The Transportation Agency annually conducts outreach to identify unmet transit needs. This unmet needs process is associated with the Local Transportation Fund, which is one of two designated funding sources for public transit created by the California Transportation Development Act. Local Transportation Funds are generated through a quarter percent of the retail sales tax, which are returned to the county by the California State Board of Equalization and apportioned by the Transportation Agency to county jurisdictions through a population-based formula for public transit.
The formation of the Monterey-Salinas Transit District and past unmet transit needs findings dictate how the Agency allocates Local Transportation Funds. As MST members, every city in the county allocates its annual fund apportionment to the MST District for public transit services. The County of Monterey is obligated to allocate approximately 50% of its funds off the top to the MST District for public transit and RIDES services within 3/4 mile of the existing MST routs, which represents the County population inside the 3/4 mile zone specified by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Agency’s 2010 finding on unmet transit needs allows MST to claim the remaining County portion to support existing transit operations countywide.
Prior to allocating Local Transportation Funds, the Agency is required to provide for a public hearing and outreach to identify unmet transit needs. TDA statutes require transportation planning agencies using TDA funds for local streets and roads projects, to implement a public process, including a public hearing, to identify unmet transit needs of transit dependent or disadvantaged persons, and determine if unmet transit needs can be reasonably met. Because the Agency no longer allocates Local Transportation Funds to local streets and roads, the Agency is no longer required to adopt a finding on unmet transit needs. However, the Agency still continues to solicit public input on unmet transit needs and places comments into the following categories:
- Transit service improvement requests that would improve an existing service.
- Transit service expansion requests that extend a transit route beyond its current limits and fill a gap in service.
- Capital improvement projects that would enhance existing public transit facilities.
All comments are reviewed with MST staff to consider options to implement requests and to evaluate comments based on the time frame in which unmet transit needs can be met (attachment). The unmet transit needs comments list serves as a public input tool for MST's short and long term transit planning and improvements.
Staff is requesting that the Board conduct a public hearing to accept public comments on unmet transit needs. In addition to public testimony provided at the hearing, the Agency accepts comments throughout the year in writing, by email, through a questionnaire posted on the Agency website and through the MST Mobility Advisory Committee. The Agency has designated that committee as the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council for Monterey County to advise the Agency on unmet transit needs pursuant to the Transportation Development Act.
The Agency's deadline for accepting public comments and questionnaires on unmet transit needs for consideration as part of the Agency's annual unmet transit needs process is April 30, 2017.
Staff will present the final list of comments to the TAMC Board, prior to allocating Local Transportation Funds in June. Given that funding has not been made available to fund unmet transit needs for several years, staff will also be working with the Mobility Advisory Committee to prioritize unmet needs identified through this process.