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Staff Report PREPARED BY: YING SMITH Transportation and Mobility Manager Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director, and Parks and Public Works Director 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov TOWN OF LOS GATOS COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: 03/06/2018 ITEM NO: 03 DATE: FEBRUARY 21, 2018 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION IN THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR CLEAN AIR PROGRAM TO THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR A SCHOOL RIDE SHARING PILOT SERVICE RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Town Manager to submit a grant application in the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) program to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for a School Ride Sharing Pilot Service. BACKGROUND: The Town of Los Gatos and the school community have been exploring new transit services customized to meet the needs of students traveling to and from schools. The primary areas of interest are corridors with the highest level of traffic congestion with congestion relief being the major measure of success. While this has been presented to the community as a school bussing initiative for purposes of this grant the subject and recommendation language reflect the grant requirements. The Council approved $50,000 in Fiscal Year 2017/18 for a Congestion Relief School Bus Feasibility Study. Town staff and a consulting team kicked off the study in October of last year. The School Bus Feasibility Study team is working towards initiating a pilot bussing program starting in January 2019. PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION IN THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR CLEAN AIR PROGRAM TO THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR A SCHOOL RIDE SHARING PILOT SERVICE FEBRUARY 21, 2018 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\03-06-18\03 TFCA Grant\03 Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/1/2018 12:24 PM YCS BACKGROUND (cont’d): The School Bus Feasibility Study team successfully completed the first parent survey in early February receiving more than 1,300 responses. Among the respondents, approximately 70% indicated that they would be “highly likely” or “likely” to subscribe to a school bus service if provided today. Currently the Study team is working on data analysis and additional outreach with the school community. The Study team plans to conduct a second survey in early March. This second survey will be longer and more in-depth, and target parents who indicated an interest in the service. In December 2017, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) issued a Call-for- Projects for the 2018/19 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) Program Manager funding cycle. The TFCA grant program is funded by a $4 surcharge on motor vehicles registered in the Bay Area. Projects must meet cost effectiveness standards as set forth by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Cost-effectiveness is based on the ratio of TFCA funds divided by the total tons of air pollutants reduced ($/ton). Staff believes that our School Ride Sharing Pilot Service initiative meets the requirements of the TFCA program. DISCUSSION: The results from the initial survey show a strong interest from parents for this type of service. Based on these results and feedback from stakeholders, the Study team is refining the program and will refine the data through a second more detailed survey, with the intent of advancing a pilot program small in scale and utilizing geographic concentrations of interested families. Funding sources for providing the congestion relief school bus service is limited and the TFCA Program Manager grant is one potential source. One of the project categories within the grant is Ridesharing Projects and a School Ride Sharing Pilot Service is eligible in this category. Given the timing of this grant, staff would like to apply for funding now planning on the successful launch of the pilot program. TFCA funds may augment the costs for a pilot service for two of the best performing routes. The grant funding would allow a maximum of two years of service in each cycle. Although the actual pilot service can have more than two routes, this application commits the Town to only the two best routes. The specific routes will be designed after the second survey is completed in March. PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION IN THE TRANSPORTATION FUND FOR CLEAN AIR PROGRAM TO THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR A SCHOOL RIDE SHARING PILOT SERVICE FEBRUARY 21, 2018 S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\03-06-18\03 TFCA Grant\03 Staff Report FINAL.docx 3/1/2018 12:24 PM YCS CONCLUSION: Staff is proposing a TFCA grant application for the Town’s School Ride Sharing Pilot Service. The grant amount will be determined by the final cost effectiveness calculations required by BAAQMD. Applications are due March 9, 2018, with award recommendations anticipated in June. Prior to any reimbursable expenses, the Town will need to execute a funding agreement with VTA. The Council will have the opportunity to review a comprehensive school bussing program before funds are accepted. COORDINATION: The Feasibility Study has been coordinated with the Transportation and Parking Commission and a stakeholder group made up of representatives from the Los Gatos Union School District (LGUSD), Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD), Safe Routes to School (SR2S), Home and School Clubs, and Hillbrook School. FISCAL IMPACT: The operating cost for a two-year pilot service is estimated to be $320,000 to $350,000. The Town’s TFCA grant application would request funding of approximately $100,000. The remaining will be funded with fare revenue, Measure B funds, Town general funds, or other funding sources. When the Santa Clara County 2016 Measure B funds become available, staff will apply in the Innovative Mobility Models and Programs Category to leverage the TFCA grant and fare revenue to further support the pilot service. This TFCA grant is the first step in providing the Town access to a combination of funds available through competitive opportunities. Should other grant opportunities become available, Town staff will pursue those as well. The goal with respect to financing will be to minimize the Town’s General Fund investment. Staff will bring a pilot program and funding model to the Council for consideration once it is developed. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.