To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure - Transit Division
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
FY 2023-24 Low Carbon Transit Operations Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution agreeing to comply with all conditions and requirements set forth in the Certification and Assurances document and applicable statutes, regulations and guidelines for the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program and authorizing application for FY 2023-24 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program funding in the amount of $763,304 for the purchase of one 40-foot battery-electric bus.
B) Authorize the Director of Public Infrastructure to execute all required actions and documents, including any amendments thereto, with Caltrans as required for FY 2023-24 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program funding.
C) Authorize the Chair to execute the Authorized Agent Form required under the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.
end
Executive Summary:
The Public Infrastructure Department is requesting that the Board authorize the County to obtain FY 2023-24 funding from the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to purchase one 40-foot battery-electric bus for Sonoma County Transit’s fixed-route bus fleet. The purchase of an additional zero-emission electric vehicle for the fixed-route bus fleet will reduce air pollution and help attain the County’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Discussion:
The Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) is a State Cap and Trade funding program established by the State Legislature in 2014 and managed by Caltrans. The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility. LCTOP funding is allocated annually by Caltrans to transit operators based on a formula distribution, based on population and fare-box revenue. Before the State can authorize disbursement of LCTOP funding, Board approval of the requested actions is required.
If approved by the Board, Sonoma County Transit will be allocated $763,304 from the FY 2023-24 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program budget. In addition to LCTOP funding, the Transit Division will also utilize $588,196 of State Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding to replace one compressed natural gas-fueled bus in their fleet with one 40-foot zero-emission electric-powered bus. Both revenue and expenditures for this purchase are included in the FY 2024-25 Transit Division budget. There currently is a procurement in process for this purchase and anticipate taking a multi-bus purchase agreement to the board this fall.
Sonoma County Transit currently has a fleet of nine 30-foot and 35-foot electric-powered buses that were purchased with previous LCTOP funding and are deployed on various local routes. While the 30-foot and 35-foot electric-powered buses are utilized primarily on local routes, the 40-foot electric bus to be purchased with FY 2023-24 LCTOP funding will have an extended driving range that will enable it to operate on Sonoma County Transit’s longer intercity routes.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 2: Invest in the community to enhance resiliency and become carbon neutral by 2030
Objective: Objective 1: Where feasible, phase out County (owned or leased) gasoline powered light-duty cars, vans, and pickups to achieve a 30% zero-emission vehicle light-duty fleet by 2026.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
4/14/15: Board approved a resolution authorizing the execution of required documents and to comply with all necessary regulations to receive FY 2014-15 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program funding. Resolution No. 15-0137.
3/1/16: Board approved resolutions authorizing the execution of required documents and to comply with all necessary regulations to receive FY 2015-16 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program funding. Resolutions No. 16-0057 and 16-0058.
4/25/17: Board approved resolutions authorizing the execution of required documents and to comply with all necessary regulations to receive FY 2016-17 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program funding. Resolutions No. 17-0170 and 17-0171.
4/17/18: Board approved resolution authorizing the execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Form and authorizing all actions required for the FY 2017-18 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program. Resolution No. 18-0136.
4/30/19: Board approved resolution authorizing the execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Form and authorizing all actions required for the FY 2018-19 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program. Resolution No. 19-0175.
4/14/20: Board approved resolution authorizing the execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Form and authorizing all actions required for the FY 2019-20 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program. Resolution No. 20-0129.
5/11/21: Board approved resolution authorizing the execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Form and authorizing all actions required for the FY 2020-21 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program. Resolution No. 21-0199.
4/5/22: Board approved resolution authorizing the execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Form and authorizing all actions required for the FY 2021-22 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program. Resolution No. 22-0136.
7/11/23: Board approved resolution authorizing the execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Form and authorizing all actions required for the FY 2022-23 Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program. Resolution No. 23-0336.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$1,351,500 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$1,351,500 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal (LCTOP/TDA) |
|
$1,351,500 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$1,351,500 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Revenue and expenditures for the vehicle purchase discussed in this Board item are included in the FY 2024-25 Transit Article 4 Capital Budget (41401-34040102) Recommended budget. The funding sources consist of $763,304 from LCTOP and $588,196 from TDA.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
LCTOP Allocation Request
Authorized Agent Form, Certifications and Assurances Form
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.