SR-03-24-2015-3GReport
City of i� Council
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: March 24, 2015
Agenda Item: 3-C-1
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Edward F. King, Director of Transit Services
Subject: Low Carbon Transit Operations Program Resolution
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution for the Low
Carbon Transit Operations Program.
Executive Summary
The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program ( LCTOP) is one of several programs that
are part of the Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program
established by the California Legislature in 2014 via Senate Bill 862. The LCTOP was
created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving
disadvantaged communities. As a requirement for funding, a resolution must be
submitted.
Discussion
SB 862 (2014) establishes the LCTOP as a new formulaic program instead of a state -
level competitive program. The LCTOP uses the existing State Transit Assistance (STA)
Fund formula to distribute $25 million statewide. The STA formula has two components,
a population share and a revenue share. Metro receives all of the population share
while the revenue share is split between the Los Angeles County Municipal Operators
and Metro. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for
ensuring that the statutory requirements of the program are met in terms of eligibility,
greenhouse gas reduction, disadvantaged community benefit, and other requirements
of law.
The LCTOP guidelines describe the process that transit agency recipients must follow
to qualify and receive a share of the fund. These funds are available to provide
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operations, maintenance, and capital assistance for transit agencies with the goals of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving mobility for the California public, and
include a priority to serve disadvantaged communities. The LCTOP is a new ongoing
funding source for the Big Blue Bus.
The new LCTOP funds would bring approximately $131,000 to the Big Blue Bus to be
used for operating purposes, such as but not limited to fuel, maintenance and salaries.
As a requirement for funding, a resolution, certification and assurances, and a project
description and allocation request form must be submitted. The resolution would
authorize the City Manager to execute the required documents for funding.
Big Blue Bus (BBB) is seeking to submit the required forms for disbursement by the
April 15, 2015 due date.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required
in the future. Staff anticipates that BBB will receive approximately $131,000 annually to
be used to cover operating expenses.
Prepared by: Enny Chung Graham, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Edward King Elaine M. Polachek
Director of F. Transit S rvices Interim City Manager
Attachments:
1. Resolution
FA
Reference:
Resolution No. 10869
(CCS)