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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10771RESOLUTION NO. 10771 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PUEBLO TO APPLY FOR 2006 STATE SENATE BILL 1 FUNDING TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF FIVE NON -ADA AND PRE -ADA TRANSIT BUSES AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL TO SUBMIT SAME WHEREAS, the City of Pueblo supports the replacement of five Non -ADA and Pre -ADA transit buses and the submittal of a grant application to the State of Colorado for Senate Bill 1 funding to replace these buses BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1. The grant application for the replacement of five Non -ADA and Pre -ADA transit buses to the State of Colorado Senate Bill 1 funding, a copy of which is attached hereto is approved. The President of City Council is authorized to execute and deliver the Grant Application in the name of the City and the City Clerk shall affix the seal of the City thereto and attest the same. SECTION 2. The grant request is in the amount of $1,625,000, with the City of Pueblo obligating $325,000 as 20% cash match from the City's General Fund. INTRODUCED July 10, 2006 BY Randy Thurston Councilperson APPROVED: President of City Council ATTESTED BY: CITY CLERK /0 JI -77 Background Paper for Proposed RESOLUTION AGENDA ITEM # 9 DATE: JULY 10, 2006 DEPARTMENT: PUEBLO TRANSIT DANIEL E. CENTA, P.E. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TITLE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PUEBLO TO APPLY FOR 2006 STATE SENATE BILL 1 FUNDING TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF FIVE NON -ADA AND PRE -ADA TRANSIT BUSES AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL TO SUBMIT SAME ISSUE Should City Council approve the submittal of an application for a Senate Bill 1 State funding to replace five transit buses. RECOMMENDATION Approval of the Resolution. BACKGROUND The State's Senate Bill 1 program provides funding for strategic transportation projects. The State Legislator has required that at least 10% of such strategic transportation project revenues shall be expended for transit purposes or for transit - related capital improvements. The Senate Bill 1 program is expected to have revenues available over the next five years, in conjunction with the passage of Referendum C. Approximately $21.6 million dollars is available in 2006 and the funding for 2007 -2010 is currently estimated to be $39 million. The City will procure these buses through a piggyback option in 2006 from a transit authority holding a current contract to purchase 35' -40' buses. FINANCIAL IMPACT The total project cost is $1,625,000. The state match at 80% is $1,300,000 and the required City match at 20% is $325,000 to be appropriated out of the City's General Fund. APPLICANT: CITY OF PUEBLO /PUEBLO TRANSIT Page 1 of 4 Strategic Transit Project Application Form Applicant Organization: Applicant address: City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit 350 S. Grand Avenue Pueblo, CO 81003 Contact person: Brenda Broyles, Transit Superintendent Phone: (719) 553 -2725 Email address: bbroyles @pueblo.us FAX: (719) 553 -2724 1. Project Title and Descriptive Title: (limit to 25 words) City of Pueblo /Pueblo Transit purchase of rolling stock (five 35'- 40' transit coaches) to replace non -ADA and pre -ADA coaches and to initiate transportation services in the City's newly developed north side area. 2. What is the total project cost? $1,625,000 (five 35' -40' buses at $325,000 each) What is the total amount of State funding requested? $ 1,300,000 (80 %) 3. Type of Project: Rolling stock: replacement X Rail or BRT elements Bus Maintenance Facility: replacement: Bus transfer /intermodal facility: Planning: _ Other 4. Applicant Information and Description of Transit Program: Transit service in the Pueblo area is provided by the City of Pueblo, a Municipal Corporation, operating as Pueblo Transit. Pueblo Transit is a public non - profit organization established and owned by the City to operate their fixed route transit services. Pueblo Transit uses a third party contractor to operate a complimentary paratransit service known as Citi -Lift. Pueblo Transit serves all of the City of Pueblo. The population of the service area is approximately 104,000. It operates a network of 12 fixed - routes. Service is provided six days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Citi -Lift provides complementary paratransit services during the same days and hours as fixed route service. The overall transit operations consist of an aged fleet of sixteen (16) buses for fixed route service and eleven (11) cutaway vans for paratransit services. Five (5) out of the sixteen (16) buses are either non -ADA or Pre -ADA. The current peak requirement is for 12 vehicles. expansion X expansion Pueblo Transit operates from a single maintenance and administration facility and its services are oriented around a transit center in downtown Pueblo that serves as a transfer point. APPLICANT: CITY OF PUEBLO/PUEBLO TRANSIT Page 2 of 4 5. Project Description: We are requesting funding for the purchase of five (5), 35' -40' transit coaches. The acquisition of these vehicles will facilitate the continuation of transit services by meeting the transportation needs of the people in the community, while providing accessibility to the elderly and the disabled, and will facilitate the initiation of the North Side area Circulator expansion route. The Circulator will facilitate accessibility to critical destinations such as medical facilities, employment, schools and recreation centers. 