City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 16, 2024 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARDS: ALL
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF FISCAL YEAR 2018/19 STATE OF GOOD REPAIR FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $96,794, FISCAL YEAR 2019/20 STATE OF GOOD REPAIR FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $101,539 AND FISCAL YEAR 2023/24 STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $400,000, TOTALING $598,333 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SCHEDULING SOFTWARE AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR THE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION DIVISION – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve the acceptance of Fiscal Year 2018/19 State of Good Repair funding of $96,794, Fiscal Year 2019/20 State of Good Repair funding of $101,539 and Fiscal Year 2023/24 State Transit Assistance funds in the amount of $400,000, totaling $598,333 for the purchase of a new scheduling software and video surveillance system for Special Transportation and authorize supplemental appropriation in an amount equal to the funding amounts.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the acceptance of State of Good Repair funds totaling $198,333 and State Transit Assistance funds in the amount of $400,000; and, With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $198,333, or in the amount of the award, and appropriate an equal amount in expenditures in the Special Transit Fund, Scheduling Software & Surveillance Project accounts; and, With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of $400,000, or in the amount of the award, and appropriate an equal amount in the Special Transit Fund, Scheduling Software & Surveillance Project accounts.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Riverside Special Transportation Division receives annual funding allocations from various federal, state, and local sources administered by both the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The formula-based grants are used to fund the operating budget, capitalized preventative maintenance on the fleet, and capital projects, including the purchase of new buses.
The Mills-Alquist-Deddeh Act (SB 325) was enacted by the California Legislature to improve existing public transportation services and encourage regional transportation coordination. Known as the Transportation Development Act (TDA) of 1971, this law provides funding to be allocated to transit and non-transit related purposes that comply with regional transportation plans.
The TDA provides two funding sources:
Local Transportation Fund (LTF), which is derived from a ¼ cent of the general sales tax collected statewide.
State Transit Assistance (STA) fund, which is derived from the statewide sales tax on diesel fuel.
The State Board of Equalization, based on sales tax collected in each county returns the general sales tax revenue to each county’s LTF. The STA funds are appropriated by the Legislature to the State Controller’s Office; that office then allocates the tax revenue, by formula, to planning agencies and other selected agencies. Statute requires 50% of STA funds to be allocated according to population and 50% to be allocated according to operator revenue from the prior fiscal year.
On April 28, 2017, Senate Bill 1 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, was signed, providing transit operators in California a consistent revenue source to invest in the repair, upgrade, and improvement of their agency’s existing transportation services and infrastructure. This includes the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing vehicles, transit facilities, and the purchase of new, energy efficient transit vehicles.
This investment in public transit is the State of Good Repair (SGR) Program. The SGR Program is funded from the Transportation Improvement Fee portion of the revenue received from the STA Program to the State Controller’s Office (SCO). Pursuant to Public Utilities Code (PUC) Section 99312.1, these funds will be distributed to eligible agencies using the STA Program formula, distributing SGR funds according to population and transit operator revenue. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is legislated to administer the SGR Program and its goal of keeping transit systems in a state of good repair.
DISCUSSION:
In 2006, the Special Transportation Division purchased RouteMatch Software as an automated system used by dispatchers to schedule rides for senior and disabled passengers along the 34 internal routes and collect certain data as required by the FTA. While the system has had internal upgrades and enhancements over the years, the Special Transportation staff would like to explore other options available on the market today to better serve its passengers and the staff who are responsible for FTA reporting.
Video cameras are present on Special Transportation buses and vans to keep track of activity within the bus and while passengers are boarding and exiting. Cameras also often capture key footage in vehicle accidents. The video surveillance system has become unreliable at times and is regularly being repaired or serviced. This project would replace all of the existing cameras and recording systems with new systems which have the capability to automatically download stored video content wirelessly onto a dedicated server for easier access and storage. This would eliminate the need to take a bus out of service or take a driver off route to pull the video for review after an incident.
In Fiscal Year 2018/19 Special Transportation received $96,794 in SGR funds through its Short Range Transit Plan process to replace its current video surveillance equipment. In June 2020, Special Transportation amended its Fiscal Year 2019/20 Short Range Transit Plan to request an additional $101,539 in SGR funds for the video surveillance replacement project. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent administrative staff vacancies, the project was unable to move forward until now. As part of the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Short Range Transit Plan, additional funding of $400,000 was allocated in STA funds for the Scheduling Software Upgrade project.
With a total of $598,333 available, staff would use the funds from the Video Surveillance project and the Scheduling Software upgrade project to complete a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a company that offers a scheduling system that combines the needed software requirements along with video surveillance needs of Special Transportation.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The purchase of a new scheduling software system contributes to Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility and Connectivity and Goal 6.1 in addressing the transportation needs of the senior and disabled residents.
This action aligns with the following Cross-Cutting Threads:
Community Trust – Special Transportation benefits the City’s diverse populations, and result in greater public good.
Equity – Special Transportation’s new scheduling and video system will ensure that equitable transportation is available to all seniors and disabled residents within the city limits of Riverside.
Fiscal Responsibility – Special Transportation is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources while providing quality public services to all.
Innovation – Special Transportation’s purchase of new technology with its scheduling system will ensure senior and disabled passengers will receive the most efficient and timely rides to their destinations.
Sustainability and Resiliency – Special Transportation is committed to meeting the transportation needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future and ensuring the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt and grow during good and difficult times alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $598,333, or in the amount of the award. Upon Council approval and award, an increase in revenue in the amount of the award and an equal amount of expenditures appropriated in the Special Transit Fund in the programs and accounts listed in the table below. The Special Transportation Division is funded entirely through federal and state grants, local and state transportation funds, and passenger fares, all of which are in the Special Transportation Fund. The STA and SGR funds for this project have been allocated and approved by Riverside County Transportation Commission.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Special Transit
Revenue
Scheduling Software & Surveillance Project
9350410-334300
$198,000
9350400-334300
$400,000
Total Revenue
$598,000
Special Transit
Expenditures
Scheduling Software & Surveillance Project
9350410-425700
$198,000
9350400-425700
$400,000
Total Revenue
$598,000
Prepared by: Ron Profeta, Manager
Approved by: Pamela M. Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
FY 2018/19 SGR Claim Form
FY 2019/20 SRTP Amendment #1
FY 2023/24 STA Claim Form
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