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A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Maricopa, Arizona, supporting the application for Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program grant from the U.S. Federal Transit Administration through the Arizona Department of Transportation in an amount not to exceed $294,404 to continue operations of a transit system and authorizing the City Manager to sign any further documents. The City's match requirement for this grant application is $113,536 and will be taken from the General Fund, Transportation (10044146) pending the adoption of the FY 15/16 Operating Budget. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
Section 5311 is a grant program providing public transportation funding for capital, administrative and operating assistance in rural and small urban areas. The purpose of this program is to provide and strengthen public transportation services in rural areas and in communities under 50,000 in population. Many rural Americans do not have access to an automobile and need transportation in order to access services, employment and medical care. Federal funds are apportioned among the States, which have the primary responsibility for administering the program. In Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is the agency responsible for the overall administration of the Section 5311 Program, which is also referred to as the Rural Public Transportation Program.
Funds are available on a competitive basis. Services must be focused on the mobility needs of the general public and are expected to be coordinated with human service transportation and other providers. The Rural Public Transportation Program funds transit systems operating in local communities or between rural communities and urban areas. Some services have been operating for many years, some have recently begun, and others are being instituted as pilot projects.
Rural Transportation in the form of Section 5311 has come before the Mayor and City Council numerous times each year since 2007. Below is a brief history of the Rural Transportation Grant Program in the City of Maricopa.
In the Circulation element of the City's 2006 General Plan, improving roadway conditions was the focus, but a critical goal was creating a highly diversified multi-modal transportation system that includes transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian facilities. Specifically, the Circulation element recommended enhancing transit services to connect Maricopa with Phoenix, Casa Grande, and Tucson. In 2005, the City hired a Transportation Manager to address these issues. A transit feasibility study and implementation plan was completed in 2007 with the recommendation to begin a commuter transit service and hire a Transit Coordinator. The City of Maricopa began providing transit services to the residents of Maricopa in April 2008 and has been providing transit services to the residents for nearly 6-7 years. On October 1, 2010, the route changed for the MaricopaXPRESS and the local circulator City of Maricopa Express Transit (COMET) was created. In fall 2011, Maricopa began providing a demand response system through the Section 5311 grant program.
The City of Maricopa has included a sample grant contract with this staff report which allows Council to formally designate the City Manager to sign the contact when/if the grant is awarded.
The City of Maricopa is requesting continued operation of the local demand response system on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as exists today. Commencing upon receipt of three minivans approved by council last year, we will offer new local demand response service on Tuesday and Thursday, and deviated fixed route service operating 2 hours each morning and 2 hours each evening, five days a week. The minivans are expected to be received in April or May 2015. The City of Maricopa is proposing to hold steady on the expanded services which were approved by Council last year, in the interest of ensuring sustainability. The funding approved by Council last year and a grant fund increase for next year (no local match increase) will enable us to service the higher transit demand found to exist with Central Arizona College, Pinal County Public Health Maricopa Clinic, and Copper Sky Multi-Generational Center. We are at or near scheduling capacity with the demand response system, and the service expansions approved by Council last year will enable us to better serve our residents.
The City of Maricopa is applying for funds under administration and operating expense categories. The City's matching requirements for administration is 20%, and for operating expenses it is 42%. The matching requirement has historically come from the General Fund and the matching requirement for this grant will be included in FY 15-16 budget request. The requested grant application submitted to the ADOT will be in amount not to exceed $294,404, requiring a $113,536 City match. The overall budget is an increase over last year due to an increase in the service contract with Valutrans (Total Transit). This year our local match requirement decreased slightly from last year's application because we had a capital purchase last year for three minivans and we have no capital purchase this year.
This item is presented by Dana Burkhardt, David R. Maestas, Transportation/Transit Planner and Mary Witkofski, Community Programs Manager.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council of the City of Maricopa, Arizona, approve the Resolution supporting the application for Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program grant from the U.S. Federal Transit Administration through the Arizona Department of Transportation in an amount not to exceed $294,404 to continue operations of a transit system and authorizing the City Manager to sign any further documents. The City's match requirement for this grant application is $113,536 and will be taken from the General Fund, Transportation (10044146) pending the adoption of the FY 15/16 Operating Budget.