SR-01-24-1978-6HTO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Introduction
Santa Monica, California, January 12, 1975
Mayor and City Council
City Staff JAN 2 4 1978
Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern California
Association of Governments(SCAG)
In response to the Transportation Improvement Program regulations,
published by the federal Urban Mass Transportation Administration(UMTA),
SCAG has developed the attached memorandum. This memorandum requires
that the City document existing operational coordination with other
transit operators, delineates steps which must be taken to coordinate
proposed new services,and clarifies and formalizes the relationship
between the City's Transportation Department and SCAG. Because SCAG
in its role as metropolitan planning agency will use these criteria
to evaluate federal grant applications of the Department, City approval
of the document is necessary to continue the City's eligibility to
receive federal funding assistance.
Background
On July 27, 1971, the City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
with SCAG in which the City agreed that the SCAG Transit Advisory
Committee(TAC) would serve as a forum for operator coordination. Recently,
due to the availability of federal funding for operations, UMTA requested
that SCAG develop a stronger and clearer commitment to coordination, and
stated that such a memorandum between SCAG and the region's transit
operators would be necessary to continue the area's eligibility for
transit funding assistance.
The attached Memorandum of Understanding was developed in response to
this request. In addition to stipulating that the Transit Advisory
Committee serve as a forum for the discussion and resolution of JAN 2 4 1978
TO: Mayor and City Council
Page 2
service problems, it requires,that the ,City's operations conform to ,
the policies and guidelines of SCAG's Regional Transportation Plan,
to transit system efficiency standards when developed by SCAG and
to coordinate with SCAG, other cities and transit systems when
planning new service. Also, the Memorandum requires that existing
coordination of service be documented. SCAG has indicated that
the stipulations contained in this document will form the criteria
for SCAG evaluation of City applications for transit funding assistance.
This Memorandum has been discussed in detail by all operators through
SCAG's Transit Advisory Committee. It has received their approval,
as well as that of the SCAG Executive Committee. To date, more than
half the operators affected have become party to the agreement.
Alternatives
1. The City Council could choose not to sign the MOU. This could make
the City ineligible to receive future federal funding assistance, as
SCAG has stated that City approval of the Memorandum is a prerequisite
for SCAG's approval of transit funding assistance claims.
2. The City Council could direct City staff to attempt to negotiate a
change of the Memorandum's provisions. It is doubtful that such discussions
would be successful, as this standard agreement has been signed by a
majority of the operators.
3. The City Council could authorize the City Manager to execute the
Memorandum of Understanding. The City would then remain eligible to
receive SCAG support of its funding applications; a necessary step
to obtaining federal transit grants.
T0: Mayor and City Council
Page 3
Recommendation
City staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager
to sign the attached Memorandum of Understanding. The execution of
this document will enable the City to remain eligible to receive
SCAG support of its federal transportation funding applications.
Prepared by: J.F. Hutchison
Bob Durant