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Remote Rural Mobility Solutions and theCreation of a Rural Transit District
Linda K. Cherrington
Sponsored by
Topics for Discussion
Transit in Texas Rural Transit Services How is Rural Transit
Funded? How is Rural Transit
Organized?
Transit in Texas
Regional Transit Authorities Dallas DART Houston METRO San Antonio VIA Austin Capital Metro Fort Worth The T Corpus Christi RTD
County Transit Authority Denton County
Municipal Transit Depts. El Paso Sun Metro Laredo El Metro
Transit in Texas
Small Urban Transit 30 transit systems
Rural Transit 39 transit providers
Rural Transit in TexasCharacteristics Largest Rural Transit by Land
Area Panhandle Community Services
25,749 sq mi West Texas Opportunities
23,360 sq mi Smallest Rural Transit by
Population South Padre Island
1,425 population Webb County
17,535 population Rural Transit in Areas of Lowest
Population Density Concho Valley
3.69 persons/sq mi
Why Transit in Rural Communities?
Access to Basic Necessities Medical Social Services Essential Shopping
Improve Quality of Life Personal Business Family Recreation
Advance Economic Opportunity Jobs Education
Population Served by Rural Transit
Seniors Persons with disabilities Persons without limited
economic resources Families Persons in remote areas
Rural Transit in West Texas
El Paso County Services in El Paso County
outside El Paso Sun Metro Fixed Route General Population Commute services to
connect with Sun Metro Area 809 square miles Population 31,157 in 2000
Rural Transit in West Texas
Permian Basin Rural Transit District Provider is West Texas
Opportunities, Inc. Services in 17 counties Demand-response General population Sub-regional dispatch
centers Area 23,360 square miles Population 166,056 in 2000
Funding Rural Transit in Texas
Federal Section 5311 Funds for Rural Areas
State of Texas Public Transportation Funds
Local Funds
Federal Funding for Transit 1992-2009
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act
(SAFETEA-LU)
Six-year funding policy 2004-2009 Revisions to Urbanized Area Formula
Funds Revision to Section 5311 Rural Area
(Non-urbanized) Formula Apportion 20% of funds to land
area Increased funding
New Formula Funding Programs for Transit Growing States and High Density
States Program New Freedoms Program Alternative Transportation in Parks
Section 5311 Rural Areas Rural Areas
Under 50,000 Population Formula Funds
Population (80%) Land Area (20%)
Set aside 15% for intercity bus, 2% for Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)
Eligible Uses Capital projects including preventive
maintenance Eligible 80/20 federal/local
match* Operating expenses
Eligible 50/50 federal/local match*
Administrative and planning expenses 80/20 federal/local match*
Local match is any non-federal source of match
Section 5311 Funding Allocation to Rural Areas
Federal Funds to the Governor of each State
Governor of Texas designates TxDOT as responsible state agency
Funding formula established by Texas Transportation Commission
Indirect Sources of Federal Funds Rural Community Advancement
Program Vocational Rehabilitation State
Grants Independent Living Programs Medicaid Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families Community Services Block Grants Developmental Disabilities Grants Welfare to Work Grants Workforce Investment Act
Programs
State of Texas Funding
Public Transportation Fund Health and Human Service
Programs
Public Transportation Fund
State Funds for Public Transportation Small Urban Areas Rural Areas
Subject to Biennium Funding from Texas State Legislature
Allocation Historical Trend Continued Revised by Legislation 2003
Public Transportation in Texas
Significant Legislation House Bill 3588 revamped
Texas Department of Transportation responsibilities
House Bill 2292 revamped organization of health and human services programs
TxDOT has responsibility for all public transportation funding
Administration of programs not consolidated
State Funds for Transit in Texas
Responsibility delegated by the Legislature to Texas Transportation Commission in 2003
Texas Transportation Commission named Public Transportation Committee (PTAC) to advise on funding formula
PTAC recommended goals and objectives for funding transit
Includes Rural Federal and State Funding Allocation
PTAC Goal #1
To improve access to public transportation in Texas in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Support transit to provide basic mobility for dependent populations in all counties using obtainable resources
• Provide incentives for local investment to support public transportation
• Encourage service enhancements to support economic opportunity, job access, cleaner air and congestion mitigation by encouraging transit as a mode of choice
• Improve awareness of the availability of services to increase the utilization of transit.
PTAC Goal #2
To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public transportation services. • Recommend state funding formulae that reward efficiency and effectiveness • Recommend changes to current policies that will result in improved efficiency, effectiveness and utilization • Recommend enhancements to processes used to obtain and verify performance data • Recommend programming of capital investments to support managing assets (vehicles, facilities) for enhanced utilization, safety and reliability
PTAC Goal #3
To improve cooperation and coordination of services. • Recommend state funding formulae that reward coordination of services • Support changes to legislative and administrative codes to resolve barriers or remove constraints to the coordination of services
• Ensure implementation of the recommendations from the Regional Services Planning (RSP) initiative to coordinate public transportation services
State Transit Funding Allocation
State Transit Funds
35%Urban Systems
65%Rural Systems
Needs Performance Needs Performance
75% population
25% land area
100% population
Federal 5311 Funds, too
Funding Formula Performance Indicators
33% local $ / expense
33% rev. mi. / expense
33% riders / rev.
mi.
RuralPerformance
Sources of Local Funding
Transit generated revenues Private sector General revenue Bonds for capital Non-traditional
Impact fees, parking fines Special districts
Economic development sales tax
Federal programs that take on a local veil Community Development Block
Grants
Sources of Local Funding (continued)
Dedicated sales tax Regional Transit Authorities Municipal Transit
Departments County Transportation
Authorities Eligible: Funding through
Regional Mobility Authorities
Organizing for Rural Transit in Texas
Rural Transit Districts Texas Transportation Code
Chapter 458 Political subdivision of the
state that provides and coordinates public transportation
Eligible to receive funds from State via TxDOT
Single County or Multicounty New rural transit district Join an existing
Things to Consider
Goals for Public Transportation in Your Area
Service Plan Provider Local Funding Challenges Opportunities