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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSTF Funding Recommendations Deschutes County Board of Commissioners 1300 NW Wall St., Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960 (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org AGENDA REQUEST & STAFF REPORT For Board Business Meeting of January 23, 2013 _____________________________ DATE: January 16, 2013. FROM: Judith Ure Administrative Services Phone #: 541-330-4627 TITLE OF AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee recommendations for distribution of Federal Transit Administration 5310 grant funds. PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS DATE? No. BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Each biennium, Deschutes County solicits grant applications from local transportation service providers for projects to be included in the County's request for funding through the Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 funds . Programs and projects supported by 5310 funds primarily facilitate transportation services that benefit the elderly and/or disabled and can address a wide variety of uses including capital equipment purchases, vehicle maintenance, purchased services, and operations. Applicants must provide matching funds to support the project at a rate of 10.27%, 20%, 17%, or 50% depending on the request category. Grant applications are reviewed by the Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) which then forms a recommendation for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. A more detailed explanation of this year's process and a list of projects with recommended funding amounts is attached. Upon Board approval, staff will compile the recommendations into a composite County application to be submitted to ODOT, which may then choose to accept or adjust the recommended funding levels. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Most grant funds will be awarded by ODOT directly to local service providers. However, Deschutes County is acting as applicant for $87,371 to support transit services for the La Pine community during this cycle. In addition, ODOT may ask the County to act as grant administrator for other applications. Depending on the outcome of these factors, an adjustment to the County's 2013-14 budget may be required. RECOMMENDATION & ACTION REQUESTED: Approve recommendations of the STFAC to allocate FTA 5310 funds as submitted and authorize the Board Chair to sign the County's 2013-15 grant application to ODOT when available. ATTENDANCE: Judith Ure, Management Analyst. DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS: N/A. Date: January 16, 2013 To: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners From: Judith Ure, Management Analyst Subject: Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) Recommendations for Distribution of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 Funds Special Transportation Fund Discretionary Grant Program Each biennium, Deschutes County solicits grant applications from local transportation service providers for projects to be included in the County’s request for funding through the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 funding program. Programs and projects supported by 5310 funds primarily facilitate transportation services that benefit the elderly and/or disabled and can address a wide variety of uses including capital equipment purchases, vehicle maintenance, purchased services, and operations. Applicants must provide matching funds to support the project at a rate of 10.27%, 20%, 17%, or 50% depending on the request category. Grant applications submitted by local service providers are reviewed by the Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) which then forms a recommendation for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. Upon Board approval, staff compiles the recommendations into a composite County request for grant funds. Program Changes for the 2013-15 Biennium 1. In previous bienniums, ODOT supplemented the FTA 5310 funds with state resources through the Special Transportation Discretionary Grant (STG) Program. Due to uncertainties in revenue forecasts and state budget projections, the STG Program is not being made available at this time. Depending on circumstances, ODOT may offer the STG Program later in the year, combine the funds with the Special Transportation Formula (STF) Grant Program, or suspend STG funding altogether this biennium. 2. During the last funding cycle, ODOT enforced a ruling requiring agencies which receive FTA 5310 and other federal funds to support transit services available to the general public in addition to a defined elderly and/or disabled clientele – either through direct provision of rides and/or vehicle sharing. As a result, many local service providers have opted not to apply for FTA 5310 funds this cycle. STF Advisory Committee Review Process ODOT has allocated a total of $1,142,880 to Deschutes County for FTA 5310 funding requests. Of that, $266,817 is reserved for services within urban areas (City of Bend) and $876,063 for services within rural areas. In response to a public solicitation, the County received eligible applications for grants in the amount of $266,817 and $876,063 respectively. STFAC members considered the merits of each application as well as the community priorities outlined in the Deschutes County Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan, applicant history, scope of benefit, geographical impact, and sustainability issues to develop preliminary individual recommendations. During a public meeting held on January 16, 2013, the STFAC met as a group to develop a consensus recommendation for the Board’s consideration. Representatives of each applicant agency attended that meeting to provide additional information and