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County Administrator's Report 10. 2.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
Discussion |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Renewal of an Agreement with Pensacola Bay Transportation Company, LLC, to Provide Paratransit Transportation Services - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director
That the Board approve an extension of the Agreement to Provide Paratransit Transportation Services between Escambia County and Pensacola Bay Transportation Company, LLC, effective October 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013, to provide ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) complimentary paratransit service to individuals with disabilities, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and State Service Plans.
[Funding for the Agreement is from Fund 104, Mass Transit, and is included in the Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Budget for ADA, non-sponsored transportation, and non-urbanized area services, much of which shows as revenue from Federal and State funding sources, such as the Federal Transit Administration and Florida Department of Transportation] |
| BACKGROUND: |
Escambia County, the provider of fixed-route transit service through Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT), is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide ADA complementary paratransit service within 3/4 of a mile of existing bus routes. Pensacola Bay Transportation Company is the current Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) designated by the Florida Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged and, under their jurisdiction, are responsible to function as per the Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan (TDSP), providing the Medicaid and non-sponsored service.
The original agreement with Pensacola Bay Transportation Company to provide ADA complementary paratransit service was effective for a term beginning on October 1, 2011, and expiring on September 30, 2012, with the option to renew for two additional one-year terms. On September 17, 2012, the Board of County Commissioners approved a one-year extension of the Agreement, making the effective date October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2013.
At this time, staff is asking the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to approve extending the Agreement, making the Agreement effective from October 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013. This three month extension will allow the needed additional time (considering the recent issues and complaints) to modify the current contract. Modifications and/or amendments will include new reporting requirements for Pensacola Bay Transportation Company, performance standards, maintenance requirements for vehicles, initiating a new 24/7 "hot-line" for complaints/issues, initiating a grievance process for system users, changing outdated terms, and any other requirements as outlined by Escambia County. Prior to December 31, 2013, staff will bring an amended Agreement to the Board along with an extension request to make the amended Agreement effective through June 30, 2014. Extending this Agreement through June 30, 2014, allows all future contracts [ADA and CTC (Medicaid and non-sponsored service)] to have the same beginning and ending dates.
If it is the BOCC's willingness to become the CTC beginning July 1, 2014, (re: a separate BOCC Recommendation), staff would then issue a request for proposal (RFP) an operator to provide the CTC services (Medicaid and non-sponsored), as well as the ADA complementary paratransit service. County oversight of these services would ensure an improved paratransit service within Escambia County. If the BOCC decides not to become the CTC, the RFP would be only for an ADA complementary paratransit service provider. Our anticipated timeframe for the RFP, whether for ADA complementary paratransit service provider or for a combined ADA and CTC (Medicaid and non-sponsored service) provider, would be from December 15, 2013, through April 15, 2014. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
Funding for the Agreement is from Fund 104, Mass Transit, and is included in ECAT's FY 2013/14 budget for ADA, non-sponsored transportation, and non-urbanized area services, much of which shows as revenue from federal and state funding sources, such as the Federal Transit Administration and Florida Department of Transportation.
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| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney, has reviewed the Agreement. |
| PERSONNEL: |
| N/A |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| This recommendation is based on the Mass Transit Element of the BCC Comprehensive Plan. Board policy requires the approval of all such agreements. |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| The Transportation & Traffic Operations Division and ECAT staff will administer the Agreement and will coordinate with Pensacola Bay Transportation Company on the required transportation services. |
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