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Public Hearings 13.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
5:34 p.m. Public Hearing concerning the Fiscal Year 2012/2013 Federal Transit Administration 5307 Grant Application.
Recommendation: That the Board take the following action concerning the Fiscal Year 2012/2013 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307 Grant Application by Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) for mass transit project funding:
A. Conduct the Public Hearing for the purpose of receiving comments from the general public on the Grant Application for $1,564,231 in Federal assistance on mass transit projects;
B. Approve the Grant Application, after receiving comments at the Public Hearing; and
C. Authorize the Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) General Manager to file the Grant Application and Grant Award Execution via the Federal Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM) System, using the authorized passwords for the Chairman and County Attorney where necessary, as authorized by Resolution R2013-43, approved by the Board of County Commissioners on April 18, 2013.
[The Fiscal Year 2012/2013 Capital Grant Application is included in the approved Fiscal Year 2013/2014 County Budget] |
| BACKGROUND: |
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines require that all applications for financial assistance from FTA be submitted after a public hearing is held for the purpose of receiving comments from the public concerning the Grant Program of Projects. Effective January 1, 1998, Grant Applications, Execution, and Grant Administration Progress Reports must be submitted electronically via the Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM) System.
The FTA publishes apportionments two times every year, and ECAT has already applied for the first half of the FY 12/13 5307 grant. ECAT recommends that Escambia County apply for the remaining half of the FY 12/13 5307 grant by approving this application for the Program of Projects.
PROGRAM OF PROJECTS
The Project Budget was developed in accordance with the latest Pensacola Urbanized Area Transportation Improvement Plan Update adopted by the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO). The the budget for this grant application follows:
| Item |
Project Cost |
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| Preventive Maintenance |
$ 415,000 |
| ADA |
$ 156,423 |
| Project Administration |
$ 50,000 |
| Operating Assistance |
$ 902,808 |
| Other Capital Items |
$ 40,000 |
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| Total Budget |
$1,564,231 |
The first four items - Preventive Maintenance, ADA, Project Administration, and Operating Assistance - are all operating expenses and are necessary for ECAT to move forward with a balanced budget for FY 13/14. The two main strains on the Transit budget have been the $1.5 M shortfall in the Service Development Grant (established by the previous management company) and the receipt of only 3/4 of the gas tax for FY 13/14 (funds begin in January 2014), with no supplement for the other 1/4 from the general fund.
The $40K for Capitol items are $20K for Security and $20K for amenities (benches and shelters). Both are part of the FTA general guidelines which look for 1% of the grant be applied to security and 1% applied to amenities.
This proposed Program of Projects, including any amendments, becomes the final Program of Projects when approved by the Board of County Commissioners after receiving comments at the scheduled public hearing. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| The FY 12/13 Capital Grant Application is included in the approved FY 13/14 County Budget. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| The required FY 12/13 Certifications and Assurances have been filed electronically with the FTA. Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney, reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form and legal sufficiency on March 22, 2013. The Board approved the Resolution on April 18, 2013, as part of the initial grant application process. |
| PERSONNEL: |
| Additional personnel will not be required by ECAT. |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| This recommendation is based on the Board of County Commissioners Comprehensive Plan – Mass Transit Element. |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| ECAT personnel will electronically file all required documentation and will coordinate with FTA, FDOT, and Transportation and Traffic Operations staff. |
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