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TO: |
Board of Trustees |
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THROUGH: |
Mary DeLoretto, Interim Executive Director |
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FROM: |
David Hancock, Acting Chief Service Development Officer |
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PRESENTER(S): |
Patti Garver, Manager of Environmental and Grant Services |
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TITLE:
title
R2021-10-05 - Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Low or No Emission Grant Agreement with the Federal Transit Administration for the Tooele Microtransit & Vehicle Electrification Project
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AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Resolution
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 2021-010-05 authorizing execution by the Executive Director of the Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission grant agreement that is being developed in the Federal Transit Administration Awards Management System (TrAMS) for the Tooele County Microtransit & Vehicle Electrification Project.
BACKGROUND:
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a notice of funding opportunity for the Low or No Emission Grant Program on February 11, 2021. Eligible projects include the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit vehicles, including acquisition, construction and leasing of required supporting facilities such as charging, refueling, and maintenance facilities. UTA submitted a grant application on April 12, 2021 for the Tooele County Microtransit & Vehicle Electrification project.
DISCUSSION:
FTA selected UTA to receive an award amount of $1,380,000 for the Tooele County Microtransit & Vehicle Electrification project on June 25, 2021. The match amount totals $230,099; to be provided by UTA and Rocky Mountain Power.
The project will replace five gasoline powered vehicles used for existing flex route and dial-a-ride services in Tooele County with eight zero-emission electric vehicles while modernizing existing services with an on demand microtransit service. Six vans will be used for service delivery and two vans will be spares/backup. All eight of the electric vehicles would be ADA accessible, commercially available, 15-passenger vans with telematic systems. A Level 2 charging system would be designed and installed in the existing Tooele garage, and a Level 3 charging system for in field charging. The current workforce would be trained on the operation and maintenance of these vehicles. Expect to launch this service in 2022 on April or August Change Day.
The proposal aligns with UTA’s 5-Year Service Plan to prioritize microtransit expansion into certain opportunity zones to test innovative service models for expanded coverage in areas that are underperforming with traditional transit.
This project is further supported by UTA’s microtransit modeling study focused on improving mobility for people with disabilities, transit needs, and transit potential. Results of the study yielded 19 microtransit opportunity zones which were then simulated for service potential.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this grant is not executed, sufficient funds will not be available for the Tooele County Microtransit & Vehicle Electrification project, and implementation of the project will likely be delayed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The award amount will be $1,380,000. The Federal share of the cost of leasing or purchasing a transit bus is not to exceed 85 percent of the total transit bus cost. The federal share in the cost of leasing or acquiring low- or no-emission bus-related equipment and facilities is 90 percent of the net project cost.
Capital Expenses:
Vehicles: 8 Ford Transit vans, 6 for operations and 2 backup/spares $1,280,000
Vehicle Branding: $40,000
Eight tablets: $8,000
Charging Infrastructure: 8 Level 2 charges at Tooele Garage: $18,000
Charging Infrastructure: 2 Level 3 field chargers: $160,000
Design and Install of Charging Infrastructure: $10,000
Workforce Training on Charging Infrastructure: $2,995
Project Evaluation (CTE): 50,000
Project Contingency: $40,000
Total: $1,608,995
Local Match: Vehicles/Tablets/CTE Evaluation 15%
Local Match: Infrastructure/Contingency: 10%
Local Match: Workforce Training: 20%
The match amount totals $230,099; to be provided by UTA ($138,099) and Rocky Mountain Power ($92,000).
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Board Resolution 2021-10-05