PUBLIC HEARING & RESOLUTION
Authorizing Filing Grant Application for
FTA Section 5310 Funds for Purchase of
replacement ADA Paratransit Vehicles
City Council Meeting
August 8, 2023
Yuri Koslen
Transit Planner
Transportation and Public Works – Transit
1 CURRENT
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section
5310 Program is authorized under Title 49
U.S.C. 5310.
• Funds are to improve mobility for seniors
and persons with disabilities.
• Caltrans is recipient of FTA Section 5310
funds and is responsible for administering
5310 funds. 2
CURRENT
• 5310 has two project types:
• Traditional = ADA accessible vehicles,
equipment, misc. capital (radios, etc.)
• Expanded = Expansion of paratransit
services (beyond minimum set by ADA,
more hours, same-day, escorts, etc.)
• CityBus is applying for Traditional Program.
3 CURRENT
• Traditional Program application process
requires public agency to certify there are no
other non-profit agencies “readily available”
to provide the proposed service.
• Readily available = “Willing, interested and
capable of providing the proposed service at
a comparable cost to the identified clientele
in the same service area, with the same
hours of frequency, and at the same level of
service.”
4 CURRENT
• Santa Rosa Paratransit (within ¾ mile from
CityBus routes) is provided using City owned
vehicles and City contracted operations.
• Other non-profits may competitively apply for
funding in Traditional Program, even if not
replacing our paratransit service.
• Previous 5310 applications
• In 2017 asked for 5 vehicles, $252K was awarded for 4 • In 2019 asked for 7 vehicles, $81K was awarded for 1
• In 2022 asked for 5 vehicles, $212K was awarded for 3 5 PROPOSED
• Vehicle fuel type
• If awarded 5310 funds, Transit Division will
evaluate the availability of electric vehicles prior
to grant expenditure, consistent with Council-
adopted CityBus Zero-Emission Rollout Plan
• Adopted plan recognizes the limited availability
of battery-electric cutaway vehicle
• First battery electric cutaway purchase
projected for 2032 due to current market
conditions and charging needs
• Full cutaway electrification 2037 6
PROPOSED
• Hold a public hearing to meet the federal
5310 requirement to determine if any private
non-profit is readily available to provide
paratransit services within the City.
• Authorize City Manager or designee to
execute and file a grant application with
Caltrans for the FTA Section 5310 Program to
purchase replacement ADA Paratransit
vehicles. 7
BENEFIT
• Community supported services
• Modernize vehicle fleet providing ADA
Paratransit
• Assist in reducing CityBus funding applied to
cost of vehicle with any awarded grant funds
• Invest and sustain infrastructure and
transportation
8 RECOMMENDATION
• It is recommended by the Transportation and Public
Works Department that the Council:
1) hold a public hearing to determine whether any
private non-profit is readily available to provide
paratransit services in the City; and,
2) by resolution, authorize the City Manager or
designee to execute and file a grant application with
the California Department of Transportation under
Federal Transit Act Section 5310 to purchase
replacement ADA Paratransit vehicles.
• Questions? 9