Fremont City Council Meeting: 10/10/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Services Department Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5012) DOC ID: 5012
Updated: 10/5/2023 9:11 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
PARATRANSIT FUNDING - Acceptance of FY 2023/24 Paratransit Discretionary Grant Program Funding and Authorization for City Manager to Execute the Associated Contract for the Ride-On Tri-City! Services; and Appropriate Additional Funds and Making Findings of CEQA Exemption
Contact Persons:
Name: Shawn Fong Suzanne Shenfil
Title: Paratransit Program Manager Director
Div/Dept: Human Services Department Human Services Department Phone: 510-574-2033 510-574-2051
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: Through the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), the City of Fremont receives Measure B/BB sales tax revenue, in the form of direct local distribution payments and paratransit discretionary grants, to provide transportation and mobility services for seniors and people with disabilities residing in the Tri-Cities area.
Alameda CTC has also awarded the City a Paratransit Discretionary Grant in the amount of $152,000 for FY 2023/24 in order to continue the City’s successful Mobility Management and Travel Training Program.
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept the FY 2023/24 Paratransit Discretionary Grant Program funding and to execute the associated contract in the amount of $152,000 with Alameda CTC for the Ride-On Tri-City! Mobility Management and Travel Training Program.
2. Appropriate an additional $1,000 to fund 174.
BACKGROUND: Alameda CTC administers Measures B/BB, the Alameda County transportation sales tax, which provides direct local distribution payments to cities to implement special transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities. Alameda CTC also sets aside additional Measure B/BB funds for Paratransit Discretionary Grants, specifically to fund programs that fill “gaps” in existing paratransit services and promote mobility for older adults and people with disabilities.
The City has received multiple grant awards from the Alameda CTC for the Mobility Management and Travel Training Program. In 2008, the City was awarded paratransit discretionary grant funding to implement its Travel Training Program. Then in 2011, the City was awarded paratransit discretionary grant funding to implement its innovative Mobility Management Program.
The Mobility Management and Travel Training Program provides seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers and service providers with individualized transportation planning assistance, intensive community outreach and transportation advocacy. Services enable consumers to more easily access the mode of travel that is the most appropriate and cost- Council Staff Report (ID # 5012) Meeting of October 10, 2023 Updated: 10/5/2023 9:11 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
effective solution for their transportation needs. Services are offered at no cost to seniors and people with disabilities residing in Fremont, Newark and Union City.
Program staff can link participants with the following types of services:
• Fixed route transit
• Travel training
• Clipper and instruction on use of Clipper
• ADA paratransit
• Ride-On Tri-City! services, including taxi, ride-hailing and accessible van services • Group transportation services
• Transportation services for Medi-Cal recipients
• Volunteer driver programs
• Older driver safety education
Travel training is provided in group settings or through one-on-one instruction for clients who have special needs and/or want to learn route specific travel. Travel orientation services (Clipper card education, bus demonstrations, transit outings, learning how to use internet trip planning resources, etc.) are also provided to consumers who prefer more “a la carte” travel training options.
The program has been very successful in creating a diverse array of transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities, however, navigating the service system can be difficult for many residents. Language barriers and sometimes literacy issues can impede an individual’s ability to gather information and access services. The City’s experience serving the community has also shown that frail, homebound seniors and adults with cognitive impairments, vision impairments or other debilitating health and/or disability conditions are often isolated in our communities and may not be reaching out for transportation assistance for needed day-to-day activities.
As a result, many seniors and persons with disabilities postpone health care visits, don’t grocery shop regularly and forego social and recreational activities. Quality of life and physical and emotional health can suffer as a result. The program aims to eliminate these potential service barriers by providing personalized transportation planning assistance for each consumer, eligibility screenings for multiple programs, clear information about service parameters and operations, expedited processing of transportation service applications and hands-on travel training instruction. Staff work closely with ethnic community groups and other service providers to ensure that the transportation needs of minority and low -income communities are adequately served.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The City of Fremont successfully applied for Paratransit Discretionary Grant funds to continue implementation of the Ride-On Tri-City! Mobility Management and Travel Training Program for FY 2023/24. By addressing the need for comprehensive community outreach and education, service linkage and transportation advocacy, the program closes gaps in the existing transportation service system by:
• Increasing mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities • Increasing the level of transportation service coordination • Increasing consumer satisfaction regarding service access • Reducing consumer confusion about transportation options Council Staff Report (ID # 5012) Meeting of October 10, 2023 Updated: 10/5/2023 9:11 AM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
• Increasing access to information and services for limited English-speaking and low- income consumers
Alameda CTC approved a Paratransit Discretionary Grant award of $152,000 for FY 2023/24 program activities at its meeting on May 25, 2023 as part of the agency’s 2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund. The Ride-On Tri- City! Mobility Management and Travel Training Program is entirely funded through Alameda CTC’s Paratransit Discretionary Grant Program and this funding covers all staffing, program, and overhead costs. In anticipation of Alameda CTC’s grant award for FY 2023/24, $151,000 was appropriated as part of the FY 2023/24 Operating Budget. However, the grant award from Alameda CTC is $152,000; therefore, staff is requesting a total of $1,000 in additional appropriations for Fund 174 to match the grant award.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to, without limitation, CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2), (4) and/or (5), and/or 15061(b)(3) as an administrative or fiscal activity that has no potential to cause a significant effect on the environment, directly or indirectly, each of the foregoing providing a separate and independent basis for CEQA exemption.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager or designee to accept the FY 2023/24 Paratransit Discretionary Grant award in the amount of $152,000, and to execute a contract with Alameda CTC for the Ride-On Tri-City! Mobility Management Program and Travel Training Program.
2. Appropriate an additional $1,000 to Fund 174.