Title
Public Transit Grant Award Agreements for Florida Department of Transportation Service Development Grant Funds for Regional Transit System (RTS) Projects (B)
This item requests that the City Commission adopt a resolution authorizing the City of Gainesville dba Regional Transit System to enter into Public Transportation Grant Agreements (PTGAs) for the acceptance of grant funds and authorizes the City Manager to execute PTGAs with Florida Department of Transportation for Service Development Grants for RTS projects.
Explanation
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) allocates service development funds to transit agencies each year. The allocations are given at FDOT discretion on a competitive basis for agency projects that meet FDOT Service Development Grant (SDG) criteria. These funds require a 50% match from the agency. RTS utilizes service development grants to offset operational costs for provision of fixed route services, or for capital projects deemed essential for improved transit services. RTS regularly submits proposals and receives grant awards for service development projects, which assist in offsetting operating expenses for City bus routes.
Recently the FDOT transitioned from its previous award agreement system (Joint Participation Agreement, “JPAs,” and Supplementary JPAs, “SJPAs”) to a new system which utilizes PTGAs. RTS projects eligible for continuation are still being funded by FDOT, but are now transitioned to the new PTGAs which may, at the discretion of FDOT and if eligible, be amended with either increased funding and/or time extensions.
FDOT requires the governing board of each public transit system to adopt a Resolution authorizing the agency to enter into a PTGA for the acceptance of grant funds. Many projects are eligible to receive additional funding from FDOT in future years, so the Resolution provides authorization for the City to execute any PTGA Amendments for the purpose of scope changes and/or funding adju...
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