Title
Resolution Authorizing the Filing and/or Execution, as Appropriate, of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grant Agreements, Grant Applications, Annual or Biennial Applications, Annual Budgets, and Other Such Documents, as Appropriate, Pursuant to Relevant Sections of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, as Amended-GTA Program of Projects-FY 2017-2018
Body
Department: Transportation
Council District: Citywide
Public Hearing: NA
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Adam Fischer 373-2861
Contact 2 and Phone: Bruce Adams 412-6237
PURPOSE:
Annually, the City of Greensboro applies for FTA funding to support the City’s public transportation program and the Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA). The City is required to hold a Public Hearing to inform the general public about the proposed operating, planning, and capital projects and the estimated costs. The City Council is also required to adopt a resolution authorizing the filing and/or execution of subsequent grant agreements for the proposed projects.
BACKGROUND:
The Program of Projects may be developed and approved by the designated recipient (the City of Greensboro - Greensboro Transit Authority) or the Greensboro Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). In years past, GTA has developed the Program of Projects for the Greensboro Urbanized Area for City Council approval. Starting in FY 2016 the MPO began to fill that role instead. Reasons include that the MPO is responsible for the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and that there are now multiple recipients of Federal Transit grants operating in the MPO area (Guilford County Transportation and Mobility Services (TAMS) and Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART). The MPO must follow the Public Participation Plan, which for the Program of Projects requires a 30 day public comment period and a public hearing. This comment period ran from May 19-June 19, 2017 and the public hearing was held at the June 21, 2017 Transportation Advisory Committee meeting.
The MPO adopted a detailed Program of Projects recommended for funding under the FTA Section 5307 Urban Formula Grant Program, Section 5303 Metropolitan Planning Program, Section 5339 Bus and Bus Facilities Program, Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) flexible funding program, and the NCDOT State Maintenance Assistance Program (SMAP) on June 21, 2017, which was modified to reflect full fiscal year 2017 funding appropriations on August 16, 2017.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The City will be required to provide local matching funds for each grant. The funds are budgeted in the GTA’s Transit Operations Account.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Department of Transportation recommends and requests that the City Council approve the attached Resolution authorizing the filing and/or execution of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant agreements, grant applications, annual or biennial applications, annual budgets, and other such documents, outlined in the FY 2017-2018 Program of Projects for the GTA.