From
Tony Flowers
Title
Public hearing regarding the FY 2021 Transit Grant Application for "The Grand Connection" and adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a Fiscal Year 2021 grant application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in the amount of $355,000 for capital expenses, $262,000 for operating expenses, and $32,950 in Transportation Development Credits; and to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) for $170,584. The City will provide a matching requirement of $382,993 from its General Fund, and the balance of $24,500 will be funded by Dallas County ($20,000) and rider fares ($4,500). The total budget to operate the Grand Connection for Fiscal Year 2021 is $1,228,027.
Presenter
Walter Shumac, Director of Transportation Services
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The senior and physically challenged para-transit program began in 1988 with the purchase of one (1) van. Since that time, the program has grown to over 59,200 trips annually with an active fleet of Twelve (12) transit buses. The Transit Division of the Transportation Services Department operates various types of programs for these citizens. These programs include:
NO CHARGE TRIPS
o Nutrition Trip Program--Provides transportation to Dallas County Health and Human Services Nutrition Program at 2975 Esplanade Grand Prairie, Texas
o Medical/Dental Trip Program--Provides transportation to medical/dental appointments.
o Dialysis treatments - Grand Prairie Dialysis, Tarrant Dialysis (GP), Fresenius GP Dialysis and DaVita Dialysis Grand Prairie (Clinics)
o Parkland Hospital - Conover Dr. Grand Prairie and Harry Hines, Dallas (Clinics)
o Arlington Hospital- Arlington Memorial Hospital (Clinics)
o Provide transportation to the S. Westmoreland/Illinois DART light rail station on a daily/weekly basis for Clients that have appointments at the Veterans Hospital (VA) in Dallas.
o Provide Tips to the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) for Clients that have appointments in Ft. Worth or Dallas.
FARE TRIPS ($1.00 EACH WAY)
o Grocery Trip Program-Provide group transportation to the grocery store on a weekly basis.
o School Program--Provides transportation to local colleges such as TCCC.
o Provides Trips to work, only in Grand Prairie.
Financial Consideration
The following is a breakdown of the funding sources used to operate The Grand Connection.
|
|
Total |
Percent |
Capital |
Planning |
Operating |
|
|
|
|
FTA (5310) |
$262,000 |
21% |
|
|
$ 262,000 |
|
|
FTA (5307) |
$ 355,000 |
28% |
$355,00 |
|
|
Purchase Replacement Vehicles/Preventive Maintenance |
|
FTA/ TDC |
$ 32,950 |
.03% |
|
|
$ 32,950 |
|
|
|
TXDOT |
$ 170,584 |
14% |
|
|
$ 170,584 |
|
|
|
|
CITY |
$ 382,993 |
31% |
|
|
$ 387,493 |
|
|
|
|
Dallas County Nutrition |
$20,000 |
.02% |
|
|
$ 20,000 |
|
|
|
|
Fare Revenue |
$4,500 |
.01% |
|
|
$ 4,500 |
|
|
|
|
Project Cost |
$ 1,228,027 |
100% |
$355,000 |
|
$ 873,027 |
|
|
|
*$3,852,375 $ 3,852,375 100% $3,852,375
The City’s Contribution to The Grand Connection for FY 2021 is $382,993. The FTA is allowing the City of Grand Prairie to use toll credits for expenditures. No capital match is needed. The City’s Contribution for FY 2021 decreased by $21,058 from 2020 because of the decreases in fuel costs. We have secured a grant from the FTA in the amount of $262,000 for operating costs (from the 5310 programs), and $355,000 for capital costs (under the 5307 program). In addition, TXDOT has provided a grant in the amount of $170, 584.
The Grand Connection is asking for $387,493 for FY2021 from the City’s General Fund. In fiscal year 2021 we will be replacing four older vehicles in our fleet that are beyond their economic life (Capital Replacement Vehicles). By passing this resolution, the City Council authorizes the City Manager to submit the necessary grant applications for FTA and TXDOT funding.
*On Friday, March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act provides emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides emergency appropriations to support Executive Branch agency operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is allocating $25 billion to recipients of urbanized area and rural area formula funds, with $22.7 billion to large and small urban areas and $2.2 billion to rural areas. Funding will be provided at a 100% federal share, with no local match required, and will be available to support capital, operating, and other expenses generally eligible under those programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19.
Operating expenses incurred beginning on January 20, 2020 for all rural and urban recipients, even those in large urban areas, are also eligible, including operating expenses to maintain transit services as well as paying for administrative leave for transit personnel due to reduced operations during an emergency.
The City of Grand Prairie Transit was allocated $3,852,325 for COVID-19 related reimbursements at a 100%.
Body
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONTINUE OPERATION OF THE GRAND CONNECTION TRANSIT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 TO ASSIST QUALIFIED ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS OF GRAND PRAIRIE WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS; APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION OF MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $382,993; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Transportation is authorized to make grants for a mass transportation program of projects; and
WHEREAS, grants of financial assistance impose certain obligations upon the applicant, including local funding of a share of the project’s costs; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, requires the applicant to give assurance that it will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the U.S. Department of Transportation requirements thereunder; and
WHEREAS, it is the goal of the applicant that minority business be utilized to the fullest extent possible in connection with this/these project(s), and that definite procedures shall be established and administered to ensure that minority business shall have the maximum construction contracts, supplies, equipment contracts, or consultant and other services; and
WHEREAS, the total budget to operate The Grand Connection for fiscal year 2021 is $1,228,027; and
WHEREAS, to ensure continued funding to operate “The Grand Connection,” the Transportation Services Department seeks authorization to submit grant applications to the Federal Transit Administration in the amount of $355,000 for capital expenses, $262,000 for operating expenses, and $32,950 in transportation development credits, and to the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of $170,584.
WHEREAS, the City will provide matching funds of $382,993 from the City's General Fund, and $24,500 will be provided through funding from Dallas County ($20,000) and rider fares ($4,500);
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That, the City Manager is authorized to execute and file applications on behalf of the City of Grand Prairie with the Federal Transit Administration in the amount of $355,000 for capital expenses, $262,000 for operating expenses, and $32,950 in transportation development credits, and with the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of 170,584, to aid in financing the operation of The Grand Connection Transit Program pursuant to Section 9 of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964, as amended.
Section 2. That, the City Manager is authorized to execute and file with such grant applications an assurance or any other document required by the U.S. Department of Transportation effectuating the purpose of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Section 3. That, the City Manager is authorized to set forth and execute affirmative minority business policies in connection with the project’s procurement needs.
Section 4. That, the City Manager is authorized to execute grant contract agreements on behalf of the City of Grand Prairie with the U.S. Department of Transportation for aid in the financing of the operating assistance projects.
Section 5. That, monies shall be appropriated from Grand Prairie’s FY 2021 budget in the amount of $382,993 to fund the City’s share of the funding match, and $24,500 will be provided through funding from Dallas County ($20,000) and rider fares ($4,500).
Section 6. That, this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AUGUST 18TH, 2020.