Short Range Transit Plan 2008-2013 - Omnitrans

IBI GROUP
SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN REPORT
OMNITRANS COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
& SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN
Section 5307 funds apportioned to San Bernardino County are estimated to be between $17.8 million and
$20.9 million annually between FY 2008 and FY 2013, with approximately 75% to 79% of the funds going
to Omnitrans. The remaining funds are Fixed Guideway Funds used for Metrolink projects. Fixed
Guideway funds are determined based on revenue miles and directional route miles.
The level of Section 5307 funds available to Omnitrans is estimated to be $13.4 million in FY 2008 and
$14.3 million in FY 2009. In FY 2010 and FY 2011, Section 5307 funds are forecasted to increase to
$14.8 and $15.4 million, respectively. In FY 2012 and FY 2013, Section 5307 funds are forecasted to
increase to $15.9 and $16.5 million.
11.1.4 FTA DISCRETIONARY FUNDS
FTA Section 5309 discretionary funds are limited to capital purchases and fall into three categories: 1)
Bus or Bus facilities; 2) New Starts; and 3) Rail and Fixed Guideway Modernization. Omnitrans is eligible
for Section 5309 funds in the Bus or Bus Facilities category as well as the New Starts category. New
Starts funding is discussed later in this section.
Bus and Bus Facilities funds are distributed directly by FTA to support capital transit needs including
vehicle acquisition, capital equipment and other intermodal transfer facility needs. In the past, Omnitrans
has been successful in securing “earmarks” for Section 5309 funds (e.g., Chino and Yucaipa
Transcenters in FY 2004).
Section 5309 grants provide 80% of the capital funds and require a 20% local match. These funds are
fully discretionary and can be somewhat difficult to acquire. Section 5309 discretionary funds are usually
earmarked and appropriated by Congress. Obtaining a Congressional earmark depends on the “clout” of
the local delegation and the ability of Omnitrans or other local officials to communicate the need for these
funds.
In the past, individual jurisdictions and agencies have sought and secured Section 5309 discretionary
funds. While this approach maximizes the benefits to individual jurisdictions and agencies, such activities
are outside established planning processes. Funds secured on an individual basis detract from the
amount of funds potentially available to overall transit funding priorities in the County.
The Ontario Transcenter has been identified to receive $443,000 of Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities
funds in the Constrained Plan. Other projects, such as replacement paratransit vehicles and the Mid-
Valley Facility, may be assumed to receive Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities funds in the Partially
Constrained and Unconstrained Plans.
Additional discretionary funds would not be programmed outside of the countywide planning process.
This approach will help to ensure that countywide priorities have been agreed upon through the planning
process and that other lower-priority projects do not directly compete for limited discretionary funds. If
other jurisdictions are pursuing Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities funds, these should be identified and
included in countywide funding priorities approved by SANBAG as part of the Short Range Transit Plan
and TIP processes.
In the past, securing Discretionary Funding in this ad hoc manner also has had a significant impact on
Omnitrans’ staffing requirements and potentially on FTA Triennial Review compliance findings. As an
eligible grant recipient, Omnitrans is called upon to apply for, administer and accept Discretionary Grant
funds on behalf of other jurisdictions. This requires the dedication of staff resources charged to the
operating budget. Increasing staff to accommodate this additional work has a negative impact on
Omnitrans’ ability to maintain cost per hour increases to no more than the increase in the Consumer Price
Index (CPI). In addition, all procurements using federal funds must adhere to specific federal
procurement and other compliance requirements. Failure to meet these requirements can result in
findings of non-compliance for Omnitrans. One of the recommendations of the recently-completed TDA
Performance Audit is for Omnitrans to evaluate charging a cost recovery fee for federal grant
administration and monitoring, which should offset the costs of acquiring grant funding.
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