Title
Health and Human Services Agency and the Air Quality Management District recommending the Board approve and ratify each director's signature on letters supporting the El Dorado County Transit Authority's application for U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration 5309 Ladders of Opportunity Initiative grant funds to replace ten buses currently used for local fixed route service.
FUNDING: Federal Grant Funding to Grantee.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
The letters of support have no financial impact on the County.
Background
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5309 Ladders of Opportunity Initiative provides funding for the modernization and expansion of transit bus service specifically for the purpose of connecting disadvantaged and low-income individuals, veterans, seniors, youth, and others with local workforce training, employment centers, health care, and other services.
The El Dorado County Transit Authority, in coordination with Sacramento Regional Transit, plans to apply for FTA 5309 Ladders of Opportunity Initiative funding to replace ten (10) transit buses currently used for local fixed route service, with ten (10) low floor clean diesel transit buses. The purchase of low floor transit buses is consistent with the current draft Short/Long Range Transit Plan recommendations and will significantly enhance the passenger experience by way of easing boarding, speeding up the loading of wheelchair passengers, and by providing greater seating capacity overall. The low floor buses make boarding easier for elderly and disabled passengers by not requiring them to negotiate steps when boarding, thereby improving accessibility to those who may need transit services the most.
The net air quality benefits are estimated to be 0.18 tons of emissions reduced per year, at a cost effectiveness of $549 per pound. The increased capacity and improved accessibility provided by the new busses may increase ridership, further enhancing the air quality benefits.
Reason for Recommendation
The El Dorado County Transit Authority requested a letter of support from the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to include with the grant application. HHSA and AQMD are recommending retroactive approval and ratification of each director's signature on the letters of support as the El Dorado County Transit Authority had a grant submittal deadline of July 22, 2014.
Clerk of the Board Follow Up Actions
None.
Contact
Don Ashton, M.P.A., Director Health and Human Services Agency
Dave Johnston, Air Pollution Control Officer