REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, M.A., Assistant City Manager and Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BY: LINDA TAYLOR, Administrative Manager
Department of Transportation
ELIZABETH TORRES, Senior Management Analyst
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing submission of funding requests to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program for bus service operating support and hydrogen fuel cell bus purchase, execution of grant award documents if awarded, and execution of related certifications and assurances and authorized agent forms.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve a resolution authorizing the Director of Transportation or designee to submit a 2022-23 Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funding requests to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to fund one (1) year of operating support for new service enhancements and capital funding support to match the purchase of two (2) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses (FCEBs). Additionally, staff recommends the Director of Transportation or designee execute and file all necessary funding documents on behalf of the City and execute the required Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Forms.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2015, Council approved a continuing authorizing resolution to enable the Department to apply for and receive LCTOP funding each year. Caltrans is now requesting that the Department provide a new resolution each year that specifies the projects to be funded with that year’s funding allocation. The attached resolution, therefore, includes both the authorization to execute funding agreements and specifies the project to be funded.
In previous years of this program, FAX utilized LCTOP funding for unscheduled extra service during peak ridership hours and for the first, second, and third years of service for the Increased Frequency Weekend Service and for the Extended Night Service, as well as to purchase and install real-time bus stop displays, ADA accessibility improvements, and two years of service enhancements including the new FAX Route 03 (Herndon cross-town through Council Districts 2 and 6) and the Route 28 alignment to serve the new Fresno County Department of Social Services (DSS, through Council Districts 1, 3, 4, and 7), as well as the interline of FAX Routes 12 (West of 99, through Council Districts 1 and 2) and 35 (Olive cross-town, through Council Districts 3, 4, and 7).
This year, FAX proposes to use LCTOP funding for two (s) projects: Transit service expansion along Church Avenue and capital support to match the purchase of two (2) FCEBs. The proposed Church Avenue service will provide connections to 4 existing FAX routes, increasing access to the entire FAX transit system. The FCEB purchase is primarily funded by FTA funding, which requires a non-federal match of 20%. FAX proposes to use LCTOP funding as the match for this purchase.
BACKGROUND
Senate Bill 862 (2014) included the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) to fund transit-specific projects in California to serve disadvantaged communities (DACs) and improve air quality by providing demonstrable reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs). LCTOP funding may only be applied to operating projects for the first three years of new or expanded transit service or capital projects that lead to significant reductions of GHG emissions whose benefits are realized by residents of disadvantaged and/or low-income communities. LCTOP funds may not be used as general capital or operating support or revenue replacement for lost transit fares.
In order to qualify for LCTOP funding, FAX must quantify the anticipated GHG reductions within approved DACs of the proposed project using the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Benefits Calculator Tool in the application and in all progress reports. This Benefits Calculator Tool ensures the proposed project avoids substantial burdens, such as physical or economic displacement of low-income households, small businesses, minority or women-owned businesses, or increase exposure of low-income households to toxic pollutants or other health risks. The Benefits Calculator Tool also estimates the following selected co-benefits and key variables from LCTOP projects: reductions in criteria and toxic air pollutants (in tons), including diesel particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide (NOx), reactive organic gases (ROG), fine PM less than 2.5 micrometers, passenger VMT reductions (in miles), fossil fuel use reductions, renewable energy generated in kilowatt hours (kWh), fossil fuel energy use reductions (kWh), travel cost savings ($),energy savings, and fuel cost savings ($).
The legislation named the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as the administrative agency for LCTOP and defined project sponsors (eligible recipients) that may receive the funding, which includes the City of Fresno Department of Transportation/FAX. The statutes related to state-funded transit projects require an implementing agency to abide by various regulations and Caltrans has developed guidelines for the purpose of administering and distributing LCTOP funds to local agencies.
The program requires recipient agencies to provide a resolution from their governing body each year to approve the projects. In 2015, Council provided this approval through a continuing authorizing resolution. LCTOP funding received in prior cycles has funded both the Increased Frequency Weekend Service and the Extended Night Service, as well as various bus stop improvements such as real-time bus stop display signs and ADA accessibility improvements.
This year, FAX proposes to use LCTOP funding for two (s) projects: Transit service expansion along Church Avenue and capital support to match the purchase of two (2) FCEBs. The proposed Church Avenue service will provide connections to 4 existing FAX routes (41, 38, 34, and 32, in Council Districts 3 and 5), and will also have stops within walking distance to connect to FAX route 28, truly increasing access to the entire FAX transit system. The expansion will be primarily funded by LCTOP, with the required match coming from Measure C revenues.
The FCEB purchase is primarily funded by FTA Program 5339c funding, which requires non-federal match of 20%. FAX proposes to use LCTOP funding as the match for this purchase, which will provide the first FCEBs for the FAX fleet.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This authorization to submit grant applications is not a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this request. The proposed projects will be funded through LCTOP revenues, Measure C, and FTA Program 5339c.
Attachments:
Resolution
Certifications and Assurances