REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL July 26, 2018 FROM: JIM SCHAAD, Director Department of Transportation BY: DARLENE CHRISTIANSEN, Senior Management Analyst Department of Transportation SUBJECT ..Title ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing submission of funding requests to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program for the second year of Increased Frequency Weekend Bus Service and Extended Night Service, execution of grant award documents if awarded, and execution of related Certifications & Assurances and Authorized Agent Forms. (Subject to Mayoral Veto) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends Council approve a resolution authorizing the Director of Transportation or designee to submit a 2017-18 Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funding requests to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to fund the second year of service for FAX's Increased Frequency Weekend Service and Extended Night Service; execute and file all necessary funding documents on behalf of the City; and execute the required Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Forms. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2015, Council approved a continuing authorizing resolution to enable the Department to apply for and receive LCTOP funding each year. Caltrans is now requesting that the Department provide a new resolution each year that specifies the projects to be funded with that year's funding allocation. The attached resolution, therefore, includes both the authorization to execute funding agreements and specifies the projects to be funded. In previous years of this program, FAX utilized LCTOP funding for Tripper service and for the first year of service for the Increased Frequency Weekend Service and for the Extended Night Service. For the FY 2018 allocation FAX proposes to utilize LCTOP to fund the second year of service for both the Weekend and Night services. BACKGROUND Senate Bill 862 (2014) included the LCTOP to fund transit-specific projects in California to serve disadvantaged communities (DACs) and improve air quality. The legislation named Caltrans as the administrative agency for LCTOP and defined project sponsors (eligible recipients) that may receive the funding, which includes the City of Fresno Department of Transportation/FAX. The statutes related to state-funded transit projects require an implementing agency to abide by various regulations and Caltrans has developed guidelines for the purpose of administering and distributing LCTOP funds to local agencies. The program requires recipient agencies to provide a resolution from their governing body each year to approve the projects to be funded and in 2015 Council provided this approval through a continuing authorizing resolution. LCTOP funding FAX received in prior cycles is currently funding the first year of service for both the Increased Frequency Weekend Service and the Extended Night Service. This resolution is to approve applications/funding for the second year of both services. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This authorization to submit grant applications is not a "project" for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this request. LCTOP grant projects are expected to be funded 100 percent through LCTOP revenues. Attachments: Resolution Certifications and Assurances