HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.B 03/16/2015DATE: March 16, 2015
Agenda Item #3.B
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Dan St. Jo 1 7�S�C Director, Public Works &Utilities
Joe Rye — Transit Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution of Local Support Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Receive State
Transit Assistance (STA) and Jobs Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Funding
through the Sonoma County Transportation Authority from the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission's Lifeline Transit Program Cycle 4
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution of Local Support Authorizing the
City of Petaluma to Receive State Transit Assistance (STA) and Jobs Access Reverse Commute
(JARC) Funding through the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) from the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Lifeline Transportation Program Cycle 4.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) chose to delegate administration of Cycle
4 of its Lifeline Transportation Program to each county's congestion management agency,
Sonoma County Transportation Authority here in Sonoma County. The funds are restricted to
transit operators, of which there are three eligible in Sonoma County. SCTA has programmed the
funding in an equitable manner based on population. The City of Petaluma is set to receive
5347,294 in operating funding, which will be used to extend the provision of evening and
weekend services for two additional years, from FY 15/16 through FY 16/17.
DISCUSSION
MTC and SCTA require that all transit operators that are receiving these funds submit a locally -
adopted resolution of support fi-om their governing boards. The funds will be used to sustain
existing weekend service, which consists of both fixed route and paratransit services, operating .
Saturday 7:20 am -10:15 pm and Sunday 8:20 am -5:45 pm.
City of Petaluma certifies that the project and purpose for which funds are being requested
(continuation of existing weekend transit operations) is in compliance with the requirements of
the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et sec..), and
with the State Environmental Impact Report Guidelines. Petaluma files an annual CEQA Notice
of Exemption for all transit operations activities as part of its annual Transportation
Development Act (TDA) Claim process.
The proposed action meets Council Goal: "Improve and Enhance Fiscal Stability and
Sustainability".
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
These additional operating funds, $347,394, will leverage existing local transit operating dollars
and allow Petaluma to extend its popular weekend and evening services while protecting
Transportation Development Act (TDA) transit reserve funding. The local matching funds are
anticipated to be available within the FY 15/16 and FY 16/17 Petaluma Transit operating
budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
1)
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION OF LOCAL SUPPORT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PETALUMA
TO RECEIVE STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE (STA) AND JOBS ACCESS REVERSE
COMMUTE (JARC) FUNDING THROUGH THE SONOMA COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FROM THE METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION'S LIFELINE TRANSIT PROGRAM CYCLE 4
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has established a
Lifeline Transportation Program to assist in funding projects that 1) are intended to result in
improved mobility for low-income residents of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties, 2) are
developed through a collaborative and inclusive planning process and 3) are proposed to address
transportation gaps and/or barriers identified through a substantive community-based
transportation plan or are otherwise based on a documented assessment of needs; and
WHEREAS, MTC has adopted principles, pursuant to MTC Resolution No. 4159, to
guide implementation of the Lifeline Transportation Program for the three year period from
Fiscal Year 2013-14 through Fiscal Year 2015-16, and has designated the County Congestion
Management Agency (or another countywide entity) in each of the nine Bay Area counties to
help with recommending project selections and project administration; and
WHEREAS, Sonoma County Transportation Authority has been designated by MTC to
assist with the Lifeline Transportation Program in Sonoma County on behalf of MTC; and
WHEREAS, Sonoma County Transportation Authority conducted a competitive call for
projects for the Lifeline Transportation Program in Sonoma County; and
WHEREAS, City of Petaluma submitted a project(s) in response to the competitive call
for projects; and
WHEREAS, Sonoma County Transportation Authority has confirmed that City of
Petaluma's proposed project, funding of weekend transit operations, ("Project") described in the
attached staff report to this Resolution, attached to and incorporated herein as though set forth at
length, is consistent with the Lifeline Transportation Program goals as set out in MTC
Resolution No. 4159; and
WHEREAS, Sonoma County Transportation Authority, after review, recommends the
Project be funded in part under the Lifeline Transportation Program; and
WHEREAS, City of Petaluma certifies that the project and purpose for which funds are
being requested is in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality
Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et se_e ..), and with the State Environmental Impact
Report Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations Section 1500 et sec.) and if relevant the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 USC Section 4-1 et sec.. and the applicable
regulations thereunder; and
WHEREAS, there is no legal impediment to City of Petaluma making the funding
request; and
WHEREAS, there is no pending or threatened litigation which might in any way
adversely affect the ability of City of Petaluma to deliver the proposed project for which funds
are being requested.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Petaluma as follows:
1) The City of Petaluma agrees to meet project delivery and obligation deadlines,
comply with funding conditions placed on the receipt of funds allocated to the
Lifeline Transportation Program, provide for the required local matching funds, and
satisfy all other conditions set forth in MTC Resolution No. 4159.
2) Requests the MTC program funds available under its Lifeline Transportation
Program, in the amounts requested for which City of Petaluma is eligible, for the
project described in the attached staff report of this Resolution.
3) Staff of the City of Petaluma shall forward a copy of this Resolution, and such other
infonnation as may be required, to MTC, Sonoma County Transportation Authority,
and such other agencies as may be appropriate.
4