Title
Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to file an application and to execute a joint participation agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to fund a service demonstration for night bus service.
Explanation
The Regional Transit System (RTS) has prepared a weekend night bus service proposal for the Fall Semester. The service, tentatively named, "Later Gator" would be provided for the extended weekend: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Service would be on 5 specially designed routes operating from approximately 7 PM to 3 AM and using 9 buses. Service would be operated every 10 minutes on the route between the UF campus and downtown and every 15 minutes on the other 4 routes serving residential areas with high concentrations of UF students. Service would initially be provided for football weekends only during September (September 3, September 10 and 24). Every weekend service would begin on October 10 and continue until the weekend of December 17, except that no service would be provided during the Thanksgiving Day break.
An authorizing resolution by the City Commission is required by the Florida Department of Transportation, before it can award a service development grant to the City.
Fiscal Note
The estimated cost of this service for the both the Fall and Spring semesters is $240,000. The Florida Department of Transportation makes available service development grants on a 50% state, 50% local basis for up to two years to finance new transit service. The City of Gainesville will apply for a grant of $120,000 from FDOT for this project. Local share for this project will be requested from the City of Gainesville, the University of Florida Student Government, Alachua County, and the private sector. Service will be provided only if matching funds, in the amount of $120,000, are secured through contracts with the partners named above.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Commission hear a...
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