Agenda Item # 7
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Date: |
March 28, 2003 |
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Committee Meeting Date: |
April 17, 2003 |
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Board Meeting Date: |
May 1, 2003 |
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ACTION
X
DISCUSSION
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| INFO
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BOARD MEMORANDUM
| TO: |
Administration and Finance Committee |
| | Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority |
| | Board of Directors |
| | | | THROUGH: | Peter M. Cipolla |
| | General Manager |
| | | | FROM: | Scott Buhrer |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
| | |
| SUBJECT: |
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's FY 2003-2004 Transportation Development Act and State Transit Assistance Allocation Claim |
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the filing of an annual claim to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for allocation of FY 2003-2004 Transportation Development Act (TDA) and State Transit Assistance (STA) funds.
BACKGROUND:
TDA funds originate from a statewide 1/4-cent sales tax that is returned to a Local Transportation Fund (LTF) in the county of origin specifically for transit purposes. Since FY 1992-93, VTA has claimed all available TDA funds to offset annual operating expenses. This includes funds apportioned according to TDA Article 4.5 (paratransit) as well as Article 4.0 (public transit) funds.
STA funds are also derived from the State sales tax. STA funds are distributed statewide to regional transportation planning agencies (e.g., MTC), under Article 6.5 partly on the basis of population (Sect. 99313) and partly on the basis of local revenues (Sect. 99314) used to support regional paratransit and transit operations, respectively. MTC apportions a relatively small amount of STA funds to VTA for paratransit purposes, and a larger amount for general transit operating or capital purposes. VTA's combined TDA/STA Claim to MTC is made with the understanding that budgeted funding for the ADA paratransit program will be at least as large as the combined total of TDA Article 4.5 and STA paratransit funds (i.e., $4,097,374). The preliminary FY 2004 Recommended Budget will include approximately $31.8 million for ADA Services.
This year, for the first time ever, VTA will claim STA funds on behalf of ACE. ACE became eligible to receive STA funds beginning in FY 2002-2003 as a result of the passage of AB 1951 (Chapter 632, Statues of 2000). The bill, authored by Assembly Member Longville, provided that the STA funds for ACE would be allocated to the member agencies of ACE to help meet their obligations for ACE operating costs. Prior to the passage of AB 1951, ACE could not receive STA funds. Each member agency will now be claiming a pro-rated share of the STA funding earned as a result of operating ACE. MTC estimates that a total of $139,216 will be available to VTA to claim this year ($69,608 from FY 2002-03 and $69,608 from FY 2003-04) as a result of the passage of AB 1951.
DISCUSSION:
VTA is required to file a claim with MTC in order to receive its annual allocations of TDA and STA funding. This year's TDA/STA estimates are:
Source
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Amount
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TDA Article 4.0 (General Operations)
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$64,030,101
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TDA Article 4.5 (Paratransit)
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3,370,005
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Total TDA
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67,400,106
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STA Operations
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3,547,096
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STA Paratransit
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727,369
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STA Operations (ACE)
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139,216
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Total STA
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4,413,681
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GRAND TOTAL TDA/STA
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$71,813,787
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The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is expected to approve the allocation of TDA and STA operating funds at their meeting on June 25, 2003.
ALTERNATIVES:
There is no alternative to this recommendation if VTA intends to claim the combined TDA and STA revenues.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Once the claim is approved by MTC, the combined TDA/STA funds will provide an estimated $71,813,787 in VTAs FY 2004 operating budget. Of this figure, $67,400,106 is TDA and $4,413,681 is STA. All of these funds will be used to support VTA's operations, including those associated with paratransit service. These revenues will be included in the proposed FY 2004 Budget.
Document B
Resolution No.__________
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A CLAIM WITH THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR ALLOCATION OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT AND STATE TRANSIT ASSISTANCE FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004
WHEREAS, a Local Transportation Fund (LTF) has been established by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara pursuant to Article 11, Chapter 2, Division 3 of Title 3 of the Government Code, commencing with Section 29530, for the purpose of collecting local sales tax for transit purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Development Act (TDA), Chapter 4 of Part 11, Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code commencing with Section 99200 provides for the disbursement of funds from the Local Transportation Fund (LTF) of the County of Santa Clara for use by operators and eligible claimants for the support of public transit systems, and community transit (paratransit) services; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the TDA, and pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations thereunder (21 Cal. Code of Regs. Section 6600 et. seq.), a prospective applicant wishing to receive an allocation from the LTF shall file its claim with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); and
WHEREAS, the State Transit Assistance (STA) fund is created pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 99313.6; and
WHEREAS, STA Fund monies are available for allocation to eligible applicants for public transportation purposes and community transit services; and
WHEREAS, allocations from the Local Transportation Fund of Santa Clara County and the State Transit Assistance Fund will be required by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in Fiscal Year 2003-2004 for the support of public transportation systems; and
WHEREAS, VTA will file a combined claim for TDA Article 4.0 (transit operations) and Article 4.5 (paratransit) funds, and commits to spend an amount at least equal to the total available for paratransit purposes through Public Utilities Code Section 99313, 99313.6 and 99314 to fulfill its commitments towards the implementation of its obligations under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA); and
WHEREAS, VTA is an eligible claimant for TDA and STA funds for the purposes set forth in Public Utilities Code Sections 99260(a) and 99275(a) as attested to by the Opinion of Counsel dated March 23, 2003.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, that the General Manager is authorized to execute and file the appropriate TDA LTF and STA claim with all necessary supporting documents, with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for an allocation of TDA LTF and STA funds in Fiscal Year 2003-2004; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the VTA General Manager is designated to furnish such additional information as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission may require in connection with the claim; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in conjunction with the filing of the claim; and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission hereby is requested to grant the allocations of funds as specified herein.
Passed and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on ________________________ by the following Vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
____________________________________
Jane Kennedy, Chairperson
Board of Directors
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Sandra Weymouth, Secretary
Board of Directors
APPROVED as to Form
_________________________
General Counsel
| Prepared by: | Maria Marinos, Senior Transportation Planner |
| Reviewed by: | James R. Lightbody, Deputy Director, Transit Planning and Development |
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