TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Barbara Hill, Interim Assistant City Manager
FROM: Randy Hume, Transit Director
DATE: November 13, 2018
RE:
Title
Authorization to Apply for NCDOT Urban State Match Program Funding for Transit Capital Project
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Objective D: To develop and maintain public transportation investments with high quality transit and airport services
Executive Summary:
The Transit Department has secured and executed Federal Transit Administration (FTA) capital grants. Certain capital projects are eligible for North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) funding that can provide approximately 50% of the required local funding match. The Public Transit Division of NCDOT has announced a “call for projects” for these state matching funds.
The attached resolution is required as part of the application process and authorizes staff to submit applications to NCDOT for consideration for funding. The city will be requesting $70,720 in state funding.
Background:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has established a program to assist cities and urban transit systems throughout the state with funding of certain capital projects. The Urban State Match Program may provide up to 50% of the local share toward matching FTA capital grants. Currently, the only projects eligible for state funding are replacement vehicles and facility projects that were listed in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) as of FY 2013.
Transit has applied for and awarded FTA grant funding for replacement buses and for the FAST Transit Center project. These projects are eligible to be submitted to NCDOT for possible funding. These projects are:
FTA Grant NC-2018-045 Four (4) Paratransit Light Transit Vehicles
FTA Grant NC-2016-021 Two (2) Low Floor Light Transit Vehicles for fixed route
FTA Grant NC-2016-030 FAST Transit Center
In grant NC-2016-021, FTA approved additional funding by a grant amendment to add buses to an existing grant. In grant NC-2016-030, FTA allowed the City to move existing funding within the approved grant to the transit center project. CPOA 2018-23 approved this transfer on September 25, 2017.
The resolution authorizes staff to submit the applications to NCDOT. The actual grant agreements will be presented for approval if these applications are approved for funding.
Issues/Analysis:
None
Budget Impact:
There is no budget impact at this time since the City has already approved the full local match when the FTA grant is accepted and project funds appropriated. If State funds are granted the City’s local share of these projects may be reduced and funds transferred back to the Transit Operating Fund.
Options:
Approve the resolution to authorize staff to submit applications to NCDOT; or
Reject the resolution.
Recommended Action:
Approve the resolution to authorize staff to submit applications to NCDOT
Attachments:
NCDOT Funding Requests
Resolution