Title
Ordinance in the Amount of $171,894 Amending GTA Planning and Grant Fund For The Federal Fiscal Year 2013 Section 5310 Enhance Mobility for Seniors and Individuals With Disabilities Grant
Body
Department: Transportation
Council District: Citywide
Public Hearing: March 5, 2013
Advertising Date/By: January 27, 2013/News & Record
Contact 1 and Phone: Adam Fischer 373-2861
Contact 2 and Phone: Libby James 373-2820
PURPOSE:
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded $142,298 in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Enhance Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program grant funds to the City of Greensboro. The Enhance Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program supports projects that serve the special needs of transit dependent populations beyond traditional public transportation service, exceed the requirement of ADA act, improve access to fixed route service and decrease reliance of complementary Paratransit, and provide alternatives to public transportation. A budget ordinance must be approved to allow the expenditure of these funds.
BACKGROUND:
The Greensboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) conducted a competitive selection process for funding. The Transportation Advisory Committee at the June 26, 2013 meeting awarded funding to the Greensboro Transit Authority to support eligible operating expenses. Specifically, GTA will use Enhance Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities funding in the amount of $147,978 ($118,382- Federal Funds and $29,596-local match) to support eligible expenses associated with expanding the current hours of operations for ADA paratransit services that are beyond the hours provided on the fixed route services. Employment and medical trips account for more than sixty-six percent (66%) of all paratransit trips provided. Due to the increased demand to provide more efficient and effective service, GTA began operating its paratransit services thirty minutes earlier to accommodate passengers with early morning medical and employment appointments. The remaining federal funds in the amount of $23,916 will be used for administrative expenses and will not require a local match.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The City has been awarded $142,298 in Enhance Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program grant funds. These grant funds require a local match of 20%. The funding break-down is as follows:
$118,382 Federal Funds 80%
$ 29,596 Local In-Kind Services 20% (564-4531-02.5423)
$147,978
The remaining grant dollars will be used to fund administration expenses associated with the grant and ensure that federal reporting requirements are met. No local match is required for this portion of the grant.
$ 23,916 Federal Funds
$ 0 No match required
$23,916
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Transportation Department recommends and requests that the City Council approve the attached budget ordinance in the amount of $171,894 to support eligible project expenses.