Title
Joint resolution authorizing the execution of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between Lake County and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) providing terms and conditions for the receipt of federal “New Freedom” grant funds for the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project and extending the agreement expiration date to December 31, 2012. This project is designated as Section 09-00280-01-ES.
Staff Summary
• RTA: Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project in Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa Townships.
• “New Freedom” grant funds administered by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) are being used to expand paratransit service in Lake County to meet the needs of the mobility challenged constituent population in Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa Townships (known as the “Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project).
• In 2008 the County received $400,000 federal “New Freedom” grant funds with Pace Suburban Bus Division of the RTA to supply 50% of the required local match funds and coordinate operations of the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project.
• The original RTA grant agreement terminates December 31, 2011.
• The resolution authorizes the execution of Amendment No. 1 to the RTA grant agreement extending the “New Freedom” funds through the year 2012, or until the grant funds have been expended.
Body
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, this County Board, at its meeting of November 14, 2006, adopted a resolution in support of the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee, LCCTSC, goal to develop a borderless paratransit system service in Lake County to meet the needs of the mobility challenged constituent population; and
WHEREAS, this County Board, at its meeting of August 12, 2008, authorized the County Board Chair, the County Clerk and the County Engineer to apply for a “New Freedom” Technical Assistance Grant from the Regional Transportation Authority, RTA, to provide for the implementation of a Lake County Northwest Demonstration paratransit program in cooperation with Pace and the Township of Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa; and
WHEREAS, Lake County, by and through its Division of Transportation, on November 13, 2008, was notified by the RTA that it was approved to receive $400,000 of federal “New Freedom” grant funds to provide partial funding over two years of said Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project; and
WHEREAS, this County Board, at its meeting of November 10, 2009, authorized an agreement for the receipt of federal “New Freedom” grant funds for the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project, over two years, administered by the RTA to provide partial funding for the expansion of paratransit service in Lake County during weekdays in Antioch, Avon, Grant and Lake Villa Townships; and
WHEREAS, said “New Freedom” grant fund agreement calls for local funding match of said funds; and
WHEREAS, this County Board at its meeting of November 10, 2009, appropriated $700,000 of the ¼% Sales Tax for Transportation and Public Safety funds for the County’s portion of this project and designated as Section 09-00280-01-ES; and
WHEREAS, this County Board, at its meeting of November 10, 2009, authorized two agreements with Pace, the Subsidy Agreement and the Intergovernmental Agreement, for Pace to operate paratransit services for the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project and to reimburse the County 50% of the grant’s local match; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Engineer has submitted a letter to the RTA on October 26, 2011, to extend the term of the agreement for the receipt of federal “New Freedom” grant funds for the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project to December 31, 2012, or until the “New Freedom” funds are expended; and
WHEREAS, this County Board, at its meeting of December 13, 2011, will consider approval of the execution of two agreements between Lake County and Pace Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) providing terms and conditions, for the year of 2012, by which Pace will continue to coordinate operations of and partially fund the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project; and
WHEREAS, Lake County and the RTA are desirous of continuing the operation by Pace of the Lake County Northwest Demonstration paratransit program funded in part by the said federal “New Freedom” grant funds thru December 31, 2012, or until the “New Freedom” funds are expended, a draft copy of Amendment No. 1 to said agreement is attached hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by this County Board, that the County Engineer and the State’s Attorney of Lake County be authorized and they are directed to execute an Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between Lake County and the Regional Transportation Authority pertaining to the Lake County Northwest Demonstration Project, said Amendment No. 1 extending the agreement’s expiration date to December 31, 2012, or until the “New Freedom” funds are expended.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on December 13, 2011.