HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.D 04/16/2018DATE: April 16, 2018
Agenda Item #4.D
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Dant. . SCE — Director, Public Works & Utilities
Jare all ransit Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution of Local Support Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Receive State
Transit Assistance (STA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307
Funding through the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) from the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Lifeline Transportation Program
Cycle 5
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 Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) 5307 Funding through the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) from the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC) Lifeline Transportation Program Cycle 5.
BACKGROUND
The Lifeline program supports projects that address mobility and accessibility needs in low-
income communities throughout the region. Funding for Lifeline comes from a combination of
FTA Section 5307 and STA operating and capital funds for FY 16/17 through 17/18. Lifeline
Cycle 5 includes up to $1.5 million in funds for Sonoma County and is administrated by SCTA
in coordination with the MTC.
The funds are restricted to transit operators, of which there are three in Sonoma County, and are
programmed based on population. MTC and SCTA require that all transit operators submit a
locally -adopted resolution of support from their governing boards in order to receive Lifeline
funds. Funds may be used on capital or operating projects that address transportation gaps and/or
barriers for low-income populations. The City is programmed to receive $183,160 in operating
funding, which will be used to extend fixed route and paratransit weekend services for FY 18/19.
This will be the continuation of Lifeline Cycle 4, which provided funding $347,294 for fixed
route weekend service for FY 15/16 and FY 16/17.
DISCUSSION
Funding of weekend fixed route and paratransit service meets the requirements of the Lifeline
transportation program Although weekend service is not as "productive" as weekday services,
these services are essential for the most vulnerable in of our society who rely on weekend transit
and paratransit services for to employment and shopping. The funds will be used to sustain the
existing weekend schedule, operating on Saturdays from 7:30 AM — 8:25 PM and Sundays from
8:30 AM — 5:25 PM. In FY 16/17, fixed route weekend service carried 31,599 trips and
paratransit weekend service, 1,951 trips.
The project and purpose for which funds are being requested, that being the continuation of
existing weekend transit operations, are in compliance with the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq., 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 Claim
process.
The proposed action meets Council Goal: "Improve and Enhance Fiscal Stability and
Sustainability".
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The additional operating funds of $183,160 will help leverage existing local transit operating
dollars and allow Petaluma to continue its weekend services while protecting Transportation
Development Act (TDA) transit reserve funding. The local matching funds are anticipated to be
available within the FY 18/19 Petaluma Transit operating budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION OF LOCAL SUPPORT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PETALUMA
TO RECEIVE STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE (STA) AND FTA 5307 FUNDING
THROUGH THE SONOMA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FROM THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION'S LIFELINE TRANSIT
PROGRAM CYCLE 5
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. 4309, to
guide implementation of the Lifeline Transportation Program for the two-year period from FY
16/17 and FY 17/18, 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 (SCTA) conducted a competitive
call for projects for the Lifeline Transportation Program in Sonoma County; and
WHEREAS, City of Petaluma submitted a project in response to the competitive call for
projects; and
WHEREAS, SCTA 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. 4309; and
WHEREAS, after review, SCTA recommends City of Petaluma's proposed Project,
attached to and incorporated herein as though set forth at length, be funded in part under the
Lifeline Transportation Program; and
WHEREAS, 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. 4309; and
WHEREAS, City of Petaluma certifies that the project and purpose(s) for which funds
are being requested is in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), and with the State Environmental
Impact Report Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations Section 1500 et seq.) and if
relevant the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 USC Section 4-1 et seq. 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 Council of 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. 4309; and
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; and
3) Staff of the City of Petaluma shall forward a copy of this Resolution, and such other
information as may be required, to MTC, Sonoma County Transportation Authority,
and such other agencies as may be appropriate.
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