANSIT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006 The City of San Luis Obispo will be conducting a public hearing to receive comments on the Draft Program of Projects on May 3, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. The below Draft Program of Projects will become the final program unless modified: Federal Apportionments: For 2004-2005 $800,000 Carryover from 2003-2004 70,979 Available to Program $870,979 Transit Federal Total Project OOverator Amount Amount Operating Assistance 7/1/05 to 6/30/06 SLO City $291,439 $1,999,600 Bus Replacement Vehicle SLO City 220,000 275,000 Capital Cost of Contracting SLO City 140,000 175,000 Trolley Replacement Vehicle SLO City 154,440 193,050 Runabout MDT/AVL SLORTA 65,100 105,000 Total Project Cost $2,7477650 Federal Share $8709979 City of San Luis Obispo 805,879 San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority 65,100 Local Share $1,8761671 City of San Luis Obispo 1,836,771 San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority 39,900 f—('n F I A'T'TACHMENT_-a_ MASTER DRAFT CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Wednesday, March 30,2005 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Bob Johnson called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Bob Johnson (Chair),Jean Knox (Vice Chair),Denise Martinez,Jose Lemus, D. Gregg Doyle, Susan Rains, and Dustin Robinson Alternates: Kathy Howard (voting) Absent: Rob Nesbitt Staff Present: Austin O'Dell ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. O'Dell reported that Rob Nesbitt had submitted a letter of resignation and noted that his term will be ending anyway. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments A. CONSENT ITEMS There were no consent items submitted. B. DISCUSSION ITEMS B1. Review and Receive Comments on the 2006 Program of Projects Mr. O'Dell discussed the goal and requirements pursuant to the FTA Grant application for Program of Projects (POP), as well as the function of the Memo of Understanding (MOU) and the SLO Urban Zone Areas (UZA), consisting of the /�7 ATTACHMENT 3 _ City, SLOGOC, SLORTA, and the APCD. He stated that the 2005-06 SLO UZA apportionment is$870,979,of which the City will received $805,879. He reported that the UZA Technical Committee, created via the MOU,has accepted and reviewed the eligible projects and is recommending the POP as outlined in Attachment I. He asked for the MTC to review and comment on the POP, as the item would be heard as a public hearing at the Council meeting on May 3, 2005. He detailed the POP City projects,which included: ® Operating Assistance 7/1/05-6/30/06 ■ Bus Replacement Vehicle s .Capital Cost of Contracting ■ Trolley Replacement Vehicle ■ Runabout MDT/AVL (SLORTA project) There was general Committee discussion. Ms. Rains determined that one bus would be replaced in 2005/06,with a total projection of replacing four buses within the next four years. Mr. O'Dell noted that the green trolley needed to be replaced now, due to noted regulations, and that the red trolley was due for replacement as well. He also explained the cost of contracting and capitalizing a portion of expenses, which helps the farebox ratio. Mr.Johnson felt the proposal was reasonable and favored the item moving forward as presented to the May 3,2005 Council meeting.. The Committee agreed with Mr.Johnson. C. ACTION ITEMS There were no action items submitted. D. INFORMATION ITEMS There were no information items submitted. ATTACHMENT MEMBER COMMENTS There were no comments at this time. The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 a.m. to the next regular meeting of May 11, 2005. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary