Agenda Report
September 11 , 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Finance Committee
FROM: Department of Transportation
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF TRANSIT AND INTERCITY RAIL CAPITAL
PROGRAM GRANT AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION FOR
RECEIPT OF $14,424,000 FOR THE PASADENA TRANSIT SYSTEM
LEGACY PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find this action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b) (3), Common Sense Exemption;
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into all agreements with California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) to receive $14,424,000 of Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Grant funds (TIRCP) for the Pasadena Transit System Legacy Project;
3. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Master Agreement and Program Supplements for State-Funded Transit Projects; and ··
4. Amend the Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Improvement Program Budget by appropriating funding to five transit projects as detailed in the fiscal impact section of this report.
BACKGROUND:
On April 24, 2023, CalSTA awarded Pasadena $14,424,000 in TIRCP grant funding for the Pasadena Transit System Legacy Project.. The awarded grant includes funding 69% of the City's transit fleet to zero-emission, infrastructure to support zero-emission vehicle technology, and various customer experience and system optimization enhancements.
MEETING OF 09/11/23 AGENDA ITEM NO. 12
TIRCP Grant Acceptance -Pasadena System Legacy Project
September 11, 2023
Zero-Emission Bus Funding
The proposed action will secure over $6.7 million in funding to transition 40 vehicles to zero-emission by 2030, making 69% of the Pasadena's public transit zero-emission. Of the 40 vehicles, 15 will be for Pasadena Dial-A-Ride using battery electric bus technology and 25 Pasadena Transit vehicles using fuel cell electric bus technology.
This is consistent with the City Council-adopted Pasadena Zero Emission Bus Rollout Plan (Rollout Plan).
Zero-Emission Infrastructure
Along with funding for zero-emission vehicles, this grant includes over $6.1 million in funding for a hydrogen fueling station that will fuel the Pasadena transit fleet In addition, the grant will also fund $350,000 for a photovoltaic solar array (i.e., solar canopy) to further support the electricity needed for the operations building of the future Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility (TOMF) at 2180 E. Foothill Blvd.
Customer Experience
Additional components to this grant include over $1.1 million to implement customer experience enhancements. This includes an enhanced bus stop improvement program focused on customer experience. This is being identified as part of the Pasadena Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) process. The on board customer experience will also be improved as part of this grant including funding for Wi-Fi and media equipment for visual communication messaging, on board all Pasadena transit buses.
If the proposed actions are approved, the funding will be secured, and staff will return to City Council as these projects come closer to implementation to consider contract awards and vehicle purchases.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATIONS:
The proposed action will preserve and enhance public transit in Pasadena and, as a result, is consistent with the following Strategic Plan goals: Improve, maintain and enhance public facilities and infrastructure; improve mobility and accessibility throughout the City; and Support and promote the quality of life and local economy.
Additionally, this action accelerates the adopted Rollout Plan to transition the City's public transit fleet to zero-emission.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The proposed action is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b) (3), Common Sense Exemption.
TIRCP Grant Acceptance -Pasadena System Legacy Project
September 11, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the proposed actions will enable the City to obtain $14,424,000 from the 2023 TIRCP grant and utilize funding for five capital improvement projects. There is no impact on the General Fund.
The recommended appropriations will amend the FY2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program by appropriating the following amounts:
CIP Project Amount
Purchase of Replacement Transit Vehicles and Expansion Fixed- $ 6,390,000 Route Transit Vehicles (75085)
Purchase of Dial-A-Ride Vehicles (75086) $ 392,000
Hvdrooen Fuelino Station (75133) $ 6,126,000
Transit Operations Maintenance Facility (75707) $ 350,000 Bus Stop Improvement Program (75900) $ 1,166,000
Total $14,424,000
Director
Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Se
Principal Planner
Approved by:
~.--0 J,;=, MIGUARQUEZ
City Manager