6. What is the strategic importance of implementing this particular project? Pueblo Transit has strengthened the local economy by providing easy access to the Pueblo downtown's main activity centers, access to a limited area at the North Side, and increased accessibility to the congested core. Commuters, students, workers, visitors, seniors and people with disabilities are all served by Pueblo Transit. Most of the Pueblo Transit fleet is over twenty years old, which far exceeds Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) expected useful life guidelines. The new buses will provide countless benefits to the citizens of Pueblo such as continuation of a popular, reliable and successful transit service, safe and reliable transit buses with fewer breakdowns and disruptions of headways, lower maintenance costs and reduced time out of service. All vehicles will be ADA- wheelchair accessible and there will be no limitations on rotation of vehicles. This project will be beneficial in that it would increase accessibility to critical destinations such as the newly developed North Side, which is a major new employment center. By purchasing these vehicles, Pueblo Transit will be able to implement the most awaited North Side Circulator proposed three years ago in the State Transit Element Plan, as a short term goal, to increase transit ridership and services in the rapidly growing Pueblo North Side area. The Circulator will provide 30 minutes headways instead of hour headways, and will be able to connect with five established routes at satellite transfer points. It will cover critical destinations such as medical facilities, shopping, post office, restaurants and schools. 7. In which calendar years do you desire specific amounts of funding for this project? 2006 $ 1,300,000 2007 $ 2008 $ 2009 $ 2010 $ 8. Are there any special circumstances that require that funding be in the specific years requested? (How flexible are the specific years ?) This is a ready -to -go project and a one in a lifetime opportunity for Pueblo Transit to not only upgrade it's aged fleet but also to implement public transportation services to areas that are being underserved at this time. APPLICANT: CITY OF PUEBLO/PUEBLO TRANSIT Page 3 of 4 9. From where will you obtain /provide the local 20% matching funds? The 20% local cash match will be appropriated from the City of Pueblo's General Fund. 10. Describe the commitment of your organization to maintaining the project and sustaining the service that would be provided over the life of the project. The City of Pueblo, the City Council and the City Manager are committed to the betterment of public transportation and accessibility to the transit system in Pueblo. The City has always supported public transit and it has made it a priority to subsidize year after year the operations and the capital improvements of most transit projects. This is a critical project for the City of Pueblo and the City Officials are committed to maintaining and sustaining the public transit services that would be provided over the life of the project. 11. Describe the "readiness" of the project. Are any additional steps necessary prior to being able to expend the funds? (e.g. NEPA clearances, commitments from other partners, legal commitments). Written authorization from a large transit agency to piggyback five (5) options for purchase of buses. 12. Is this proposed project consistent with regional priorities as expressed through the regional planning process and within your TPR's Regional Transportation Plan? This project has been included in the STIP and the TIP for the last seven years and it is considered to be a priority regarding transit. 13. Describe how you think the project provides economic vitality to the community, region and state. Indicate if the project specifically addresses environmental justice objectives. It is essential to the Citizens of Pueblo that we purchase the rolling stock needed to accommodate people with disabilities and the elderly, and the economic situation within the City has created unprecedented need for additional transit services. Congestion problems can be also addressed with this project request. This project will create economic vitality by providing accessibility to work, shopping and medical appointments for citizens and visitors and by providing easy and effective access to commercial and residential neighborhoods. 14. Describe how you think the project increases mobility on congested portions of the state highway system. This particular project will alleviate the traffic congestion in three major corridors, US 50, SH 47 and I -25. The implementation of the North Side Circulator will provide handicapped accessible public transportation to vital destinations. We'll have the APPLICANT: CITY OF PUEBLO /PUEBLO TRANSIT Page 4 of 4 ability to conveniently connect with five out of the twelve existing routes at satellite transfer points. 15. Indicate whether your project leverages funding from other sources or offers an overmatch. The City is committed to provide a cash match of 20% of the total project cost. 16. Please provide any other pertinent information regarding the project. This project will open new avenues for the City of Pueblo and Pueblo Transit plans for future service expansion. The initiation of the North Side Circulator will provide much needed transportation services to underserved citizens in that area by increasing accessibility to critical destinations.