Title
Resolution for 5311 Grant Application (B)
This item is a request for the City Commission to adopt a Resolution to allow the Regional Transit System (RTS) to apply for a 5311 Grant to purchase Demand Response trips and to continue to provide Route 23 transportation services to the citizens of Gainesville.
Explanation
Federal funds are available through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to purchase demand response trips and to provide Route 23 that operates between the Oaks Mall and Santa Fe College (SF). The funding is set up on a 5-year cycle and is issued either yearly or every 3 years.
The current funding cycle has begun and will run for the next three (3) years through FY19. RTS will use the funds to purchase demand response trips in rural Alachua County and will continue to provide the Route 23 from SF to the Oaks Mall.
In the past, FDOT has accepted generic resolutions adopted by the City Commission authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute and file applications for such grants, but this is no longer sufficient. FDOT now requires that resolutions submitted with Federal grant packages have specific verbiage in the format approved by their attorney and be adopted within 30 days of the application due date which is December 9, 2016. RTS is requesting that the City Commission pass the Resolution allowing the application to go forward to apply for much needed transportation services.
Fiscal Note
The monies for Demand Response trips and Route 23 are considered operational funds and require a 50/50 match. RTS will use monies received from the FY17 contract with Alachua County for several routes touching the rural area as the local match.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) adopt the Resolution to allow the Regional Transit System (RTS) to apply for a 5311 Grant to purchase Demand Response trips; 2) allow RTS to continue to provide Route 23 transportation services to t...
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