answer questions regarding their needs and priorities. STFAC Recommendations The following table details the STFAC’s recommendation for allocating FTA 5310 funds. As the amount available to Deschutes County was sufficient for all the applications received during this cycle, the committee chose to fully fund all requests as submitted. Applicant Description Source Total Cost Match Recommended Grant City of Redmond Contractual transportation services provided by Cascades East Transit. Rural $387,536 $39,800 $347,736 City of Sisters Contractual transportation services provided by Cascades East Transit. Rural $58,423 $6,000 $52,423 Deschutes County Contractual transportation services for La Pine Community provided by Cascades East Transit. Rural $97,371 $10,000 $87,371 Cascades East Transit Preventive maintenance for existing fleet. Rural $362,321 $37,210 $325,111 Cascades East Transit Replacement vehicle. Rural $70,681 $7,259 $63,422 Cascades East Transit Contractual transportation services for Bend Dial-a-Ride provided by Paratransit Services. Urban $297,355 $30,538 $266,817 Total: 5310 Funds $1,142,880 Board Action Staff recommends that the Board of Commissioners approve the recommendations of the STFAC as submitted and to authorize the Board Chair to sign the County’s 2013-15 FTA 5310 Grant Program application to ODOT when available. Date: January 16, 2013 To: Deschutes County Board of Commissioners From: Judith Ure, Management Analyst Subject: Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) Recommendations for Distribution of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 Funds Special Transportation Fund Discretionary Grant Program Each biennium, Deschutes County solicits grant applications from local transportation service providers for projects to be included in the County’s request for funding through the Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5310 funding program. Programs and projects supported by 5310 funds primarily facilitate transportation services that benefit the elderly and/or disabled and can address a wide variety of uses including capital equipment purchases, vehicle maintenance, purchased services, and operations. Applicants must provide matching funds to support the project at a rate of 10.27%, 20%, 17%, or 50% depending on the request category. Grant applications submitted by local service providers are reviewed by the Special Transportation Fund Advisory Committee (STFAC) which then forms a recommendation for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. Upon Board approval, staff compiles the recommendations into a composite County request for grant funds. Program Changes for the 2013-15 Biennium 1. In previous bienniums, ODOT supplemented the FTA 5310 funds with state resources through the Special Transportation Discretionary Grant (STG) Program. Due to uncertainties in revenue forecasts and state budget projections, the STG Program is not being made available at this time. Depending on circumstances, ODOT may offer the STG Program later in the year, combine the funds with the Special Transportation Formula (STF) Grant Program, or suspend STG funding altogether this biennium. 2. During the last funding cycle, ODOT enforced a ruling requiring agencies which receive FTA 5310 and other federal funds to support transit services available to the general public in addition to a defined elderly and/or disabled clientele – either through direct provision of rides and/or vehicle sharing. As a result, many local service providers have opted not to apply for FTA 5310 funds this cycle. STF Advisory Committee Review Process ODOT has allocated a total of $1,142,880 to Deschutes County for FTA 5310 funding requests. Of that, $266,817 is reserved for services within urban areas (City of Bend) and $876,063 for services within rural areas. In response to a public solicitation, the County received eligible applications for grants in the amount of $266,817 and $876,063 respectively. STFAC members considered the merits of each application as well as the community priorities outlined in the Deschutes County Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan, applicant history, scope of benefit, geographical impact, and sustainability issues to develop preliminary individual recommendations. During a public meeting held on January 16, 2013, the STFAC met as a group to develop a consensus recommendation for the Board’s consideration. Representatives of each applicant agency attended that meeting to provide additional information and answer questions regarding their needs and priorities. STFAC Recommendations The following table details the STFAC’s recommendation for allocating FTA 5310 funds. As the amount available to Deschutes County was sufficient for all the applications received during this cycle, the committee chose to fully fund all requests as submitted. Applicant Description Source Total Cost Match Recommended Grant City of Redmond Contractual transportation services provided by Cascades East Transit. Rural $387,536 $39,800 $347,736 City of Sisters Contractual transportation services provided by Cascades East Transit. Rural $58,423 $6,000 $52,423 Deschutes County Contractual transportation services for La Pine Community provided by Cascades East Transit. Rural $97,371 $10,000 $87,371 Cascades East Transit Preventive maintenance for existing fleet. Rural $362,321 $37,210 $325,111 Cascades East Transit Replacement vehicle. Rural $70,681 $7,259 $63,422 Cascades East Transit Contractual transportation services for Bend Dial-a-Ride provided by Paratransit Services. Urban $297,355 $30,538 $266,817 Total: 5310 Funds $1,142,880 Board Action Staff recommends that the Board of Commissioners approve the recommendations of the STFAC as submitted and to authorize the Board Chair to sign the County’s 2013-15 FTA 5310 Grant Program application to ODOT when available.