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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A JOINT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (JPA) WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) FOR $19,820,774 IN PUBLIC TRANSIT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS FOR TRANSIT BUS SERVICE ASSISTANCE; AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS AS SPECIFIED IN THE JPA; AUTHORIZING RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS SHOULD THEY BECOME AVAILABLE; AND AUTHORIZING USE OF CHARTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SURTAX FUNDS

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference; and

WHEREAS, the State of Florida is authorized to enter into agreements to provide State funding for transportation programs and projects,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:

Section 1. That this Board approves the agreement between Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation, in substantially the form attached hereto and made a part hereof, to provide $19,820,774 in Public Transit Block Grant Program funds for transit bus service assistance, which includes $372,114 in State allocated pass-through funds for the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization, South Florida Vanpool Program.

Section 2. That this Board further authorizes the Mayor, Mayor�s designee, or Miami-Dade Transit Director, to execute such contracts and agreements as are approved by the County Attorney�s Office; to receive and expend funds in accordance with such aforementioned contracts and agreements; to receive and expend any additional funds should they become available; and to file and execute any additional agreements, revisions, or amendments as required to carry out the projects for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Section 3. That the County staff is authorized to furnish such additional information as the FDOT may require in connection with the application for the improvement.

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Date:

To: Honorable Chairman Joe A. Martinez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Carlos A. Gimenez
Mayor

Subject: Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Joint Participation Agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for Public Transit Block Grant Program Funds in the Amount of $19,820,774

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) authorize the execution of a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) in substantially the form attached hereto with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the receipt of $19,820,774 from the Public Transit Block Grant Program (Block grant) for public bus transit service operating assistance with a sub-allocation for the South Florida Vanpool Program (SFVP).

It is further recommended that the Board authorize the receipt and expenditure of funds as specified in the agreement. Miami-Dade County proposes to provide an equal match of $19,820,774 for this JPA from Miami-Dade Transit�s (MDT) operating budget for a total JPA amount of $39,641,548. No federal funds are included as part of this JPA.

SCOPE
The impact of this project benefits the public, and is therefore, Countywide.

FISCAL IMPACT/FUNDING SOURCE
This JPA reflects an original allocation of $19,820,774 ($19,448,660 for the Block grant and $372,114 for the SFVP). The State�s $19,820,774 funding contribution would be matched equally by Miami-Dade County from MDT bus transit service assistance (operating expenditures index code MT710800) as programmed in the adopted Fiscal Year 2011-12 operating budget of MDT. This funding is for operating assistance for 2012 year�s budget only and therefore has no fiscal impact on any future budgets.

This agreement also includes a sub-allocation to the SFVP in the amount of $372,114. The SFVP State allocation ($372,114) will be passed through to the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), exclusive of the matching funds provided by the County. As the pass-through entity, MDT will receive a 5% administrative fee ($18,605), which will be deducted directly from the State�s contribution ($372,114).

TRACK RECORD/MONITOR
MDT has entered into numerous funding agreements with FDOT over the course of more than 25 years. The Project Manager for this JPA is Suzanne Salichs, Ph.D., Grants Manager, MDT Financial Services.

DELEGATED AUTHORITY
In accordance with Section 2-8.3 of the Miami-Dade County Code related to identifying delegation of Board authority, there are no authorities beyond that specified in the resolution which include authority for the Mayor, Mayor�s designee or the MDT Director to execute the agreement and receive and expend these and any additional funds should they become available.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
In 1989, the Florida Legislature established the Public Transit Block Grant Program to provide assistance to public transit providers that are eligible for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds. The program is funded by gas taxes deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund.

Eligibility for the Public Transit Block Grant Program funds is determined by a formula using information from the National Transit Database (NTD). The State�s participation is limited to 50% of the non-federal share of capital projects and 50% of eligible operation costs. State law strictly prohibits using Public Transit Block Grant funds to supplant local tax dollars provided for transit operations.

This JPA will provide $19,820,774 in operating assistance for fixed route bus operations in Miami-Dade County. Eligible costs are limited to bus operating, dispatching, and maintenance activities. Also included in this agreement is a sub-allocation to the SFVP in the amount of $372,114. This funding represents the proportional share of the Public Transit Block Grant Program funding as derived from the NTD reported for the SFVP.

A study by the MPO entitled, �Congestion Mitigation: Public-Private Partnership Study� recommended the implementation of a vanpool program to combat congestion. In January 1998, the Miami-Dade MPO initiated the recommended vanpool program as a three-year demonstration project. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program funding through FDOT, District 6, was used to launch the vanpool service.

The SFVP has served commuters since 1998; offering a high quality, shared-travel option for groups of up to 15 commuters interested in an alternative to driving to work alone.� The service also improves access for commuters to areas not currently served by public transit.� Participants are charged a monthly fare which covers the cost of the van, insurance, all maintenance, 24-hour roadside assistance, loaner/back-up van, program administration and 24-hour customer service.�� One or two members of the vanpool drive the van on a daily basis and park the van at their home overnight.� To reduce operating costs and encourage participation in the program, each van is provided with a monthly subsidy of $400. This is a regional program that covers the tri-county area. As of April 2011, the program has 219 vanpools and is projected to have approximately 231 vans in place by December 2011.

The SFVP allocation is included in the Block grant because the program is funded by FDOT out of the same funding source. In addition, on November 20, 2008 the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Miami-Dade MPO, which identified MDT as the FTA designated grant recipient for this funding (R-1173-08). Pursuant to the MOU, MDT serves as a pass-through for the MPO on this program. MDT receives a 5% administrative fee for conducting the bid process for the program, grant administration, finance, project management, performance reporting and exchange of FTA funds to State funds.

MDT�s Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 programs this Block grant funding exclusively as operating assistance for MDT bus transit services.



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Deputy Mayor/County Manager