TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Clifford G. Finley, Public Works Director
DATE:March 25, 2025
SUBJECT: Transit Funding Disbursement Agreement - Ventura County Transportation Commission
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve interagency agreement with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) regarding the disbursement and administration of funds from the State of California’s Senate Bill 125 (SB 125), for $5,550,000 in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) funds and $1,800,000 in Zero-Emission Transit Capital Program (ZETCP) funds. The Agreement is effective March 25, 2025, and shall continue until June 30, 2027.
2. Accept $5,550,000 TIRCP grant funds in FY 2024-25 for future replacement vehicle procurements and $1,800,000 ZETCP grant funds in FY 2024-25 for CI 5473 and CI 5726 projects.
3. Approve revenue budget appropriation in the amount of $7,350,000 in FY 2024- 25 as follows: $5,550,000 from A/C #651-5540-434-9900 (Transportation Fund, State Grants – Local Bus) and $1,800,000 from A/C #651-5550-434-9900 (Transportation Fund, State Grants – Other) to A/C #651-0000-341-9900 (Transportation Fund, Retained Earnings) for CI 5473 and CI 5726 projects.
4. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$7,350,000 Increase to the Adopted FY 2024-25 Transportation Fund Revenue Budget. $7,350,000 increase in the Adopted FY 2024-25 Transportation Fund Revenue Budget. $5,550,000 for TIRCP grant funds and $1,800,000 for ZETCP grant funds for CI 5473 and CI 5726 projects. These funds will offset the use of previously programmed TDA funds for these projects. Minimal staff time to prepare report and agreement for the TIRCP and ZETCP funds is included in the Adopted FY 2024-25 Transportation Fund Operating Budget.
Transit Funding Distribution Agreement - VCTC
March 25, 2025
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BACKGROUND:
Thousand Oaks Transit (TOT) was established by the City in 1981 and provides service to nearly 200,000 passengers per year in Thousand Oaks and neighboring communities. TOT operates within a 138-square-mile service area with over 420,000 residents. The TOT program includes a seven-day fixed route bus service, Senior Dial-A-Ride (DAR), and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services. Additional contracted services include:
· County of Ventura Kanan Shuttle, DAR, and ADA services · City of Moorpark fixed route bus, DAR, ADA, and vehicle maintenance · City of Westlake Village DAR services
· City of Agoura Hills DAR and ADA services
· East County Transit Alliance (ECTA) inter-city DAR and ADA services In 2014, SB 125 appropriated Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and Public Transportation Account (PTA) funds through TIRCP and ZETCP. SB 125 includes $4.0 billion in statewide TIRCP funds and $1.1 billion in ZETCP funds; both state program funds are administered by the VCTC in coordination with transit operators countywide using a population-based formula.
On August 7, 2024, VCTC received authorization for funding of its SB 125 Projects (Grant Funds) for the transit capital projects and on September 6, 2024, VCTC approved a countywide funding distribution plan that included a total of $7,350,000 for TOT to support transit operations and infrastructure improvements. VCTC allocated $5,550,000 in TIRCP funds and $1,800,000 in ZETCP funds to TOT.
These funds will be used toward electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other transit operational expenses.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The VCTC Disbursement Agreement includes a $5,550,000 (TIRCP) and $1,800,000 (ZETCP) fund allocation to the City in FY 2024-25 (Attachment #1). The ZETCP funds are to be used for two projects, $1,000,000 for an EV charging infrastructure project (CI 5473) and $800,000 for an EV support project (CI 5726). The proposed City projects will install EV infrastructure and build a power backup system for charging buses at the Municipal Service Center, where Transit vehicles are stored overnight. These projects will support the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit regulation which requires public transit fleets such as TOT to transition to zero-emission vehicles beginning in 2026. In addition, these funds will help provide operator/maintenance training, EV maintenance equipment, and procure EV charging management software.
Transit Funding Distribution Agreement - VCTC
March 25, 2025
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Additionally, VCTC intends to disperse $5,550,000 of its share of TIRCP funds to the City to fund the procurement of replacement vehicles and vehicle-related purchases, including new onboard equipment such as updated farebox collection systems.
Staff recommends approving the VCTC Transit Program Fund Disbursement Agreement and moving forward with the projects.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
PREPARED BY: Tyler Nestved, Assistant Transit Planner
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – VCTC Transit Program Fund Disbursement Agreement DPW:940-10\ev\Council\2025\032525\Transit Funding Distribution Agreement VCTC staff report.docx