Title
Joint resolution authorizing the application to the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for a 2-year grant for the Northwest Demonstration Project Dial-a-Ride in cooperation with the townships of Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa under the Job Access Reverse Commute, JARC, and New Freedom, NF, Program; subject to further County Board approval of the county funds required.
Staff Summary
· Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project: RTA JARC/NF Grant Application
· The 2011 RTA grant cycle is underway.
· The Lake County Inter/Intra County Paratransit Transportation Plan was completed in spring of 2011.
· The 2011 RTA JARC/NF grant application will further the Plan's goals and objectives by continuing the existing Demonstration Project while the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee, LCCTSC, works to implement coordination among the existing services.
· The Northwest Demonstration Project, was created by the LCCTSC with support from the townships of Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa and is operated by PACE.
· The requested RTA grant funds are from the federal New Freedom and JARC Program.
· The county's role will be grant coordinator and funding towards the local match.
· Any grant contract is subject to further board approval regarding allocations of the necessary ¼% sales tax for transportation funds.
Body
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, this Lake County Board, by prior resolution at its meeting of November 14, 2006, and March 15, 2011, adopted a resolutions in support of the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee's, LCCTSS, goal to develop a plan to provide borderless paratransit service in Lake County to meet the needs of those mobility challenged constituent populations in Lake County, which may include the poor, the elderly, those with medical needs and/or the disabled, who have been determined to be eligible by the Regional Transportation Authority, RTA, or a service board of the RTA, utilizing in part existing and future local, state and/or federally funded non-traditional transit service programs; and
WHEREAS, this Lake County Board by prior resolution at its meeting of June 10, 2008, endorsed the revised "Plan for Using the new Collar County Transportation Empowerment Funds", the PLAN, as a planning document; and
WHEREAS, the PLAN, as a planning document, contains allocations of future revenue towards the long-term goal of coordinated countywide paratransit service to meet needs of said mobility challenged constituent populations; and
WHEREAS, Pace, in March of 2008, completed its Lake County Coordinated Paratransit Initiative Study which identified the numerous public and human resource agencies that are currently providing and/or funding some level of transportation services in Lake County; and
WHEREAS, it is apparent from the Pace study that there are many instances where 1) services overlap, 2) client eligibility is not consistent among the providers, 3) there are geographic areas of the County with little or no service, and 4) geo-political boundaries create artificial barriers; and
WHEREAS, this Lake County Board, at its meeting of July 8, 2008, adopted a resolution authorizing the Lake County Division of Transportation, LCDOT, to apply for a RTA Technical Assistance Program Grant, RTAP, for the completion of an Inter/Intra County Paratransit Transportation Plan, in concert with various townships in Lake County; and
WHEREAS, this Lake County Board, at its meeting of July 14, 2009, passed the resolution authorizing the County Engineer to execute the RTAP grant agreement for the Inter/Intra County Paratransit Transportation Plan, which Inter/Intra County Paratransit Transportation Plan was completed in the spring of 2011; and
WHEREAS, Pace, in concert with certain members of the LCCTSC, has developed an expansion of Dial-a-Ride services provided by Pace in Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa Townships, the "Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project"; and
WHEREAS, the LCCTSC has endorsed the said Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project; and
WHEREAS, this Lake County Board, at its meeting of November 10, 2009, passed the resolution authorizing the County Engineer to execute a RTA New Freedom 2-year grant agreement for the Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project; and
WHEREAS, this Lake County Board, at its meeting of November 10, 2009, passed the resolution authorizing the County Engineer to execute two agreements with Pace for contributing to Pace a portion of the local match toward and for operating the services for the Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project; and
WHEREAS, the current Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project has been providing transportation services operated by Pace and gathering ridership data for the northwest area of Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the LCCTSC seeks to continue the Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project service while working to implement coordination among the existing services as highlighted in the Inter/Intra County Paratransit Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the said Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project will continue to provide information for the development and refinement of the goals and objectives from the said Inter/Intra County Paratransit Transportation Plan, in concert with various townships in Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the RTA, has federal grant funding available for planning projects that enhance transit including demonstration projects to address emerging transportation needs; and
WHEREAS, the RTA is authorized to make such grants as the designated recipient of federal Job Access Reverse Commute, JARC, and New Freedom, NF, Program for northeast Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Lake County in cooperation with the LCCTSC, Pace, and the townships of Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa, proposes to be the grant applicant and local match supplier for said Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project to the RTA for 2-year JARC/NF funds; and
WHEREAS, the RTA required authorization language for approval of a grant application and execution of a grant itself is contained in the Governing Board JARC/NF Program Resolution attached hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY this Lake County Board that the County Board Chair, the County Clerk and the County Engineer of Lake County, Illinois, are authorized and hereby directed to apply for a grant from the RTA under its Job Access Reverse Commute and New Freedom Program for northeast Illinois for said Northwest Demonstration Dial-a-Ride Project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governing Board JARC/NF Program Resolution is approved herewith and the County Engineer is authorized to act for the county on the matters as authorized in the Governing Board JARC/NF Program Resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said grant application approved by the RTA be subject to further County Board action for the appropriation of the necessary ¼% Sales Tax for Transportation and Public Safety funds.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on July 12, 2011.
GOVERNING BOARD RESOLUTION
Project Title: Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project - FY 2011 RTA JARC/NF Program
Resolution authorizing applications for and execution of a Job Access Reverse Commute or New Freedom grant agreement under the Regional Transportation Authority's general authority to make such Grants.
Whereas, the Regional Transportation Authority (the "Authority"), is authorized make such grants as the designated recipient of Job Access Reverse Commute and New Freedom programs for northeast Illinois; and
Whereas, the Authority has the power to expend funds for use in connection with Job Access Reverse Commute or New Freedom projects, and
Whereas, the Authority has the power to make and execute all contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers, and
Whereas, approval for said funds will impose certain financial obligations upon the recipient
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE Lake County Division of Transportation:
Section 1. That the Director of Transportation/County Engineer and his/her successor is authorized to execute and file applications on behalf of Lake County Division of Transportation with the Regional Transportation Authority for a Job Access Reverse Commute or New Freedom grant for the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project.
Section 2. That the Director of Transportation/County Engineer and his/her successor is authorized to furnish such additional information, assurances, certifications and amendments as the Regional Transportation Authority may require in connection with this Job Access Reverse Commute or New Freedom grant agreement application.
Section 3. That the Director of Transportation/County Engineer and his/her successor certify that Lake County Division of Transportation will provide the required local match from Collar Counties Transportation Empowerment Funds.
Section 4. That the Director of Transportation/County Engineer and his/her successor is authorized and directed on behalf of the Lake County Division of Transportation to execute and deliver grant agreements and all subsequent amendments thereto between the Lake County Division of Transportation and the Regional Transportation Authority for Job Access Reverse Commute or New Freedom grant, and the Secretary of the Lake County Division of Transportation is authorized and directed on behalf of the Director of Transportation/County Engineer to attest said agreements and all subsequent amendments thereto.
Section 5. That the Director of Transportation/County Engineer and his/her is authorized and directed to take such action as is necessary or appropriate to implement, administer and enforce said agreements and all subsequent amendments thereto on behalf of the Lake County Division of Transportation.
PRESENTED and ADOPTED the ______________ day of ________________, 20_____
Signature of Authorized Official Attest
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