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CC - Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Execute Any Actions Necessary for the Purpose of Obtaining Financial Assistance Provided by the Fiscal Year 2015/2016 California Department of Transportation Low Carbon Transit Operations Program
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Contact Person/Dept: Jane Leonard / Transportation
Phone Number: 310-253-6523
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/30/15)
Department Approval: Art Ida, Director of Transportation (12/15/15)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or Designee to execute any actions necessary for the purpose of obtaining financial assistance provided by the Fiscal Year 2015/2016 California Department of Transportation Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.
BACKGROUND
Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, took a long-term, comprehensive approach to addressing climate change and its effects on the environment and natural resources, and set the requirement that by 2020 California must reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the level of 1990. Subsequently, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375) and Senate Bill 535 (SB 535) in 2011 directed regional planning organizations and local agencies to develop strategies for sustainable communities and disadvantaged communities, respectively. The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) is one of several programs that are part of the Transit, Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program established by Senate Bill 862 in 2014. The LCTOP will draw funds from the GHG Reduction Fund to support transit agencies in their efforts to increase transit ridership and meet the statewide GHG reduction goals identified in AB 32, SB 375 and SB 535.
SB 862 establishes the LCTOP as a formulaic program rather than a state-level competitive program; funds are identified through two allocation formulas, one based on population and the other based on agency ridership. Approved projects in this program will support new or expanded bus services, expand intermodal transit facilities, and may include equipment acquisition, fueling, maintenance, and other costs to operate those services or facilities, with each project reducing GHG emissions and enhancing or expanding transit service. For agencies with service area(s) that include disadvantaged communities, at least 50 percent of the funds received shall be expended on projects that will benefit those communities.
DISCUSSION
Culver CityBus, the City’s municipal transit agency, will put these funds toward service on its most heavily traveled Line 6 Rapid which traverses the 12.5-mile route along Sepulveda Boulevard, from UCLA at the north to the Metro Green Line Station located southeast of LAX. Disadvantaged communities have been identified along this corridor.
Adoption of a resolution by the agency’s governing body (in this case, the City Council) is required for staff to submit allocation request forms, certifications and assurances, and funding and expenditure plans for LCTOP funds. Additionally the proposed resolution authorizes the City Manager or Designee to execute the documents and take all other actions necessary to implement the program.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
SB 852 appropriates $75 million for LCTOP for Fiscal Year 2015/2016, half of which is allocated directly to transit agencies. The portion identified for the Los Angeles region is $10,850,488 with Culver City’s allocation being $56,805.
ATTACHMENTS
Proposed Resolution
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or Designee to execute any actions necessary for the purpose of obtaining financial assistance provided by the Fiscal Year 2015/2016 California Department of Transportation Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.