EXHIBIT B
1 ZERO EMISSION TRANSIT CAPITAL PROGRAM (ZETCP) - EQUIVALENT FUND
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS,
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN,
FINAL REPORT, AND LAPSING REQUIREMENT
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
S
enate Bill (SB) 125 Zero Emission Transit Capital Program (ZETCP) will allocate $320.6 million to Metro, as the county’s regional transportation planning agency, over four years beginning in 2024.
The Metro Board of Directors approved the advancement of the total four-year allocation of $49.84 million in Proposition C 40% Discretionary funds for included and eligible transit operators to cover the provisions of ZETCP. SB 125 ZETCP provides the flexibility for operators to use the approved funds to fund transit operating and capital improvements.
T
ransit Capital
Transit operators must participate in Metro’s SB 125 ZETCP R egional Bus Procurement Program or equivalent multi -agency procurement. Project must meet Terms of FTA February 2024 “Dear Colleague” letter (attached) corresponding provisions for reduced customizations , standardized specifications, and milestone payments with testing and performance bond or other security. Project must also meet Clean Air Resource Board (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulations.
T
ransit Operations
Funds may be used for operations only after the operator has drawn down fully on federal COVID relief funding, including American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act funding.
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN
T
ransit Capital
Transit operator requesting to use allocation of ZETCP-Equivalent Fund for capital projects (Zero Emission Bus Purchases/Charging Infrastructure & other Zero Emission Vehicle s used for transit service), shall submit the following for each project:
1. A summary or fact sheet that includes the following elements:
a. Implementing agency or agencies.
b. Project title.
c. Dates for the start and end of each project phase.
d. Summary of project scope.
e. Total project costs, including identification of the amount of funding used for project management as budgeted for the agency or agencies involved.
Attachment No. 3
EXHIBIT B
2 2. A detailed project schedule, including the project’s current status, and the completion dates of all major delivery milestones.
3. Project location – provide a map for each of the following, where relevant:
a. Project location denoting the project site and impacted transit lines. b. Planned and existing active transportation infrastructure.
4. An explanation of greenhouse gas reducing features of the project.
5. An explanation of expected ridership benefits of the project when constructed, if any.
When requesting reimbursement for capital related expenses, operator must show proof of participation in Metro’s regional bus procurement or equivalent multi -agency procurement that meets corresponding provisions for reduced customizations and milestone or advanced payment.
Transit Operations
An operator that requests to use its allocation of ZETCP-Equivalent funding for transit operations shall include the following information:
1. Operator’s total ridership for FY22-23.
2. Amount of funding requested.
3. List of specific activities funded by the request, quantified where possible:
a. Amount of service being paid for by the additional funding expressed in both revenue service hours and by nature of service retention, restoration or increase invested in (e.g. preventing a reduction in frequency on one or more routes (or systemwide), frequency increases on particular routes or launch of new routes made possible by the funds). Costs involved in maintaining current operations may include those necessary for ensuring safety and state of good repair of the vehicles and infrastructure necessary to operate service and shall be identified with respect to the current service level they are protecting.
b. Identification of operating expenses invested in increased safety and security measures.
c. Identification of operating expenses that are intended to increase ridership, including those that fund actions to improve coordination of routes and schedules.
4. Identification of benefits to transit dependent riders of activities funded by the request.
Operators request for funding must include elements of the above information to receive their allocation of funds.
Final Report
Upon project completion, the operator must submit a Final Report that describes the improvements funded with the ZETCP-Equivalent funds and an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions reduced as a result of the project. For capital projects, operator will provide digital photographs. For transit operations related expenses, operators will provide proof of overall service improvements implemented.
EXHIBIT B
3 LAPSING REQUIREMENT
Operators have four years, that is the year of allocation plus three years, to spend the funds allocated through this ZETCP. Lapsed funds will revert to a joint municipal operator fund, which will be allocated proportionally to all other municipal operators.