REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Tom Herbel, PE, Acting Director of Public Works
Subject:
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Adopt Resolution No. 2020-02 approving the submittal of an application to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for funding under the Project V Community-Based Transit/Circulators Program
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Statement of Issue:
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) offers grants to provide funding for programs/projects that complement regional transit services and meet needs in areas not adequately serviced by regional transit. Staff has applied for this grant to develop and implement a two-year pilot program for a shared ride hailing service. Due to the short time-frame for submittal, a draft resolution approving the application was submitted with the application. This is allowed by OCTA. Staff seeks formal approval of the resolution.
Financial Impact:
Staff proposes a 20 percent match of an estimated $102,280 per year in the Air Quality Management Fund (201). If the City is awarded the grant, these funds will be included in future budget submittals beginning with FY 2020-21.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution 2020-02 “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach approving the submittal of the Project V application to the Orange County Transportation Authority for funding under the Project V Community-Based Transit/Circulators Program.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not adopt the resolution and direct staff to withdraw the application.
Analysis:
Under Measure M2, OCTA has developed the Project V Community-Based Transit/Circulators Program, which establishes a competitive process to enable local jurisdictions to develop local transit services that complement regional transit services and meet needs in areas not adequately served by regional transit. Projects must meet specific criteria in order to compete for funding through this program. In addition, local jurisdictions are required to demonstrate the ability to provide matching funds.
Staff is proposing a two-year pilot program to provide residents reduced cost, fixed fee, shared rides to downtown Huntington Beach. This would connect riders to OCTA bus routes. Staff has identified the southeast area of Huntington Beach as the pilot area to gauge the effectiveness of the program. This area was chosen due to the gaps in existing bus service resulting from elimination of bus routes. A portion of route 35, which runs down Brookhurst, was eliminated from Hamilton Street to PCH. Route 173, which ran down Atlanta Avenue from Magnolia Street to downtown was eliminated entirely. A map of the proposed service area, including current active bus routes, is attached.
A resolution approving the application and committing matching funds must be submitted to OCTA. If approved, staff will move forward with implementation, targeting a July 1, 2020, start date.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and maintain high quality City services
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2020-02, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach approving the submittal of the Project V application to the Orange County Transportation Authority for funding under the Project V Community-Based Transit/Circulators Program.”
2. Proposed Pilot Program area map.