City of Gainesville - File #: 211081.

• File #: 211081.
• Version: 1
• Type: Staff Recommendation
• Status: Passed
• File created: 4/5/2022
• In control: City Manager
• On agenda: 5/5/2022
• Final action: 5/5/2022
• Title: Authorization to Accept the FTA Bus & Bus Facilities Grant Award (B) This item requests 1) authorization to accept an award by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for an east Gainesville transfer station and replacement buses; 2) authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the grant award and any other necessary documents, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality; 3) authorize approval of related procurements and expenditures, to include land acquisition, construction, bus purchase and associated activities required for the completion of the projects in the grant, and 4) direct the Budget Office to include this award in the next available FY22 Budget Amendment Resolution.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
5/5/2022	1	City Commission	Approved as Recommended

Title

Authorization to Accept the FTA Bus & Bus Facilities Grant Award (B)

This item requests 1) authorization to accept an award by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for an east Gainesville transfer station and replacement buses; 2) authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the grant award and any other necessary documents, subject to approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality; 3) authorize approval of related procurements and expenditures, to include land acquisition, construction, bus purchase and associated activities required for the completion of the projects in the grant, and 4) direct the Budget Office to include this award in the next available FY22 Budget Amendment Resolution.

Explanation

As outlined in its approved Spring 2021 Program of Projects, Regional Transit System (RTS) applied for and recently received a grant award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Bus & Bus Facilities grant program. The award is in response to a proposal submitted by RTS in November 2021 for capital funding for two projects: an east Gainesville transfer station for public transit, and acquisition of twelve replacement diesel buses.

The award amount is $10,660,817, and will support a much-needed transfer station in East Gainesville, as well as the purchase of replacement buses for Gainesville’s public transit service fleet. Gainesville’s need for a public transit transfer station on the east side of town has been well documented by RTS. Efforts to secure funding for the transfer station have been on-going for years through a variety of resources, including legislative funding requests to the FL House and Senate, other FTA grant applications, City of Gainesville capital funding requests, and partnership opportunities that might result in reduced expenses for the project in order to facilitate its completion. This past year, the FTA revamped program objectives for its federal grant opportunities, and applicants were requested to provi...