FL-2022-037

American Rescue Plan Grant Capital Investments Section 5309 Purpose: The funding requested by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) in this ARP Capital Investments grant supplants the non-CIG matching funds of $3,276,537 in Grant ID# FL-2020-071 PSTA Section 5309 (FY 2019) Small Starts grant funding - Central Avenue BRT. It does not duplicate the federal funding for any activities in Grant ID# FL-2020-071.

Activities to be performed: Specifically, this ARP Capital Investments grant supplants the amount of non-CIG funding for the following activities per the FTA scope activity line item as follows:
13.13.01 Purchase expansion vehicles
14.01.10.02 Guideway at grade semi exclusive (allows cross-traffic)
14.02.20.01 - At-grade station stop shelter mall terminal platform
14.06.60.01 Purchase or lease of real estate
14.08.80.05 Professional liability other non-construction insurance
14.08.80.06 Legal permits review fees by other agencies cities etc.
14.80.08.07 Surveys testing investigation inspection
14.08.80.08 Start up
14.09.90 Contingency

The recipient agrees that it will amend the corresponding CIG trams construction grant to reduce the non-CIG share and FTA scope activity line items as noted above. The recipient agrees that it will amend the TIP/STIP to include the ARP Capital Investments funding obligated in this grant.

Expected outcomes: Funding will permit PSTA to implement the PSTA SunRunner BRT project.

Intended beneficiaries: Populace of PSTA service area and local area commuters.

Subrecipients: None

CIG application information FL-2020-071

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is hereby submitting this application to request FFY 2019 federal Section 5309 Small Start discretionary funds in the amount of $21,836,000 in support of the Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project (hereafter project).

Project description: The project is a 10.3-mile BRT line from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach via the Central Avenue corridor. It includes 16 stations, nine vehicles, and transit signal priority at approximately 53 intersections. The service is anticipated to operate in mixed traffic except for a six-mile segment which will serve as semi-exclusive business access transit (BAT) lanes. The service is planned to operate every 15 minutes during daytime hours on weekdays, every 30 minutes on weekday evenings, and every 15 to 30 minutes on weekends. Daily hours of operation are to be from 6:00 AM to 12:00 AM on weekdays and weekends. The revenue service date is February 18, 2023. The total project cost is $43,930,680. Funding sources for the overall project include:

Federal sources: $21,836,000 - Section 5309 Small Starts funds
State sources: $9,500,000 - FDOT state new starts funds, $1,000,000 - FDOT design grant
Local sources: $7,594,680 Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (ad valorem: local property tax funded capital reserve), $4,000,000 City of St. Petersburg (tax increment financing proceeds)

PSTA will ensure that all vehicles purchased are accessible and will check the current listing of transit vehicle manufacturers (TVM) to ensure each is listed as a certified TVM in compliance with FTA regulations.

PSTA acknowledges understanding and acceptance of condition of award.

PSTA will follow all 3rd party procurement policies as defined in C4220.1F (Third Party Contracting Guidance).

PSTA will ensure contractors procured will not be on the FTA suspension and debarment list.

PSTA's DBE program was approved by FTA on March 15, 2013, and the approval letter is attached to the grant application. PSTA's updated DBE program has been submitted to FTA, and a concurrence letter was received on 1/11/18.

Talking points overview: The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation, City of St. Petersburg, and other stakeholders, plans to construct a bus rapid transit line from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach via the Central Avenue corridor. The proposed project includes six miles of exclusive bus lanes, transit signal priority, and the purchase of nine branded buses. The service is planned to operate every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening.

Talking points: The total cost for the Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit project is $43.9 million. This project is proposed to be funded under the FFY 2019 - Section 5309 Capital Improvement Grant Program. Total funding requested through this discretionary program is $21,836,000 from FTA for eligible expenses for the Central Avenue BRT project. Local funding is expected through a combination of funding from Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) design and new starts transit program, City of St. Petersburg, and PSTA's capital reserve funds. Through its support of transit projects across the state, FDOT has programmed $1 million to support ongoing engineering tasks related to the refinement of the Central Avenue BRT project. This funding comprises 2.3% of the total project cost. In support of major capital investment transit projects applying for the FTA CIG program, FDOT has pledged to provide up to 50% of the non-federal share of eligible capital cost project activities to the Central Avenue BRT project through its new starts transit program. FDOT has allocated $9.5 million in the adopted FDOT SFY20 budget for a 21.6% contribution to the total capital cost of the project. The City of St. Petersburg administration and City Council are highly supportive of public transportation and recognize the impact it has on the vitality of the community. As such, the city has been a primary partner in the project development and success through its contribution of dedicated right-of-way through the proposed conversion of general use lanes to BAT lanes for use by the BRT operations. Additionally, the city has committed a local funding contribution of $4 million (9.1% of project) through tax increment financing (TIF) funds related to the Intown Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) in downtown St. Petersburg, as well as the city's District 11A multimodal impact fee area. Both of these funding sources exist and are already collected. In 2017, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the project and requesting the administration identify the specific sources to be included in the FY19 budget, and in June 2019, the City Council approved an interlocal agreement for Central Avenue Bus Rapid Transit funding.

PSTA was created by a special act of the Florida State Legislature, which permits the authority to levy a property tax not to exceed 0.75 mill. While the majority of the funding is used for operations, PSTA has a long history of saving budget surpluses for matching opportunities for state grants and large capital expenditures such as new facilities. PSTA has accumulated a capital reserve of $24.4 million as of the end of FY19. Of this capital reserve, $7.59 million has been specifically designated and programmed for the design, construction, and general advancement of the Central Avenue BRT as evidenced by the adopted 5-year capital budget (FY20-24).

Place of performance: PSTA plans to construct the project within the cities of St. Petersburg, South Pasadena, and St. Pete Beach via the Central Avenue corridor.

Congressional interest expressed by:
- Gus M. Bilirakis, Representative District 12
- Kathy Castor, House Representative 14
- Charlie Crist, House Representative 13
- Marco Rubio, US Senator
- Rick Scott, US Senator

After a discussion with FDOT District Seven, it was determined that a STIP amendment would not be needed for the ARP CIG funds because it does not meet the threshold requirement.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

20.500 - Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants

FTA Region 4 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Florida United States

State-Wide

None

COVID-19 $3,276,537 (100%) percent of this Project Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.