Item Coversheet

Agenda Item 3.2.2

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TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FOR MONTEREY COUNTY
Memorandum
To: 

Board of Directors

From:

Madilyn Jacobsen, Transportation Planner

Meeting Date:

May 26, 2021

Subject:

State Transit Assistance Certification

RECOMMENDED ACTION:
AUTHORIZE Executive Director to sign 2021-2022 State Transit Assistance Program Eligibility for Transit Operators. 
SUMMARY:

Public Utilities Code requires that each transportation planning agency or county transportation commission report to the State Controller's Office the transit operators within their jurisdictions that are "STA-eligible operators" for purposes of the State Transit Assistance (STA) program. In Monterey County, Monterey-Salinas Transit is the sole public transit operator and the only agency eligible to receive these funds. On an annual basis, TAMC must re-certify that MST is an eligible recipient of STA funds and this action is to complete that recertification. 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:
TAMC allocates all available State Transit Assistance and Local Transportation Fund monies to MST to support public transit service. This action is required for MST to be eligible to receive State Transit Assistance funds. The State Controller's preliminary estimates identify $3,992,555 in State Transit Assistance funds for Fiscal Year 2021-22. 
DISCUSSION:

State Transit Assistance is generated through the statewide sales tax on diesel fuel, and is apportioned by the California State Controller annually for public transit based on two formulas:

  1. Funds are apportioned to the Transportation Agency for allocation to operators based on County population; and
  2. Funds are apportioned directly to transit operators based on the ratio the operator’s fare revenues to the total fare revenues collected statewide.

 

The California Public Utilities Code section 99243(b) requires that each transportation planning agency, county transportation commission and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board report to the California State Controller's Office the transit operators within their jurisdiction that are STA-eligible operators for the purposes of the State Transit Assistance (STA) program. 

 

Transit operators eligible to receive State Transit Assistance funds are defined as an entity that: 

  • Is a public transportation "operator" (PUC section 99210)

  • Operates a "public transportation system" (PUC section 99211); and

  • Is eligible to claim local transportation funds under either Article 4 (PUC section 99260 et

    seq.), Article 8 (PUC section 99400 et seq.), or both articles (PUC section 99312.2[b][2]).

 

The Transportation Agency must annually certify the eligible operators to receive State Transit Assistance funds. In TAMC's jurisdiction, Monterey-Salinas Transit is the sole public transit operator and the only agency eligible to receive these funds.