TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall hear public comment for the purpose of considering a Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Arizona Department of Transportation used to continue operations of a demand response system. Interested persons or agencies shall be heard with respect to social, economic, and environmental aspects of the project. Interested persons may submit oral or written evidence and recommendations with respect to the project.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
The City of Maricopa began providing transit service through the City of Maricopa Express Transit (COMET) in April 2008 as a commuter route. The transit initiative began in 2006 with recommendations from a Transit Feasibility Study. Maricopa has received funding for the transit program since October 2007 to implement the commuter routes and more recently the demand response system. Beginning in the spring of 2015, Maricopa will offer expanded demand response service as well as a limited fixed route service, as approved by city council in the FY14/15 budget cycle. Completed transit surveys reflect that sufficient demand exists in Maricopa for expanded services.
As a requirement of this grant application, the City of Maricopa is required to hold a public meeting and seek public comment on the grant application for transit service in the community. Additionally, letters are provided to current service providers in Maricopa for support or protest. Section 5311 is a grant program that provides 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. The Multimodal Division of ADOT administers this Federal program, and these funds are available to non-urbanized or rural communities with a population of less than 50,000 people. 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.
This item is presented by Dana Burkhardt, David R. Maestas and Mary Witkofski.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Mayor and City Council hear public comment for the purpose of considering a Section 5311 Rural Transportation Program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Arizona Department of Transportation used to continue operations of a transit system. Interested persons or agencies shall be heard with respect to social, economic, and environmental aspects of the project. Interested persons may submit oral or written evidence and recommendations with respect to the project.