Agenda Item #13.3
For Council Meeting of: October 13, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RACHEL EDE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR - TRANSIT DIVISION, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO REQUEST LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 CYCLES A AND B FOR UR FREE PROGRAM SUPPORT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Transportation and Public Works Department recommends that the Council, by resolution: 1) authorize the Director of Transportation and Public Works to execute the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) Authorized Agent Form designating the Deputy Director - Transit as the City’s Authorized Agent; 2) authorize the Deputy Director - Transit to submit the City’s project nominations and allocation requests to the California Department of Transportation for $287,328 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 Cycle A funds and $184,089 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 Cycle B funds, for a total of $471,417, to support the Santa Rosa CityBus Free Fares for Youth Program (UR Free); 3) authorize the Deputy Director - Transit to execute the Certifications and Assurances and other documents necessary to request, accept, and administer the LCTOP funds; and 4) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to increase revenue and expenditure appropriations by the amount of the approved grant award. This item requests appropriations for one-time funding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), provides formula-based operating and capital assistance to transit agencies for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with priority given to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities. For Fiscal Year 2025-26, the Transit Division seeks authorization to request the City’s Cycle A allocation of $287,328 and Cycle B allocation of $184,089, for a total of $471,417, to support the Santa Rosa CityBus Free Fares for Youth Program (UR Free).
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #2, Invest in the Development and Maintenance of the City’s Infrastructure; Council Goal #3, Promote Citywide Economic Development; and Council Goal #4, Foster a Safe, Healthy, and Inclusive Community, by supporting continued CityBus service and the Free Fares for Youth Program.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
LCTOP was established by Senate Bill 862 in 2014 to provide operating and capital assistance for transit projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with priority given to projects benefiting disadvantaged communities.
LCTOP funds are allocated to transit operators based on (1) amount of revenue generated by the transit system and (2) population of the service area.
For Fiscal Year 2025-26, Sonoma County LCTOP population-based funds are additionally subject to distribution among Santa Rosa CityBus, Sonoma County Transit, Petaluma Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and SMART using a performance-based method that considers revenue hours operated and ridership, as provided in the Sonoma County Transportation Authority Coordinated Claim. This distribution is the result of a multi-operator agreement that is beneficial to Santa Rosa CityBus and the other local bus operators in Sonoma County.
For Fiscal Year 2025-26, changes to LCTOP associated with the State’s transition to the Cap-and-Invest Program resulted in two allocation-request cycles. Cycle A represents the regularly scheduled allocation, while Cycle B provides an additional allocation funded by revenues from the February and May 2026 auctions. Transit operators seeking funds from both cycles must submit a separate allocation request for each cycle.
CityBus’ allocation for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Cycle A is $28,950 based on the revenue method and $258,378 based on the population method, for a total of $287,328.
CityBus’ allocation for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Cycle B is $18,548 based on the revenue method and $165,541 based on the population method, for a total of $184,089.
On April 15, 2025, the City Council approved RES-2025-053 authorizing the filing of the application for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 LCTOP.
ANALYSIS
CityBus will request $471,417 in LCTOP funds to continue supporting the Free Fares for Youth Program. The program eliminates fares for riders 18 years of age and younger and is intended to increase youth access to public transportation and encourage transit use.
Caltrans requires the City to adopt a resolution authorizing submission of the project nominations and allocation requests, designating an authorized agent, and authorizing execution of the required Certifications and Assurances and related documents.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action will have no impact on the General Fund.
The City is requesting $287,328 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 Cycle A funds and $184,089 in Fiscal Year 2025-26 Cycle B funds, for a total of $471,417. Upon approval of the grant award, corresponding revenue and expenditure appropriations will be added to the Transit Division budget. The funds will support the Free Fares for Youth Program during Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Any unspent funds will be carried forward in accordance with applicable grant and City budget requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(4) and 15378(b)(5), the recommended action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it involves a governmental funding mechanism and administrative activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The funding will support an existing transit fare program and will not authorize construction, changes to transit routes, or expansion of transit service. In the alternative, the action is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
PRESENTER(S)
Shawn Sosa, Administrative Analyst
AUTHORIZATION TO REQUEST LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 CYCLES A AND B FOR UR FREE PROGRAM SUPPORT PAGE 3 OF 3