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TO: |
Board of Trustees |
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THROUGH: |
Jay Fox, Executive Director |
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FROM: |
Mary DeLoretto, Chief Service Development Officer |
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PRESENTER(S): |
Patti Garver, Manager of Environmental & Grant Services |
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TITLE:
title
R2022-12-03 - Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Federal Transit Administration American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Route Planning Restoration Program Agreement for an Equity Index Study to Restore Routes
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AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Resolution
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 2022-12-03 authorizing execution by the Executive Director or his Designee of the ARPA Route Planning Restoration grant agreement that is being developed in the Federal Transit Administration Awards Management System (TrAMS) for an Equity Index Study to Restore Routes.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Transportation published a notice of funding opportunity for the ARPA Route Planning Restoration Grant Program on September 14, 2021. The ARPA Route Planning Restoration Grant Program provides funding for planning activities that are designed to (i) increase ridership and reduce travel times, while maintaining or expanding the total level of vehicle revenue miles of service provided in the planning period; or (ii) make service adjustments to increase the quality or frequency of service provided to low-income riders and disadvantaged neighborhoods or communities. UTA submitted a grant application on November 15, 2021 for an Equity Index Study to Restore Routes.
DISCUSSION:
The Federal Transit Administration selected UTA to receive an award amount of $300,000 for the Equity Index Study on June 2, 2022. No match is required for this grant.
This study will develop an equity index that will include environmental justice population factors as well as car ownership for use in decision making while establishing a route restoration and improvement plan in which neighborhoods whose equity indices reveal low-income populations, higher than average non-white populations, or any of the decided equity index factors will be prioritized. A robust public outreach strategy will assist in learning more about where relevant populations are traveling.
This study will be used to restore or improve routes that produce more ridership and support households that cannot or choose not to drive and have a need for public transportation connections. In the context of ridership loss due to the pandemic, this study will be used to create a strategy that goes beyond boardings and loads and sheds light on locations of passengers that need and use public transit the most.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this grant is not executed, implementation of the project will be delayed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The award amount will be $300,000. The Federal share of project costs is 100 percent.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Board Resolution 2022-12-03