TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall hear a presentation on the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Section 5311 grant, the City’s transit program, and the extension of the Total Transit contract.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
In the spring of 2008, the City of Maricopa began a Federal Transit Administration two year pilot program of Section 5311. Section 5311 is a formula grant that is administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation as a pass-through from the Federal Transit Administration. Section 5311 is a program that provides funding for the purpose of supporting public transportation in rural areas, with a population of less than 50,000. The goal of the program is to provide the following services to communities with population less than 50,000:
· Enhance the access of people in non-urbanized areas to health care, shopping, education, employment, public services, and recreation.
· Assist in the maintenance, development, improvement, and use of public transportation systems in non-urbanized areas.
· Encourage and facilitate the most efficient use of all transportation funds used to provide passenger transportation in non-urbanized areas through the coordination of programs and services.
· Assist in the development and support of intercity bus transportation.
· Provide for the participation of private transportation providers in non-urbanized transportation.
The City of Maricopa has provided intercity and intracity services to Maricopa residents for 4 ½ years. In 2011, the City implemented a local demand response service to provide transportation to those seeking employment and medical services within the City limits. The service is operated with two city-owned vehicles that were purchased with 2010 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds.
Demand Response is comprised of vehicles operating in response to calls from passengers (or their agents) to a customer service representative. A demand response operation is characterized by the followin...
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