Agenda Item #13.3
For Council Meeting of: November 12, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RACHEL EDE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR - TRANSIT
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO FILE APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FORMULA FUNDS AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDS FOR FY2025 AND FY2026 AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Transportation and Public Works Department that the Council, by resolution, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute and file the annual grant applications with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Federal Transit Administration Formula Program and Surface Transportation Program funding for fixed route operating, ADA paratransit operating, fixed route preventive maintenance, and bus purchase projects for FYs 2025 and 2026 and committing up to $5,028,268 in local matching funds.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), reauthorizes and establishes Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula programs for FYs 2022-2026. Each year the City’s Transit Division must submit and file grant applications for these formula funds through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). MTC has prepared a two-year cycle of programing for FY25 and FY26 and requires a resolution adopted by the governing board to be included in the grant application for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula program or Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds.
BACKGROUND
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), reauthorizes FTA formula programs for FYs 2022-2026. Eligible agencies are required to submit and file annual grant applications through the appropriate Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for approval.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the MPO for the Bay Area, is preparing to program the two-year cycle of formula funds for FYs 2025 and 2026.
This approval is part of an annual routine to fulfill FTA grant requirements for the federal formula funds the City receives for transit activities each year. These include funds from the FTA Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program and the FTA Section 5339 Buses and Bus Facilities Program allocated to the City of Santa Rosa by formula.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
The City Council, by the following resolutions, authorized the filing of applications with the FTA, through the MPO for our region, MTC:
October 18, 2016, Resolution No. 28871
January 31, 2017, Resolution No. 2017-009, for FY17-FY20 funding January 26, 2021, Resolution No. 2021-020, for FY21 funding May 4, 2022, Resolution No. RES-2022-065, for FY22-FY24 funding
ANALYSIS
MTC estimates that a total of $6,316,018 will be allocated to Santa Rosa CityBus from the FTA formula programs in FYs 2025 and 2026. These funds will be used to operate and maintain Santa Rosa CityBus and Santa Rosa Paratransit services, as shown in the following table:
Depending on the actual funding received for FY 2025 and FY 2026, it is also possible that some FTA formula funds will be used towards Bus Purchases.
These funds will require an estimated local match of $5,028,268, which will be drawn from the Transit Division’s State Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article IV funds.
The estimated FTA formula funding for FY25 was included in the approved Transit budget, so there is no need for an additional appropriation at this time.
To be eligible to submit grants to draw down these formula funds, the City must provide MTC with a resolution of the City Council:
authorizing the submittal of grant applications for these funds; committing the matching funds for the grants;
assuring that the City will comply with the requirements of MTC for this funding, and the projects will be completed as described in the application; and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute and file the applications for funding with MTC.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. The required local match will be drawn from the Transit Division’s annual allocation of Transportation Development Act Article IV (TDA) funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The action is not a project subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) because it is a fiscal activity, which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment..
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
PRESENTER
Rachel Ede, Deputy Director-Transit
AUTHORIZATION TO FILE APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION FORMULA FUNDING AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM FUNDS FOR FYs 2025 and 2026 PAGE 3 OF 3