Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 6/18/2019
Item Status: Replacement
From: Joey Nunnally, P.E., County Engineer
Matthew Brown, BRATS Director of Transportation
Submitted by: Chandra Middleton, Assistant Director of Transportation
______________________________________________________________________
ITEM TITLE
Title
*Submission of Fiscal Year 2020 Section 5311 Rural Public Transportation Grant Application
Recommendation
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Take the following actions:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2019-100 authorizing the Baldwin County Commission to commit up to $1,489,245.00 as local non-federal match for operations, administration, and capital expenditures under the Section 5311 Non-Urbanized Area Public Transportation Program during Fiscal Year 2020; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 2019-101 authorizing the execution and submittal of a Fiscal Year 2020 Section 5311 Grant Application to the Alabama Department of Transportation relating to public transportation; and
3. Authorize the Chairman to sign the application and any related documents, and related award documents, and any related reporting documents; and
4. Authorize Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS) staff to submit the Fiscal Year 2020 Section 5311 Agreement to Alabama Department Of Transportation (ALDOT).
End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Previous Commission action/date: N/A
Background: A replacement item was required because the State contacted BRATS staff requesting the value of the County real estate be removed as an expense line item and shown only as in-kind. This resulted in a slight decrease in the 5311 Grant application totals.
Since 1985, BRATS has received an annual Section 5311 grant from the Federal Transit Administration, which passes through ALDOT. The funds are used to provide public transportation to the citizens of Baldwin County.
As with most federal grants, the BRATS public transit grants go through an annual application process. Because a portion of the BRATS service area falls within the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization, BRATS is required to split costs between the two areas and submit both an urban (5307) and rural (5311) grant. These grant requests are intentionally conservative (on the high side) to ensure that sufficient funds are awarded to provide the Commission with maximum flexibility for operating BRATS. The dollar amounts in these grants do not represent the actual expenses approved in the County budget. The Commission will approve the BRATS Fiscal Year 2020 budget separately during the annual budget process.
Total Federal Grant Funding Requested for Fiscal Year 2020 (both 5307 and 5311):
5311 Program for Fiscal Year 2020 (this agenda item):
The Fiscal Year 2020 request for federal assistance is $2,006,571.00 and the local match requirement is estimated at up to $1,489,245.00, depending on the budget ultimately approved by the Commission. These federal funds cover 80% of capital and administration costs and 50% of operational costs. A public hearing has been advertised for and will be held on June 17, 2019 at 9:00 am at the Baldwin County Commission BRATS office in Robertsdale, Alabama, to allow for comments on the proposed transportation service.
The application deadline is June 17, 2019, however an extension was granted until June 19, 2019.
BRATS staff has submitted an unsigned copy of the application to ALDOT and if approved, the signed original application will be overnighted to ALDOT on June 18, 2019.
The final grant application is/contains proprietary information, so it is marked confidential.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: $3,495,816.00 with $2,006,571 offset by 5311 Grant Revenue, $335,743.00 offset by Farebox Revenue, $120,944.00 offset by Contract Revenue resulting in up to $1,032,558 in Local Match, depending on the budget ultimately approved by the Commission.
Budget line item(s) to be used: Fiscal Year 2020 Budget
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
N/A
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? Yes
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: Forthcoming from staff.
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: Deadline is
June 17, 2019. Received extension to June 19, 2019.
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Administration staff and BRATS staff
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed): Administration to print letters on letterhead and obtain the Chairman and Administrator’s signatures where appropriate, provide the county seal and forward original document to BRATS staff. BRATS Staff will ensure documents are in order and complete for overnight submittal of the original documents to ALDOT.
Documents that require Administration attention:
1. Fiscal Year 2020 Rural Transit Program Application Letter (Requires Letterhead)
2. Letter of Designation (Designated Agency Letter) (Requires Letterhead)
3. Local Match Commitment Letter (Requires Letterhead)
4. Local Match Certification (Requires Letterhead)
5. Authorization Resolution 2019-100
6. Authorization Resolution 2019-101
Address letters to the attention of:
Mr. D. E. Phillips, Jr., P. E.
State Local Transportation Engineer
Local Transportation Bureau. Transit Section
Alabama Department of Transportation
1409 Coliseum Boulevard
Montgomery, Alabama 36110
Additional instructions/notes: Once Signatures are obtained, please contact Chandra Middleton to arrange pick up for overnight processing.
Pages which require the Chairman’s signature are 13,14, 33, 34, 35, & 58.