R2015-29 FILING APPLICATION & EXECUTION OF A GRANT

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Mass Transit Memorandum No. 030515-1 March 5,2015 TO: Honorable Mayor McElroy and City Council Members FROM: Gregg Zientara, Interim City Manager Paul McChancy, Mass Transit Administrator SUBJECT: FTA Operating Assistance Grant for FY-2015 SUMMARY Staff recommends that Council approve a Resolution to authorize the RECOMMENDATION: filing of an application and the execution of a grant for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) operating assistance for FY-2015 in the amount of$1,475,000. BACKGROUND: Every year the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) apportions grant funds to each metropolitan transit system for operating assistance and for capital projects. Decatur currently has an unobligated balance of $1,132,260 remaining from the FY-2014 apportionment. This amount was reserved for future operating and capital projects, such as new buses. FTA recently published the partial year apportionments for FY-2015 showing that Decatur will receive $1,202,493. The full year apportionment for FY-2015 is expected to be at least $1,800,000. If so Decatur will have a total of over$2,932,260 in FTA funds available for FY-2015. Staff budgeted $1,475,000 in FTA operating funds in the current City budget for the fiscal year. Staff wishes to apply for an FTA grant of $1,475,000 to offset part of the Transit System's operating deficit for the state fiscal year, ending June 30, 2015. The remaining FTA funds available for FY 2015, about $1,457,260, will be reserved for capital projects including the purchase of new buses,paratransit scheduling software, and new ADA vans. POTENTIAL A public hearing was held to discuss this grant application. No OBJECTION: comments were received. There are no known or expected objections to this grant application. INPUT FROM Jerome Parker, General Manager, DPTS OTHER SOURCES: STAFF REFERENCE: Paul McChancy, Mass Transit Administrator BUDGET/TIME The proposed FTA operating assistance grant requires a 50/50 match. IMPLICATIONS: The local match will be made up of state operating funds already awarded to Decatur. No additional local funds will be required.