Title
A Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) to transfer specialized transportation services from the Transit Division of Public Works to PPACG.
Presenter:
Craig Blewitt, Transit Services Division Manager
Erin McCauley, Sr. Compliance Analyst
Body
Summary:
The City of Colorado Springs has been the designated recipient for federal Section 5310 - “Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and People with Disabilities” - funds for the Colorado Springs Urbanized Area since 2013. In order to best serve the transportation needs of the Pikes Peak region, the City and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) have collaborated to designate PPACG as the recipient of Section 5310 funds beginning January 1, 2021. In order to ensure a smooth transition of the program, the City has agreed to provide one year of Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) funds, calculated based on 20% of the estimated Federal Fiscal Year 2021 5310 funding apportionment. The Intergovernmental Agreement may be extended for up to four (4) years, during which the City may also pass along any additional funding received as a result of PPACG’s reporting of specialized transportation trips.
Background:
The City of Colorado Springs has been the designated recipient of federal Section 5310 - Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and People with Disabilities - funds since 2013. In the past, the City used the funds to provide operating and capital money to eligible agencies through both calls for projects and requests for proposals. Local Human Service Providers (HSPs) received money for vehicles and to provide transportation outside the City’s complementary ADA paratransit boundary or trips within the ADA boundary for clients who require a higher level of assistance than the ADA paratransit program can provide.
In order to foster regional cooperation, Transit staff approached the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) in early 2019 to discuss transferring recipient designation to PPACG. PPACG currently houses the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and administers federal funding for seniors related to meals, assistance, and transportation. Transferring 5310 administration to PPACG will allow funding to be leveraged to further assist regional seniors and people with disabilities.
After months of coordination, PPACG submitted its request to the Colorado Governor to become the designated recipient of 5310 funds on August 26, 2020; the request was approved on October 27, 2020.
In order to ensure there is no gap in service to those seniors and people with disabilities currently utilizing the transportation services, the City has agreed to provide Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) funding to PPACG for the first year of 5310 funding. The Intergovernmental Agreement outlines the terms of the arrangement:
• The City shall provide PPACG $124,968 in support of the Specialized Transportation Program for the term of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. This amount is calculated based on 20% of the estimated Federal Fiscal Year 2021 5310 funding apportionment.
PPACG shall not utilize the PPRTA funds to subsidize or fully pay for specialized trips within the Mountain Metropolitan Transit ¾-mile ADA service area unless the trip is booked and carried out with an assistance level greater than door-to-door, defined as providing services beyond the threshold of the doorway at the origin or destination.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) will transfer $124,968 in Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) funds to the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments in 2021 to implement the region’s Specialized Transportation program in conjunction with federal 5310 funding. The IGA may be extended beyond 2021 to support the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities upon mutual agreement of both parties.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
At its regular meeting on November 4, 2020, the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority Citizen Action Committee (PPRTA CAC) reviewed the 2021 budget and recommended approval. The 2021 PPRTA budget was reviewed and approved by the PPRTA Board on November 12, 2020.
The Citizens Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB) recommended approval of the Intergovernmental Agreement at its November 10, 2020 meeting.
Stakeholder Process:
Discussions regarding specialized transportation in the Pikes Peak region and how best to administer the services began in March of 2019. City staff from the Transit Services Division of the Public Works Department met with representatives from PPACG and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to discuss a conceptual plan to designate PPACG as the federal recipient of 5310 funds in order to best serve the region. Around the same time, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) submitted a request to the Governor of Colorado to become its region’s 5310 recipient in place of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), with CDOT’s full support.
In January 2020, preparation to transition designated recipient status progressed and various boards and commissions were briefed on the plans.
Alternatives:
City Council may approve with conditions or deny the Resolution regarding the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motion:
Move to approve the Resolution between the City of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments effective January 1, 2021.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A