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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.C 10/01/2018DATE Qel FROM Agenda Item #. October 1, 2018 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager Jared Hall — Transit Manager, Public Works and Utilities SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing Submittal of a Transportation for Clean Air Grant Application to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for Route 24 Commuter Shuttle Service RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that City Council adopt a Resolution Authorizing Submittal of a Grant Application to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for Route 24 Commuter Shuttle Service, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Required Documents, and Committing the City of Petaluma to Provide All the Necessary Funds to Undertake the Project. BACKGROUND The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is the public agency entrusted with regulating stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties that surround San Francisco. Vehicle emissions contribute to increased emissions of greenhouse gas and other particulate matter. On -road motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, and buses, constitute the most significant sources of air pollution in the Bay Area. In 1991, the California State Legislature authorized the Air District to impose a $4 surcharge on motor vehicles registered within the Bay Area to fund projects that reduce on -road motor vehicle emissions. The Air District allocates this revenue through its Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) program to fund eligible projects and programs. Annually, the TFCA program generates approximately $23 million in regional funding for eligible projects. Sixty percent of TFCA funds are awarded by the Air District directly to eligible projects and programs through a grant program known as the Regional Fund Program. Of the $23 million available, approximately $4 million will be awarded in FY 18/19 to support eligible shuttle and feeder bus and ridesharing services. Public agencies are eligible to apply for funding to support the operation Shuttle/Feeder Bus Services, covering service costs directly related to the operation of existing bus routes linking commuters to mass transit in areas under -served and lacking other comparable services. Applying for TFCA funding is competitive, and applications will be evaluated and ranked based on their cost-effectiveness in reducing pollutant emissions, with the highest-ranking projects being recommended for funding. In addition to authorizing submittal of a grant application, the recommended action also authorizes the City Manager to execute all documents necessary and commits the City of Petaluma to provide all the necessary funds to undertake the project. DISCUSSION In order for a bus service to be eligible to receive TFCA funding, the route must have been in operation for at least one year and provide direct service between a mass transit hub and a distinct commercial or employment location. Of Petaluma Transit's routes eligible to receive funding, Route 24 best fulfills these requirements by connecting the Copeland Transit Mall / SMART Station to the Kaiser / S. McDowell Extension Office Park area. The grant program will cover up to two years of the cost of the service. The full cost of operating Route 24 during the peak hours is $166,299 annually and $332,599 over a two-year period. The application will request 60% grant funding ($199,599) and commit to funding a 40% match ($133,040) using existing Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds. The application for TFCA funding was due to BAAQMD by September 17, 2018 and has been submitted. The required City Council Resolution, which confirms and completes the application, is due by October 3, 2018. The proposed action meets stated Council Goals to "Improve and Enhance Fiscal Stability and Sustainability." FINANCIAL IMPACTS The TFCA grant application represents an approximate increase of $199,559 in operational funding for FY 19/20, which will permit the City to continue fund Route 24 at current service levels. The local match of $133,040 is from TDA funds and will be recommended in the FY 19/20. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution Attachment 1 AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT FOR ROUTE 24 COMMUTER SHUTTLE SERVICE, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, AND COMMITTING THE CITY OF PETALUMA TO PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT WHEREAS, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) is the public agency entrusted with regulating stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties that surround San Francisco; and WHEREAS, BAAQMD allocates revenue through its Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) program to fund eligible projects and programs; and WHEREAS, public agencies are eligible to apply for funding to support the operation of Shuttle and Feeder Bus Services by covering the costs directly related to the operation of existing routes that link commuters to mass transit in areas that are under -served and lack other comparable service; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is an eligible project sponsor and intends to submit a grant application for BAAQMD's TFCA Existing Shuttle/Feeder Bus Program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Petaluma hereby authorizes the submittal of a project to BAAQMD's TFCA Existing Shuttle/Feeder Bus Program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is authorized to execute all required documents of the TFCA Existing Shuttle/Feeder Bus Program and any Amendments thereto; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Petaluma commits to providing all necessary funding to undertake the project.