Agenda

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County Administrator's Report 12. 12.

BCC Regular Meeting

Budget & Finance Consent

Meeting Date:	02/07/2019
Issue: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Section 5311 Program Grant Application
From:	Mike Crittenden
Department:	Mass Transit
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning the Florida Department of Transportation Section 5311 Program Grant Application - Mike Crittenden, Mass Transit Department Director

That the Board take the following action concerning the State of Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Grant Application for USC Section 5311 funding (Federal Transit Administration [FTA] non Urbanized funding), to be used by Escambia County Mass Transit Department, for fixed route and paratransit transportation to and from the Rural / Non-Urbanized area:

A. Adopt the Resolution authorizing Escambia County to apply for and accept certain Grant awards made by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Act of 1964;

B. Authorize the Chairman to execute the Resolution and all other required documents pertaining to acceptance and expenditure of Grant funds, including notification of funding and electronic document filing; and

C. Authorize the Mass Transit Director to sign all Application documents and to submit the Grant Application.

[Funding: Section 5311 funding requires a 50% match for operating costs for rural areas. The other 50% is a reimbursement. These funds will be included in the Mass Transit Department Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Budget]

BACKGROUND:

The Section 5311 Non-Urbanized Area Formula Grant Program provides federal operating or capital assistance to eligible recipients who operate / contract public transportation service in non-urbanized areas. Eligible recipients may receive annual section 5311 allocations to offset operational expenses of public transportation service operated and or contracted in rural/non-urbanized areas. Grant recipients must either be a Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC), or an otherwise-eligible recipient who maintains a written coordination agreement with the CTC. Additionally, grant recipients must have the requisite fiscal and managerial capability to carry out the project and the legal authority to receive federal and state funds. Escambia is the eligible local recipient of FDOT funding.

The only route that goes into the Rural area is Route 60, and it typically runs/costs at 3% of the overall budget. FDOT will reimburse 50% of those costs, up to the maximum awarded. Applications are submitted and are reviewed on a competitive basis, therefore we cannot give an exact value of the grant award. However, Historically ECAT has been awarded enough to offset the full 50% of route costs.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

Section 5311 funding required a 50% match for operating costs for rural areas. The other 50% is a reimbursement. These funds will be included in the Mass Transit Department Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Budget.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

Kristin Hual, Senior Assistant County Attorney, has reviewed and approved the resolution for legal sufficiency.

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Upon the Boards approval, Clerk's office staff will need to certify two copies of the Resolution for the Mass Transit Department. Funds are accessed upon grant award, acceptance of the award, and all approvals. Mass Transit personnel will continue to coordinate with FDOT staff to complete all implementation requirements.

Attachments
Resolution