Department: Housing and Community Development
Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Federal Transit Administration
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Housing and Community Development for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for grant funds in the amount of $560,000, with a discretionary match of $140,000 via Transportation Development Credits (TDCs), for the FY 2024 Low or No Emission Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
In February 2006, the Harris County Housing and Community Development (HCD) partnered with The Goodman Corporation to finalize a Comprehensive Transit Strategy. By June of the same year, Commissioners Court granted HCD authority over all non-infrastructure Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Transit funds. Subsequently, HCD's Transportation Division obtained approval from the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Harris County METRO to qualify as an additional recipient of FTA Section 5307 funds, paving the way to access up to $4.5 million annually in Federal Grant funds for transportation initiatives in Harris County. This led to the establishment of the Office of Transit Services (Harris County Transit) under Harris County HCD to oversee transit projects. Collaborations with the City of Baytown and Houston METRO resulted in successful Park and Ride programs and fixed route services launched in Baytown, La Porte, and Pasadena, beginning in October 2007, July 2008, and January 2010 respectively.
Federal regulations mandate that all public transit agencies offering fixed bus route services must also accommodate individuals with disabilities through ADA services. Harris County Transit applied for the Low or No Emission Grant Program - 5339 (c), a competitive grant, requesting $560,000 in federal dollars with $140,000 in Transportation Development Credits (TDCs) as match, to procure electric ADA vehicles. These vehicles will replace gasoline counterparts, enhancing services for the ADA population while reducing tailpipe emissions in alignment with the county's carbon reduction objectives.
Expected Impact:
The 5339(c) funding is designated for electric vehicles that comply with ADA regulations for transit, specifically addressing the transportation requirements for individuals with disabilities.
Alternative Options:
County General funds will be needed in lieu of Low or No Emission Grant Program funds for purchase of vehicles.
Alignment with Goal(s):
_ Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
X Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any): N/A
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Transit Services ADA Program |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Grant |
$ |
$560,000 |
$560,000 |
$ |
|
Other Transportation Development Credits |
$ |
$140,000 |
$140,000 |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$700,000 |
$700,000 |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Request |
$ |
$700,000 |
$700,000 |
$ |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: June 25, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): October 1, 2024, unless awarded earlier by FTA.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Thien Cao, Grants and Planning Manager, HCD
Attachments (if applicable): Executive Summary and Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Grant Program Grant Application