The Federal Transit Administration's Section 5311 grant provides federal funding for public transportation service in rural areas that don't have U.S. Census designated urban areas with population of 50,000 or more residents. The 5311 grant is intended to provide access to employment, education, healthcare, shopping and recreation for residents in small towns and rural areas. Monterey-Salinas Transit utilizes these funds to operate rural transit in Monterey County, such as Line 23 (Salinas to San Lucas).
The Transportation Agency reviews and adopts a Program of Projects and Certifications and Assurances by resolution to ensure that transit projects meet Federal Transit Administration requirements for this funding program (see attachments and web attachment). Caltrans apportions and distributes these federal funds on a population formula basis, and provides the Transportation Agency with a fund estimate for purposes of preparing the Program of Projects.
This action is necessary to claim federal transit funding apportioned to Monterey County and for Monterey-Salinas Transit to apply for federal operating support for rural transit service in South County.