City Council Meeting: March 25, 2008

Agenda Item: 1-D

To:                   Mayor and City Council

From:              Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services

Subject:          Short Range Transit Plan and Applications for Funds

 

Recommended Action

Staff recommends the City Council:

 

1. Authorize the City Manager to file the FY 2008-2010 Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

 

2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to file grant applications; to provide the City Manager the authority to apply for and to execute grant agreements, and to execute related Certifications and Assurances with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Metro, or other federal, regional or local entities; and to enter into agreements for transit funds for the pass-through of funds; and agreements for planning, programming and implementing transit services and capital projects over FY 2007-2008 through FY 2009-2010.

 

 

Executive Summary

City Council authorization is requested to file the FY 2008-2010 Short Range Transit Plan with Metro.  Filing of this report is required by Metro and allows Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) to continue its eligibility as a recipient of federal and state transit assistance funds.  The SRTP is a planning document and does not obligate the City to any specific funding levels. City Council action is also requested to provide the necessary authorities to file grant applications, execute grant agreements and to enter into agreements associated with the funding, planning, programming and implementation of transit services and capital projects.

 

 

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Discussion

Short Range Transit Plan

Filing of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus FY 2008-2010 SRTP is in accordance with the requirements of Metro.  BBB is required annually to file an SRTP to remain eligible for federal, state, and regional funding assistance. The SRTP is a planning document that evaluates what was accomplished over the past year and provides a three-year action plan for service and capital improvements, including fleet replacement, facility improvements, equipment modernization and other infrastructure needs. The document identifies the projected operating revenue and expenses needed to carry out that action plan. 

 

The proposed SRTP financial forecast is based on a combination of the share of Metro countywide formula-based allocation of transit funds and the projected operational needs.  For FY 2007-2008, the formula allocation of operating funds is $32.2 million, including the use of Proposition C Security funds for services provided by the City of Santa Monica. Local operating revenues (passenger fares, charter, advertising, interest, lease, special transit services and Proposition A Local Return revenues) are an additional $17.8 million.

 

Both the FY 2007-2008 operating budget and capital program were adopted by the City Council in the current year budget and will be addressed annually in subsequent budget cycles.

 

Authorization

The report also requests that Council authorize the City Manager to file grant applications as funding opportunities become available. If funds are approved, the City Manager has the authority to execute grant agreements to accept federal, state, regional and local transit assistance (or other related) funds, as approved or programmed.  Authority is also given to the City Manager to execute and file certifications and assurances as they relate to grant programs, compliance, and project implementation. These authorities allow the City to expedite its annual grant applications and participate in unanticipated one-time grant opportunities.  BBB funding agencies include, but are not limited to the FTA and other federal agencies, Metro, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), State Department of Homeland Security, and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and other state or regional agencies.

 

The City Manager is also authorized to enter into agreements including but not limited to Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), Letter of Agreements (LOA), Cooperative Procurement Agreements, sub-grantee agreements for transit funds and for the pass-through of funds. Agreements may include, but are not limited to agreements by and between the City of Santa Monica and Metro, SCAQMD, FTA, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), non-profits, schools and colleges such as the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Santa Monica College, and other federal, state, local and regional entities for the purposes of planning, programming funds and implementing transit services and capital projects for the residents of the City of Santa Monica and greater Los Angeles area. 

 

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

The SRTP is a planning document and does not obligate the City to any specific levels of funding.  Provision for the proposed capital improvements and recommended service changes will be made each budget year with available allocations of transit revenues. The FY 2007-2008 improvements are fully funded in the City budget with local operating and transit subsidy funds.  

 

Prepared by:

Mabel Borja, Transit Programs and Business Services Manager

Marci Malaster, Senior Administrative Analyst

 

 

 

 

 

Approved:

 

Forwarded to Council:

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Negriff

Director of Transit Services

 

P. Lamont Ewell

City Manager

 

 

 

Attachments: FY 2008-2010 Short Range Transit Plan

                        Resolution