On December 11, 2009 the NOACA Governing Board approved the following regarding this project: Resolution No. 2009-037 Project Planning Review Resolution No. 2009-038 Plan and TIP Amendment Title: Geauga County Transit CY 2010 Capital & Operating Plan Sponsor: Geauga County Transit Estimated Total Cost: $1,904,692 Proposed Source of Federal Funds: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) History/Background: Geauga County Transit’s capital and operating program for fiscal year 2010 is listed in the NOACA SFY 2008 – 2011 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). On May 19, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners, Geauga County passed Resolution 09-085 authorizing submission of the Geauga County Transit’s four-year calendar year (CY) 2010 – 2013 rural transit capital and operating plan. Current Conditions: Geauga County Transit operates a completely coordinated demand response public transit system within the boundaries of Geauga County. Geauga County Transit has a total of 17 vehicles on a yearly basis, which includes 15 vehicles in operation during peak hours and two backup vehicles. Geauga County Transit rotates 3 five-year-old vehicles out per year. The sponsor reports these vehicles, acquired in June 2005, are currently in fair to poor condition, with 150,000 miles and need to be replaced to maintain service at current levels. Proposed Project: Geauga County Transit’s CY 2010 program (chart) includes the purchase three vehicles, replacing those vehicles, which have reached the end of their useful life. These replacement light transit vehicles (LTVs) are diesel LTVs, containing 12 passenger seats and two wheelchair positions and a wheelchair lift. The cost of each replacement vehicle is estimated to be $74,731. The total project cost is $224,192 (i.e., $179,354 – Federal Section 5311 funds; $22,419 – Ohio Public Transportation Grant Program (OPTGP) funds; and $22,419 - local funds). The 2010 program also includes $92,000 for capitalized maintenance, for which Geauga County Transit is requesting $73,600 in Section 5311 funds to supplement $18,400 in local funds. Geauga County Transit’s operating expenditures for CY 2010 total $1,403,106. Geauga County Transit is applying for $731,750 in Federal operating assistance (Section 5311) to supplement $142,465 in OPTGP funding and $528,891 of local funding. Geauga County Transit will continue to operate its coordinated demand response public transit system within Geauga County and offer reduced (50%) fares to qualified individuals through its elderly and disabled (E & D) transit fare assistance program. The estimated cost of this program is $185,394, for which they are requesting $60,394 in state funds for the program to supplement the $125,000 in fare box revenue. Geauga County Transit also obtained $834,078 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for other expenditures (ARRA chart), which include $100,000 for the purchase of interactive voice response, a mechanism that calls clients and reminds them of trips ahead of time, gives them the option to cancel the trip and gives them the option to schedule as well; $250,000 for mobile data terminals (MDTs), computers in the buses with the driver’s routes instead of the paper manifest currently used; $400,000 for the purchase of fare boxes that accept coins, bills, tickets, and tokens given by passengers as payment for trips; and $84,078 for capitalized maintenance. Staff Comment (Summary): Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Team: This project is consistent with NOACA’s Connections 2030 Goals #3 (Preserve and Improve the Efficiency of the Transportation System), #4 (Establish a more Balanced Transportation System which Enhances Modal Choices) and #5 (Improve the Mobility of Transit Dependent and Low-Income Individuals), and ODOT’s Access Ohio 2004 - 2030 Goal #4 (System Preservation). The sponsor’s four-year program is consistent with the NOACA TIP for content. The operating costs and support are more graduated toward future years. The replacement vehicle schedule has been detailed and its costs show a lower and graduated increase in cost and federal, state and local participation. Recommend committee and public review in order to obtain comments. Intergovernmental Review and Consultation (IGRC): If you are a representative of a governmental entity and would like to comment on this project, please email us. Public Involvement: NOACA encourages comments from the public on this proposed transportation improvement project. Please notify us if you would like to be added to our e-mail notification list for future updates. Committee Review: Regional Transportation Investment Subcommittee (RTIS)/Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC): No comments; recommended for amendment to NOACA's Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).