Title
Request Retroactive Authorization to Submit Annual Federal Transit Administration Grant Application and Enter into Grant Agreement on Behalf of City of Mesa (Ordinance S-47897)
Description
Request to retroactively authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to submit an application to the Federal Transit Administration for grant assistance from the Fiscal Year 2021 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning on behalf of the City of Mesa. Further request to authorize the execution of an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration for the purpose of accepting the grant if awarded, and to enter into an agreement with Mesa for receiving its pass-through share of the awarded grant. Additionally request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item in accordance with the terms of the aforementioned grant and agreements. The total of all grant funds in the application is $920,000.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix is the designated recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funds for the Phoenix-Mesa Urbanized Area. As such, Phoenix submits FTA grant applications on behalf of all local governments and agencies in the region.
Mesa seeks authorization concerning its application for the FTA's FY 2021 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning to receive grant funding for planning and study of a potential five-mile streetcar route in west Mesa, which will connect four major activity centers within that city and potentially link to the route for Tempe Streetcar in 2030.
FTA announced this grant funding opportunity on April 21, 2021, and Phoenix was notified by Mesa in late May. Due to the short deadline of June 21, 2021 for grant applications, the Public Transit Department is requesting retroactive authorization for Mesa's application. That application was submitted on behalf of Mesa on June 17, 2021 and can be withdrawn if not approved by Council.
Financial Impact
The project will be utilizing pass-through funding from the FTA and local funding provided by Mesa. No Phoenix funds are included in the application.
Location
City of Mesa
Council District: Out of City
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.