SR-09-26-1978-6JSanta Monica, California, September 14,J978
TO: Mayor and City Council J
FROM: City Staff
SEP 2 6 1978
SUBJECT: Approval of a contract funding Transportation Department
planning studies required by the Federal Urban Mass
Transportation Administration
Introduction
As a participant in the regional transit planning program, known as the
Overall Work Program, the Transportation Department is eligible for Federal
Urban Mass Transportation Administration Section 9 planning funds, distri-
buted through the Southern California Association of Governments(SCAG), in
its role as metropolitan planning organization. This year the Department
has been allocated $41,343, which it must match with $10,336 in Transpor-
tation Development Act (SB325) funds.
Background
Before UMTA will approve federal assistance to offset operating and capital
expenses, UMTA requires that each prospective recipient develop and submit,
through the metropolitan planning agency, an overall five year operating and
capital program, called a Transportation Improvement Program(TIP), with ac-
companying description and data concerning the bus system and justification
for the expenditures, known as a Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP). To offset
expenses incurred in developing the plan, the City is eligible to receive
UMTA Section 9 funding allocated by and distributed through SCAG, in its role
as the metropolitan planning agency. As with federal assistance in capital
grants, UMTA will fund 800 of the project. The 200 local share must either
come from non - farebox revenues or contributed services.
In the past several years, the City has received funds under this program
to update certain elements of its SRTP /TIP, originally produced for the City lQ
SEP L 6978
Mayor and Council -2- September 14, 1978
by Wilbur Smith and Associates
This year, for the first time, SCAG
has allocated money to the Department to obtain passenger counts by route,
line profiles, running time checks and other operational data, which not
only will prove useful for future SRTP /TIP submittals, but will assist the
Department in operating the bus system.
The contract states that all work must be completed by December 31, 1978.
Staff believes that this deadline is unrealistic. Therefore, we have con-
tacted SCAG staff and have been told that the date may be moved administratively
by SCAG, upon the request of the City. If it becomes necessary, City staff
will mutually agree upon an extension of the date with SCAG personnel.
Under the contract, the maximum amount to be expended under this project is
$51,679. Eighty percent of this, up to $41,343, will be reimbursed by the
Federal Urban Mass Transportation Administration. The remaining 20% matching
funds will come from a Transportation Development Act(SB325) funds. No City
general funds will be used.
Alternatives
1. The City can reject the contract. The Transportation Department would
then lose the benefit of $41,343 in Federal transportation planning
funds. If the City wished to maintain its eligibility for Federal
capital and operating assistance, it would then have to produce an
SRTP /TIP document using funds from non - Federal sources.
2. The City could approve the contract and permit City staff to request
an extension of the contract deadline if necessary. This would permit
the Department to receive up to $41,343 in Federal Section 9 funding
assistance to obtain data for use in the SRTP /TIP, as well as for other
purposes.
Recommendation
City staff recommends that the City Council approve the contract with the
Southern California Association of Governments for Federal Section 9 funds
Mayor and Council -3- September 14, 1978
to assist in obtaining operating information for use in the SRTP /TIP, as
well as for other purposes, and also authorize City staff to request an
extension of the contract deadline.
Submitted by: Jack Hutchison
Bob Ayer
JFH /RLA:dag