Columbus, Georgia

Georgia's First Consolidated Government

Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016

Council Members

Agenda Item # 5



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

07/22/08



Agenda Report # 298





TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: FY2009 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) Grant Application

For Federal Assistance



INITIATED BY: Department of Transportation/METRA

________________________________________________________________________________

_______

RECOMMENDATION: Approval is requested to submit an application and, if

approved, accept a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in the

amount of $135,000. Approval is also requested to authorize the City Manager

or Mayor to accept grant funds if approved, and execute contracts with FTA.



BACKGROUND: The city has applied for capital, planning and operating

grants to the Federal Transit Administration and the Georgia Department of

Transportation since 1972. The Federal Transit Administration Grants are

funded in the following manner:



Federal Assistance: Federal 5307 - 50%; Local - 50%



The city government has provided the required match on grants to FTA since 1972.



Analysis:

Title 49 U.S.C. Section 5316



Grant Category Local* FTA Total

JARC 5316 $ 67,500 $ 67,500 $ 135,000

Total 5316 $ 67,500 $ 67,500 $ 135,000



*Local share will be paid by Region 8 DHR Regional Transportation Office for

Muscogee County with Purchase of Service Funds.



FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: If the City does not apply for the grant, Columbus

would be turning down $67,500 in federal funds to support public transportation

and reverse commute projects in our local community.



LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: A resolution must be submitted with the application from

the City Council authorizing application for a grant, authorizing the City

Manager or Mayor to accept the grant and enter into a contract with the Federal

Transit Administration.



Recommendations/Actions: Approve application for a grant from the

Federal Transit Administration in the total amount of $67,500 and further

authorizing the City Manager or Mayor to accept the grant, if approved, and

enter into a contract with the Federal Transit Administration.



A RESOLUTION

No. _________



A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND, IF AWARDED, ACCEPT A

GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $135,000 OR OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT

ADMINISTRATION (FTA) FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE UNDER

TITLE 49U.S.C. SECTION 5316 AND TO CONTRACT WITH FTA ON BEHALF OF THE CITY

SHOULD THE APPLICATION RECEIVE APPROVAL.



WHEREAS, under Title 49 U.S.C., Section 5316, the Secretary of the Department

of Transportation, United States of America (USDOT) is authorized to make

grants for transportation services, and;



WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Transportation/METRA has been designated by

the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Governor of the State of

Georgia, as direct recipient of these transit funds for Muscogee

County/Columbus, Georgia, and;



WHEREAS, the City owns and operates the Columbus Department of

Transportation/METRA, the public transit operates in Columbus, Georgia

Urbanized Area, and;



WHEREAS, the contract for financial assistance will require the Columbus

Consolidated Government in coordination with the Region 8 DHR Transportation

Office serving Muscogee County to apply to the Federal Transit Administration

(FTA) for up to a fifty percent (50%) of the Job Access and Reverse Commute

(JARC) funding, which is necessary to aid in addressing the transportation

needs of low-income third shift worker to and from jobs, to activities related

to employment (i.e., child care) and to support reverse commute projects, and;



WHEREAS, the project will operate as demand response transportation, called,

?METRA?s Night Owl Program?, utilizing up to two (2) buses, between the hours

of 8:30 p.m. and 12 midnight; Monday thru Friday, for twelve (12) months or

until all funds are expended, whichever occurs first, and;



WHEREAS, the FTA JARC Program requires the Columbus Department of

Transportation/METRA in coordination with the Region 8 DHR Transportation

Office to obligate the local funding share equal to fifty percent (50%) or the

total project cost, and;



WHEREAS, such contracts will impose certain obligations upon the Coordinated

Human Services Agency, the provision of the local share of project costs, to be

reimbursed to the City on a quarterly basis, and;



WHEREAS, FY2008 shares for these programs as currently projected are:



Title 49 U.S.C. Section 5316

Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC)



Local* FTA Total

JARC $67,500 $67,500 $135,000

Total $67,500 $67,500 $135,000



*Local share has been allocated by DHR as Purchase of Service Funds through its

contract with New Horizons CSB to purchase trips through CCG/METRA?s Night Owl

Program. At the end of every 30 day period, Region 8 DHR Regional

Transportation Office will provide an accounting of the amount of dollars used

to purchase trips through CCG/METRA.



NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:



(1)

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute and file an application

for Federal assistance on behalf of METRA Transit System with the Federal

Transit for Federal assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, Title 23,

United States Code, or other Federal statues authorizing a project administered

by the Federal Transit Administration. The Columbus Department of

Transportation/METRA, the Designated Recipient as defined by 49 U.S.C. Section

5307 (a)(2) funds will apply for Section 5316 JARC funds; and,



(2)

That the City Manager is authorized to execute and file the grant application

with the Federal Transit Administration on behalf of METRA Transit System for

aid in the financing of a Section 5316 transportation assistance project.

____________________



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Muscogee County,

Georgia held on the ___day of ___________, and adopted at said meeting by the

affirmative vote of members of said Council.



Councilor Allen voting __________.

Councilor Anthony voting __________.

Councilor Baker voting __________.

Councilor Barnes voting __________.

Councilor Davis voting __________.

Councilor Henderson voting __________.

Councilor Hunter voting __________.

Councilor McDaniel voting __________.

Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.

Councilor Woodson voting __________.

_____________________________ __________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Jim Wetherington, Mayor

















CERTIFICATE





The undersigned duly qualified and acting _________________________ (Title of

Officer) of the Columbus Consolidated Government certifies that the foregoing

is true and correct copy of a resolution, adopted at a legally convened meeting

of the Columbus Council held on _______________________, 2008.





Official Seal





___________________________ (Signature of Recording

Officer)





___________________________

(Title of Recording Officer)





_________________________

(Date)

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