|
Back to Calendar
Return
|
| |
County Administrator's Report 12. 9.
|
| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
|
|
|
| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Grant Application for Federal Transit Administration Bus and Facilities Program: Grant 5339 - Joy D. Blackmon, P.E., Public Works Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning a Grant Application for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Bus and Facilities Program: Grant 5339, by Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) for the purchase of two replacement buses and purchase of benches/bus shelters and other related amenities:
A. Adopt the Resolution authorizing Escambia County to apply for and accept Grants, make purchases, and expend funds pursuant to Grant awards by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the FTA Act of 1964;
B. Authorize the ECAT General Manager to file the Grant Application and Grant Award Execution via the Federal Transportation Electronic Award and Management System (TEAM); and
C. Authorize the Chairman to execute the Resolution and all other required documents pertaining to acceptance and expenditure of Grant funds, including notifications of funding and electronic document filing, pending Legal approval, without further action of the Board.
[Funding: The Florida Toll Revenue credits cover the match required for this Grant; therefore, no County funds are required] |
| BACKGROUND: |
Bus stop benches and shelters are currently provided to Escambia County ECAT through a third party advertising firm. The purchase of additional and/or replacement shelters, benches, and other bus stop amenities will permit ECAT to place additional these at current and future stops not already being serviced by the third party advertising firm. Upon approval of this application the Federal Transit Administration, the placement and location of these shelters will be determined, on an as-needed basis. This grant is separate from the previous 5339 grant, which provided $240,819.00 for 17 installed shelters. The bid opening for that contract is scheduled for January 2015. (Information on the 2014 BCC action is attached.)
ECAT currently provides on campus service to the University of West Florida utilizing four 1996 trolleys. These vehicles were originally purchased to run the downtown trolley service in Pensacola. In 2002, soon after the downtown trolley service in Pensacola was discontinued, ECAT began using the trolleys for the University of West Florida (UWF) trolley service. These are among the oldest vehicles in the ECAT fleet and have exceeded their useful life by 8 years. The FTA and FDOT recommend that this type of vehicle be replaced at 10 years and/or 500,000 miles.
UWF and ECAT staff have met to discuss replacing the trolleys due to their age and the fact that many replacement parts are no longer available for this particular make and model. This application will allow ECAT to replace two of the four trolleys with 2015 Champion cutaway vehicles. The life expectancy for the Champion cutaway is 7 years and is half the purchase cost of the TEI Trolleys, which have a 10 year life expectancy. The Cutaways are lift-equipped, 22 passenger vehicles, with a modern feel. The vehicles can easily be wrapped to reflect the school colors and/or theme of UWF.
UWF service began with the trolleys because these were the only vehicles ECAT had available at that time. In the interim, it was agreed between UWF and ECAT that the Champion Cutaways, like those used in many other university and college communities, are the right vehicles for these routes.
Program of Projects:
| Benches/Bus shelters and related amenities |
$ 220,000 |
| Cutaway buses (2) |
$ 97,743 |
| |
|
| Total Budget |
$ 317,743 |
This proposed Program of Projects, including any amendments, becomes the final Program of Projects upon approval by the Board of County Commissioners. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| The Florida Toll Revenue credits cover the match required for this Grant; therefore, no County funds are required. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney, reviewed and signed the Resolution. |
| PERSONNEL: |
N/A
|
| 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; ECAT staff will coordinate all necessary funding activities covered by this grant application with FTA, FDOT, First Transit CTC, and Transportation and Traffic Operations staff. |
|
|
|
|