From
Anda Upchurch
Title
A public hearing regarding the FY 2016 Transit Grant Application for "The Grand Connection" and approval of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit Fiscal Year 2016 grant application with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for $191,670; the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for $262,000; and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for $167,847. The City will provide a matching requirement of $243,574 with the balance of $21,950 from Dallas County and fare revenues. The total budget to operate "The Grand Connection" for Fiscal Year 2016 is $887,041.
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 49,000 trips annually with an active fleet of twelve (12) transit buses/minivans with an average capacity of 8.4 seats per vehicle. The Transit section of the Transportation Services Division operates various types of programs for these citizens starting as early as 4:30 am five (5) days a week. 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 trips 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 Tarrant County Community Colleges (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".
|
Source |
Total |
Percent |
Capital |
Operating |
|
NCTCOG |
$ 262,000.00 |
29.50% |
|
$ 262,000.00 |
|
FTA |
$ 191,670.00 |
21.60% |
$ 191,670.00 |
|
|
TxDOT |
$ 167,847.00 |
18.90% |
$ 5,984.00 |
$ 161,863.00 |
|
CITY with Toll Credits |
$ 243,574.00 |
27.50% |
$ 41,934.00 |
$ 201,640.00 |
|
Dallas County Nutrition |
$ 18,000.00 |
2.00% |
|
$ 18,000.00 |
|
Fare Revenue |
$ 3,950.00 |
0.40% |
|
$ 3,950.00 |
|
Project Cost |
$ 887,041.00 |
100% |
$ 239,588.00 |
$ 647,453.00 |
Last year, "The Grand Connection" lost its operating funding from the FTA 5307 program and initially the City's contribution for fiscal year 2015 was $513,355. Staff was able to secure the $262,000 operating funds, which had been discontinued by the FTA, through the NCTCOG; therefore the City's overall contribution for fiscal year 2015 was $251,355. The City is tentatively securing a grant from the NCTCOG in the amount of $262,000 for operating costs which we believe will continue for the next couple of years. We are getting the maximum amount that we can through grants and any changes, increase or decrease, must be made up by the City. "The Grand Connection" is requesting $243,574 from the City's General Fund for fiscal year 2016. The $7,781 reduction from the City's contribution in fiscal year 2015 is due mainly to reductions in fuel and indirect costs.
In fiscal year 2016 we will be replacing two 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, NCTCOG and TxDOT funding.
Body
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT FISCAL YEAR 2016 GRAPPLICATIONSIONS WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) FOR $191,670; NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (NCTCOG) FOR $262,000; AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (TxDOT) FOR $167,847. THE CITY WILL PROVIDE MATCHING REQUIREMENTS OF $243,574 FROM THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND AND WILL RECEIVE THE REMAINING $21,950 FROM DALLAS COUNTY AND FARE REVENUES. THE TOTAL BUDGET TO OPERATE "THE GRAND CONNECTION" FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 IS $887,041. THIS ACTION IS TO CONTINUE THE OPERATION OF "THE GRAND CONNECTION" AND ITS PROGRAMS TO ASSIST QUALIFIED ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS IN GRAND PRAIRIE WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL.
Whereas, to ensure continued funding to operate "The Grand Connection", the Transportation Services Department seeks authorization to submit grant applications to help pay for capital and operating expenses to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for $191,670; North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for $262,000; and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for $167,847; and
Whereas, the Secretary of Transportation is authorized to make grants for a mass transportation program of projects; and
Whereas, the contract for financial assistance will impose certain obligations upon the applicant, including the provision by it of the local share of the projects costs in the program; and
Whereas, it is required by the U.S. Department of Transportation in accord with the provision of Title VI of the City Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the applicant give and assurance that it will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the U.S. Department of Transportation requirements there under; and
Whereas, it is the goal of the applicant that minority businesses 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 businesses shall have the maximum construction contracts, supplies, equipment contracts, or consultant and other services.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY 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 (FTA) in the amount of $191,670; North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) in the amount of $262,000; and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the amount of $167,847 to aid in the financing of operating assistance projects 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 application 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 the monies will be appropriated from Grand Prairie's FY 2016 Budget in the amount of $243,574 to fund the City's share of the funding match. Additional revenues for this grant will be provided by Dallas County Health and Human Services ($18,000), Transit Fees ($3,950).
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, ON THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JUNE, 2015.