Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1143 (date undetermined) — 2-5 Transit — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA SERVICE AREA: GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: GROWTH MANAGEMENT/PLANNING DIVISION/TRANSIT AND GRANTS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Transit and Grants Section of the Planning Division serves as the Community Transportation Coordinator as required by Section 427.011 of the Florida Statues and manages in excess of $9 million in state and Federal grants funds through which both paratransit and fixed route services are provided. The Transit and Grants Section is also responsible for oversight of the $3.2 million Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) which provides housing to low to moderate income households. In addition to transit and NSP programs, this division oversees various grants as they become available. REVENUE: The Planning Division/Transit and Grants is funded with General Funds with salary supported by State and Federal grants. The Section also receives revenue from grant reimbursement through the NSP and Community Development Block Grant programs. Revenue for transit operations is obtained through fare collections and advertising bus wraps. Funding for transit operations is subsidized by the Federal Transit Administration, Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Commission for the Transportation Trust Fund, Medicaid and matching local dollars. Miscellaneous non-transit grants (DCA, FEMA, DIG) are utilized for administration fees if feasible. EXPENDITURES: Expenditures Budget FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 Category Actual $ Actual $ Original $ Approved $ Personal Services 0 0 0 0 Operating Expenses 304,168 205,059 290,775 525,000 Capital Outlay 0 0 0 0 Grants & Aids 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 Total 329,168 230,059 315,775 550,000 2 full-time positions associated with this function are paid out of Planning Division 0108. HISTORICAL STAFFING SUMMARY: Category FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 Full-time 2 2 2 2 Part-Time 0 0 0 0 Relief 0 0 0 0 Total 2 2 2 2 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR:  The Transit and Grants Section of the Planning Division managed in excess of $8 million in transit related grants  Successfully garnered $715,000 in additional Neighborhood Stabilization Program Funds.  Provided over 175,240 fixed route trips and over 141,000 in paratransit/door-to-door trips.  Assisted the Public Works and Water & Sewer departments with CDBG grant administration  Facilitated award of Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women Safe Haven Grant PROGRAM GOAL: The goal of the Transit and Grants Section is to maximize the procurement and use of state, Federal and other grants in order to: 1.. Provide the most affordable possible public transportation to citizens of Okaloosa County through the most cost-effective mix of fixed route and paratransit services; 2. Transfer as many paratransit users as possible to fixed route 3. Supplement County funds used for infrastructure; 4. Enable the provision of affordable housing to economically challenged households; 5. Provide grant administration assistance to other County departments and agencies. KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. Serve as the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Okaloosa County. This entails grant compliance monitoring and administration of grant funding for Federal Transit Administration, Florida Department of Transportation, Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, Medicaid, Department of Community Affairs (CDBG), Enterprise Florida, Inc. (Defense Infrastructure Grants) and FEMA. 2. Continue administration of 15+ grant programs totaling over $9 million including review of financial and accounting systems relative to program revenues and expenditures and daily oversight and monitoring of primary public transit provider and management of three secondary providers. 3. Increase grant revenues by developing in-house expertise in grant administration and working with contract grant administrator. 4. Monitor implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations. 5. Manage overall planning and intergovernmental relations of the County’s public transit system, including transit service design, route planning, performance monitoring, comprehensive planning, and land use coordination for transit. 6. Continue to provide public transportation in the form of fixed-route and paratransit service. 7. Assist in the establishment of Safe Haven facility in Okaloosa County PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Actual Estimated Adopted Performance Measures FY11/12 FY12/13 FY13/14 Farebox Collection –Fixed Route 120,242 125,000 100,000 Farebox Collection - Paratransit 109,607 110,000 110,000 Full Time Employees 2 2 2 Input BCC Fixed-Route Operation Contribution 188,307 290,775 290,775 BCC Paratransit Operation Contribution 25,000 25,000 25,000 TDC Route Operation Contribution 0 0 0 Transportation Disadvantaged Trips 53,879 55,000 57,000 Medical (Ridership) Transportation Disadvantaged Trips 51,074 52,000 53,560 Employment (Ridership) Transportation Disadvantaged Trips 25,537 26,000 27,000 Other (Ridership) Medicaid (Ridership) 19,727 20,000 22,000 Output Fixed Route (Ridership) 175,240 178,000 135,000 NSP New Unit Construction (Units) 0 0 0 Disaster Recovery Grant Funding 0 $374,376 As available CDBG Grant (Neighborhood Revitalization & Economic $750,000 $750,000 0 Development $750,000 $750,000 Defense Infrastructure Grant $250,000 $250,000 $250,000 Maintain Maintain Eliminate Public Transit, Reduced Funding, Reduced Service. Service Service (3) Routes Two FTE’s Provide Management/Oversight/Compliance $8,000,000 $9,500,000 $9,500,000 Efficiency Review of Grant Programs Two FTE’s Provide Management/Oversight/Compliance $5,000,000 $5,250,000 $5,250,000 Review of Capital Investments Awarded ARRA Grant Funding w/Limited Resources & Time $1,480,000 $0 As available $3,500 Effectiveness (assumes ridership and Average Fuel Savings for Express Rider $2,800 $3,500 fuel costs remain same)