File #: 24-1477    Version: Name:
Type: Informational Report Status: Passed
File created: 10/17/2024 In control: Public Works
On agenda: 12/17/2024 Final action: 12/17/2024
Title: Unmet Transit Needs Assessment for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26
Attachments: 1. Staff Report, 2. FY 25-26 UTN Synopsis.pdf, 3. Transit Needs Assessment Annual Process Public Hearings.msg

 

To:                                                               Board of Supervisors

 

From:                                          Public Works                                          

 

Agenda Section:                     Departmental                     

 

Vote Requirement:                     Majority

 

SUBJECT:

title

Unmet Transit Needs Assessment for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26

end

 

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Recommendation

That the Board of Supervisors:

1.                     Receive the staff report on transit needs in the unincorporated areas of the county; and

2.                     Direct the Clerk of the Board to forward an Action Summary of the meeting to the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) for inclusion in their hearing.

 

Body

STRATEGIC PLAN:

This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.

 

Area of Focus:  Core Services/Other                     

Strategic Plan Category:  1007 - Improve the transportation network to be multi-model, safe, sustainable and equitable

 

DISCUSSION:

The Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) considers all public testimony and input, determines if the suggestions meet the adopted definition of an unmet transit need and applies adopted criteria to determine if the need is “reasonable to meet”. Public comments are accepted throughout the year and close on December 31st.  This will provide Local Transportation Fund (LTF) claimants enough time to evaluate potential unmet needs findings and consider any additional allocations in the new fiscal year’s budget proposal.

 

Opportunities for Public Comment on Unmet Transit Needs:

• Navigate to the project page at <https://www.hcaog.net/programs-projects/public-transportation>

 or find the survey at <https://bit.ly/HumboldtTransitNeeds>

• At one of the advertised public meetings;

• Written comments and/or feedback gathered from staff during direct outreach; or

• Comment submittals by email or telephone: amy.eberwein@hcaog.net/444-8208

 

The HCAOG synopsis provides that unmet transit needs are, at a minimum, trips requested from residents who do not have access to public transportation, specialized transportation, or private transport services or resources for the purpose of traveling to medical care, shopping, social/recreational activities, education/training, and employment, or proposed public transportation, specialized transportation, or private transport services that are identified in the following (but not limited to): a Transportation Development Plan, Regional Transportation Plan, and/or Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan.  The HCAOG Transportation Development Act (TDA) Rules stipulate that, for this process, unmet transit needs do not include: (1) improvements funded or scheduled for implementation in the next fiscal year; (2) minor operational improvements or changes such as bus stops, schedules, and minor route changes; (3) trips for purposes outside of Humboldt County; (4) trips for primary or secondary school transportation; and (5) sidewalk improvements or street and road needs. 

 

The synopsis provides the following criteria on what is reasonable to meet: (1) an unmet need shall not be determined by comparing unmet transit needs with the need for streets and roads, or for the sole reason that there is a lack of available resources to fully meet the identified need;  (2) new, expanded, or revised transit service that has not met performance standards in the first two full years of operation can be subject to termination is determined as being unreasonable to meet; (3) the transit operator (Transportation Development Act - TDA claimant) is expected to provide a new, expanded, or revised transit service indicates that it is operationally feasible; and (4) an unmet transit need may be determined to be unreasonable to meet if time constraints make it infeasible to begin service within the coming fiscal year, or if more information is needed to determine whether the unmet transit need is reasonable to meet. 

 

The HCAOG, as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency, is required to make the finding that there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet prior to approving fund claims for street and road purposes.  This process is required by the TDA-LTF. 

 

SOURCE OF FUNDING: 

N/A

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

LTF is allocated following a priority funding order namely: (1) TDA Administration; (2) Planning & Programming; (3) Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities; (4) Community Transit Service Agency; (5) Public Transit; and (6) Miscellaneous Allocations which include local streets and roads, entities contracted to provide public transportation services, facilities exclusively for bicycles and pedestrians, and multimodal transportation terminal.  There is no impact to the General Fund. 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

 

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:

HCAOG

 

ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Board could choose to comment on unmet transit needs.  This is action is not recommended because an “unmet transit needs” assessment is required and the HCAOG Board makes its findings based on the result of testimony received prior to the allocation of any TDA funds.

 

ATTACHMENTS:

FY25-26 UTN Synopsis

Email from HCAOG

 

PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:

Meeting of: 11/17/2023

File No.: 23-1256