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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.C 10/19/2015Agenda Item #3.0 DATE: October 19, 2015 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager FROM: Dan St. John, F.ASCE — Director, Public Works & Utilities Joe Rye — Transit Division Manager, Public Works & Utilities SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for Transit Performance Incentive Funds, Committing the Local Matching Funds and Stating the Assurance to Complete the Transit Signal Priority Phase II Project RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application For Transit Performance Incentive (TPI) Funds and Committing the Local Matching Funds and Stating the Assurance to Complete the Transit Signal Priority Phase II Project. BACKGROUND Under the high profile Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Transit Sustainability Project, MTC sets funding aside for transit operators who perform exceptionally by increasing ridership, lowering costs, and /or improving in various key performance criteria. While first year funding went primarily to the larger operators in San Francisco and Oakland, small operators are guaranteed to receive 15% of the regional TPI annual funding going forward based on three main performance metrics: Overall ridership, increases in ridership and productivity. Petaluma Transit (PT) continues to be in a strong position to earn incentive funds because of the effective service restructuring and streamlining that occurred in 2010 and recent sustained improvements in planning, marketing and operations. These efforts have led to strong ridership growth, from 154,000 annual passengers in FY 08/09, to an estimated 400,000 this fiscal year as noted in the table below. Although PT's TPI funding allocation declined from $152,222 in FY 13/14 to $135,680 in FY 14/15, a trend expected to continue over the next few fiscal years due to the formula that MTC has developed to distribute the funding, PT has experienced an increase in ridership at the optimal time to receive these funds.. Funds are allocated based upon a transit system's performance in key areas used to determine a regional share of the funds. The allocations of TPI funding are indexed to "2 fiscal years past" statistical performance, therefore the highest allocation Petaluma can expect was in FY 13/14 based upon FY 11/12 performance. Petaluma expects to receive at least two more robust allocations, for the FY 13/14 and FY 14/15 performances, before the funding wanes due to slowing in growth in FY 15/16. The proposed action meets Council Goal: "Plan for and implement priority capital projects as funding permits ". DISCUSSION In order to utilize these funds, Petaluma must submit to MTC an application for a specific project based upon MTC's list of eligible project types. Staff recommends that these funds be used to construct the second phase of the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) project. The TSP project will provide faster travel times and more reliable fixed route bus service by upgrading traffic signal equipment at all intersections along PT's City routes. TSP is proven to save 10% of running time all day, every day for bus routes in urban/suburban areas, which will eliminate or delay costly additions of service, caused by traffic delays and missed connections. The Transit Advisory Committee voted at their October 1, 2015 meeting to recommend that City Council authorize submittal of the subject TPI application for the TSP project Phase II. FINANCIAL IMPACTS The local match of $31,920 for these incentive funds is from traffic impact fees and is included in the FY 15/16 CIP Budget. This grant will provide funding in the amount of $135,680, bringing the Phase II Transit Signal Priority total budget to $167,600. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution N Attachment 1 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING VE FUNDING OFF RED BY MTC AND COMMITTING PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE ANY NECESSARY MATCHING FUNDS AND STATING THE ASSURANCE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT WHEREAS, City of Petaluma is submitting an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for FY 14/15 Transit Performance Incentive Funding in the amount of $135,680 in MTC discretionary funding, including but not limited to federal funding administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) such as Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funding and /or Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding (herein collectively referred to as REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING) for the City of Petaluma Transit Signal Priority Project (herein referred to as PROJECT) for the Transit Performance Incentive (TPI) Program (herein referred to as PROGRAM); and WHEREAS, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century Act (Public Law 112- 141, July 6, 2012) and any extensions or successor legislation for continued funding (collectively, MAP 21) authorize various federal funding programs including, but not limited to the Surface Transportation Program (STP) (23 U.S.C. § 133), the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) (23 U.S.C. § 149) and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TA) (23 U.S.C. § 213); and WHEREAS, state statutes, including California Streets and Highways Code 182.6 and 182.7 provide various funding programs for the programming discretion of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA); and WHEREAS, pursuant to MAP -21, and any regulations promulgated thereunder, eligible project sponsors wishing to receive federal funds for a project shall submit an application first with the appropriate MPO for review and inclusion in the MPO's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and WHEREAS, MTC is the MPO and RTPA for the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay region; and WHEREAS, MTC has adopted a Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy (MTC Resolution No. 3606, revised) that sets out procedures governing the application and use of federal funds; and WHEREAS, the City is an eligible sponsor for REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING; and WHEREAS, as part of the application for REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING, MTC requires a resolution adopted by the responsible implementing agency stating the following: 3 1. The commitment of any required matching funds of at least 11.47 %; and 2. That the sponsor understands that the REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING is fixed at the programmed amount, and therefore any cost increase cannot be expected to be funded with additional REGIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDING; and 3. That the project will comply with the procedures, delivery milestones and funding deadlines specified in the Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy (MTC Resolution No. 3606, revised); and 4. The assurance of the sponsor to complete the project as described in the application, and if approved, as included in MTC's federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and 5. That the project will comply with all project - specific requirements as set forth in the PROGRAM; and 6. That the project (transit only) will comply with MTC Resolution No. 3866, revised, which sets forth the requirements of MTC's Transit Coordination Implementation Plan to more efficiently deliver transit projects in the region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Petaluma as follows: 1. The City Manager on behalf of the City of Petaluma is authorized to execute and file an application for funding for the Project for Regional Discretionary Funding under MAP -21 for continued funding; 2. The City, by adopting this resolution, does hereby state that: a. The City will provide $31,920 in matching funds; and b. The City understands that the Regional Discretionary Funding for the project is fixed at the MTC approved programmed amount, and that any cost increases must be funded by the City from other funds, and that City does not expect any cost increases to be funded with additional Regional Discretionary Funding; and c. The City understands the funding deadlines associated with these funds and will comply with the provisions and requirements of the Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy (MTC Resolution No. 3606, revised) and Applicant has, and will retain the expertise, knowledge and resources necessary to deliver federally - funded transportation projects, and has assigned, and will maintain a single point of contact for all FHWA - funded transportation projects to coordinate within the agency and with the respective Congestion Management Agency (CMA), MTC, Caltrans and FHWA on all communications, inquires or issues that may arise during the federal programming and delivery process for all FHWA- funded transportation projects implemented by Applicant; and d. Project will be implemented as described in the complete application and in this resolution and, if approved, for the amount approved by MTC and programmed in the federal TIP; and e. The City and the Project will comply with the requirements as set forth in MTC programming guidelines and project selection procedures for the Program; and 4 f. The City agrees to comply with the requirements of MTC's Transit Coordination Implementation Plan as set forth in MTC Resolution 3866, revised; 3. The City Manager, on behalf of the City, is authorized to submit an application for Regional Discretionary Funding for the Project; and 4. There is no legal impediment to City making applications for the funds; and 5. There is no pending or threatened litigation that might in any way adversely affect the proposed Project, or the ability of the City to deliver such Project; and 6. The City Manager, or designee, on behalf of the City is authorized to execute and file an application with MTC for Regional Discretionary Funding for the Project as referenced in this resolution; and to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the MTC in conjunction with the filing of the application; and 7. The City Council of the City of Petaluma hereby authorizes the submittal of an application to MTC for Transit Performance Incentive funds in the amount of $135,680 for fiscal year 14/15 for the Transit Signal Priority Project and directs the City Manager to execute the project contract on behalf of the City of Petaluma.