Orange County
Enhanced
Mobility for
Seniors &
Disabled Grant
Program (EMSD)
August 18, 2026
Statement of Issue
There is a need to adopt Resolution 2026-34
authorizing staff to apply to the Orange County
Transportation Authority (OCTA) for an Orange
County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Disabled
Grant (EMSD) to purchase accessible vans to
transport older adults and people with disabilities for the Surf City Senior’s on the Go! Senior
Transportation program.
Financial Impact
The total project cost is $435,600
• OTCA: $392,040
• 10% match requirement: $43,560
If awarded, sufficient funds are available in the
Equipment Replacement Fund 325 fund balance to cover
the 10% match requirement.
Analysis
The Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors &
Disabled (EMSD) Grant Program is administered through
the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
The EMSD program is intended to support the needs of
seniors and people with disabilities when transportation services are unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meet these needs.
Analysis
Funding from the grant would be used to support the
City’s “Surf City Seniors on the Go!” Senior
Transportation program.
“Surf City Senior’s on the Go! is a donation-based
program providing curb-to-curb transportation for
Huntington Beach seniors aged 60 years and over
from their homes to a variety of locations, such as
nutrition services, medical appointments, shopping
centers, social services, and the Senior Center in
Central Park.
Analysis
The proposed grant application is to purchase three
accessible vehicles to transport older adults and people with disabilities.
City staff propose purchasing:
• Two accessible vans each capable of seating seven
passengers or a combination of seated passengers
and wheelchair users.
• One small accessible bus designed to accommodate
up to 9 passengers, including both seated and
wheelchair passengers.
Analysis
Acquiring these three new vehicles would allow the City to retire one older bus currently kept on standby, shift another aging bus into standby status, and maintain
reliable transportation services for the older adults of Huntington Beach.
In FY 2025/26, Surf City Seniors on the Go! Provided:
• 23,000 free trips
• Over 500 unduplicated passengers
Analysis
As part of the grant application, OCTA requires the
City to:
• Publicly notice the intent to apply for the grant
• Directly notify private non-profit transportation
providers via registered mail
• Conduct a public hearing
• Adopt a resolution
Recommended Action
• Adopt Resolution No. 2026-34 “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing City Staff to apply to the Orange County Transportation Authority for an Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Disabled Grant Program to Purchase Accessible Vans to Transport Older Adults and People with Disabilities” for the Surf City Senior’s on the Go! Senior Transportation Program; and,
• Authorize the Appropriation of $43,560 form the Equipment Replacement Fund 325 fund balance to fulfill the 10% grant match requirement.
Questions?