01-05-1999 - Application of MTA Funds: Call for Projects•
TO: City Council
City Manager
FROM: Patricia Bommarito
Acting Community Services Director
City Of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO 13-6c
DATE: January 5 1999
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
SUBJECT: APPLICATION OF MTA FUNDS: CALL FOR PROJECTS
SUMMARY: The Community Services Department is seeking authorization to apply for
competitive funds through the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority — 1999 Call for Projects. If awarded, the funds
would be utilized to offset the cost of the proposed West Covina Shuttle
Extension (South -End).
BACKGROUND
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is accepting applications
for funding of the Regional Transportation Projects and Programs. The 1999 Call for
Projects is a competitive process through which various federal, state and county
transportation funds are awarded to the most promising regional projects. The MTA has
identified that a total $508 million dollars for regional transportation improvement and/or
enhancements will be made available to eligible agencies.
For West Covina, funds available through the MTA are suggested to be utilized for the
proposed West Covina Shuttle Extension. Because the Shuttle Extension encompasses a
southern portion of the City (Amar & Azusa) not currently benefiting from service, the
project is eligible under the Transit Capital and/or Transportation Demand Management
(TDM) modal categories. Of course, due to diminishing fiscal resources and a budget of
$25-35 million for TDM and $25-40 million for Transit Capital, the project evaluation
process for these categories is highly competitive. Each modal category, therefore, has
specific weights and questions which pertain to the particular evaluation criteria utilized
within each responsive mode.
DISCUSSION
As indicated, the purpose of the application is to offset the cost of the proposed shuttle
extension. A total of $300,000 would be requested to recover administrative and shuttle
costs. Failure to receive the funds, however, will certainly delay the provision of the
program to our south side residents.
The 1999 Call for Projects application is due by January 29, 1999 to the MTA. By July
of 1999, the Board expects to announce funding recipients. The monies awarded are
provided for a maximum of two years, unless the modal category indicates otherwise.
Thereafter, the recipient can solicit further funds at future funding cycles or utilize
transportation entitlement funds to sustain its programs.
The Community Services Department has yet to determine how a program of this sort
will be sustained after two years. At this time, we are pursuing the MTA `seed' money as
an opportunity to `test' the success of the extension. If an extension were successful, we
would seek its implementation through an amendment to the Shuttle contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Having pursued the application of competitive funds, there is no impact to the City's
general fund. If awarded, an appropriation to the existing shuttle accounts (in.the amount
of $300,000) would be necessary.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following Resolution authorizing the
Community Services Director to apply for competitive funds through the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority.
RL
Acting Community Services Director
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