CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the attached Technical Services Agreement with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to receive and administer a Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities grant award for the Ride DuPage to Work Program, and execute the associated intergovernmental agreements with the Ride DuPage to Work Partners and Pace Suburban Bus.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Ashley Hagen, Project Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Ride DuPage program provides transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities. The Ride DuPage program began in August 2004 and ridership has grown exponentially since. In March 2008, the Ride DuPage to Work program was added as a sub-program of the Ride DuPage program. The Ride DuPage to Work program is specifically designed to provide a reduced fare for seniors and people with disabilities to travel to and from work.
The City of Naperville partners with Pace Suburban Bus and the Ride DuPage to Work Partners to implement the Ride DuPage to Work program. Since the program began, grant funding has been utilized to reduce the costs for the Ride DuPage to Work Partners. The partnership is comprised of the Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners and the Milton Transportation Partners. The Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners includes, Lisle Township, Naperville Township, City of Naperville, and Wheatland Township. The Milton Transportation Partners includes, Milton Township, City of Wheaton, and the Village of Glen Ellyn. It should be noted that Wheatland Township joined the Lisle/Naperville Transportation Partners in June 2012, replacing Naperville Park District.
The City of Naperville has been the grant administrator on behalf of the Ride DuPage to Work Partners since 2009 when Pace discontinued their role as such. In 2013, the City of Naperville and Partners were awarded Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) grant funding for 50% of the program through September 2014. Through a Section 5310 grant application submitted in 2014, the City of Naperville and Partners were awarded additional grant funding through December 2016. The Technical Services Agreement with the RTA for this funding was approved in February 2015. In June 2016, the City of Naperville submitted a joint application, on behalf of the Ride DuPage to Work Partners, and were approved for continued Section 5310 grant funding for the Ride DuPage to Work program.
DISCUSSION:
Ride DuPage to Work Grant Funding
The Ride DuPage to Work Partners have been awarded a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Program Grant. From January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019, the Section 5310 Grant will cover 50% of the service costs for trips taken to and from work using the Ride DuPage to Work Program. It should be noted, the Ride DuPage to Work Partners were granted pre-award authority; therefore, the Section 5310 Grant will retroactively cover 50% of the service costs for trips taken after January 1, 2017. The Ride DuPage to Work Partners will pay for the remaining 50% local match of the service costs. Without the grant funding, trips taken under the Ride DuPage to Work Program would otherwise be taken as part of the Ride DuPage program and 100% of the trip costs would be borne by the funding partners and riders.
The total Section 5310 Grant awarded to the Ride DuPage to Work Partners will equal up to $372,026. The City of Naperville’s local match has been included in the City’s CY2017 and proposed CY2018 budget for the Ride DuPage Program.
Each Ride DuPage to Work Partner supports the Section 5310 Grant by sharing the responsibility of a 50% local match for service costs associated with respective local trips. As the service provider for the Ride DuPage to Work Program, Pace Suburban Bus also functions as an additional partner.
The attached resolution will authorize the City Manager to enter into a Technical Services Agreement (TSA) with the RTA to receive and administer the Section 5310 Grant funds. In addition to the agreement with the RTA, the City has prepared intergovernmental agreements for Pace Suburban Bus and the Ride DuPage to Work Partners. As detailed in the intergovernmental agreements, the City of Naperville will continue to assume the role of Section 5310 Grant Administrator and will coordinate reimbursement of 50% of each Partner’s total monthly payment to Pace for the Ride DuPage to Work Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
From January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019 the Ride DuPage to Work Partners shared amount for the Ride DuPage to Work Program is 50% of the aggregate actual cost of all Projects for Ride DuPage to work; or $372,026, whichever is less. This City of Naperville local match has been included in the City’s budget for the Ride DuPage Program.