Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Chris Walton
Department: Transportation
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-404 of the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, authorizing the Director of the Transportation Department to sign and submit an application for federal assistance for Federal Fiscal Year 2021 with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 5307, for American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) Urbanized Area Formula Funds in the amount of $87,555,547; authorizing the Director of the Transportation Department to furnish the FTA with any additional information which may be required; authorizing the County Administrator to accept an award and to sign any and all documentation that may be required in connection with the grant application or award, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney; authorizing the County Administrator to take all administrative and budgetary actions necessary to implement the grant; and providing for an effective date.
ACTION: (T-10:43 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Bogen was out of the room during the vote. Commissioner Ryan was not present.
ACTION: (T-11:13 AM) Through Mayor Geller, Commissioners Bogen and Ryan requested being shown voting in the affirmative.
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2021-405 within the Transportation Department’s Operating Grant fund, to appropriate revenue in the amount of $87,555,547, to provide funding assistance for operations and maintenance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACTION: (T-10:43 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 7-0. Commissioner Bogen was out of the room during the vote. Commissioner Ryan was not present.
ACTION: (T-11:13 AM) Through Mayor Geller, Commissioners Bogen and Ryan requested being shown voting in the affirmative.
VOTE: 9-0.
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Why Action is Necessary
Broward County, FL, as the grant applicant and recipient of federal financial assistance, is required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to take official action to authorize the Director of the Transportation Department and the County Attorney, or designated personnel, to execute and file necessary grant applications and all FTA-required documents for Federal assistance on the FTA’s Internet-based grant system.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the acceptance of $87,555,547 in American Rescue Plan Act grant funds from the Federal Transit Administration and authorizes the County administrator to take administrative and budgetary actions to implement the grant.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE ACTION.
This item supports the Board’s Visions and Values of “Cooperatively delivering an efficient and accessible regional intermodal transportation network” and “Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward’s diverse population and businesses”.
On March 11, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law which included $30.5 billion in Federal funding to support the Nation's public transportation systems as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and support the President’s call to vaccinate the US population. These funds are in addition to the annual appropriations for the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) formula grants which the County receives.
The FTA posted Apportionment Tables for the ARP on its website on March 29, 2021. The ARP funds are distributed by formula to the “Miami Urbanized Area,” (Miami UZA) consisting of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The Miami UZA was apportioned FTA Section 5307 funds in the total amount of $509,043,879.
The letter (Exhibit 2) sent to the FTA Region 4 Administrator signed by the four county transit agencies, PalmTran, Broward County Transit (BCT), Miami-Dade Transit and the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), outlines the total allocation for the Miami UZA and the allocation to each sub-recipient based on FTA's formula. Broward County’s total share of FTA funds is $87,555,547.
ARP directs recipients to prioritize payroll and operational needs (including payroll and expenses of private providers of public transportation). No local match is required. Funds are to be obligated by September 30, 2024 and disbursed by September 30, 2029.
Source of Additional Information
Chris Walton, Director, Transportation Department, (954) 357-8361
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Provides $87,555,547 in FTA 5307 grant funding for transit operations.