HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 93-017 )3
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BEAUMONT:
THAT the 1993 Annual Update for a Plan Implementing the Complementary Paratransit
Requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, attached hereto as Exhibit
"A," be and it is hereby approved.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the /
day of ` , 1993.
Y
- Mayor -
Pro Tem
CITY OF BEAUMONT
BEAUMONT MUNICIPAL TRANSIT SYSTEM
SPECIAL TRANSIT SERVICES PROGRAM
ANNUAL UPDATE FOR A PLAN IMPLEMENTING THE COMPLEMENTARY
PARATRANSIT REQUIREMENTS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
ACT OF 1990
JANUARY 1993
I - IDENTIFICATION OF SUBMITTING ENTITY
The Beaumont Municipal Transit (BMT) System is publicly owned by
the City of Beaumont, Texas. It is operated under a management
agreement with CCL Management, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida. This
annual update to the plan is being submitted by the City of
Beaumont. The following individuals are authorized to act on behalf
of the submitting entity:
City of Beaumont
Department of Public Works
ATTN: Mr. Tom Warner, Director
P.O. Box 3827
. Beaumont, Texas 77704
Office Telephone (409) 880-3725
FAX Telephone (409) 880-3712
Beaumont Municipal Transit System
ATTN: William J. Munson, General Manager
550 Milam
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Office Telephone (409) 835-7895
FAX Telephone (409) 832-3609
II - PROGRESS REPORT ON MILESTONES
January 26, 1992 :
o Implement ADA eleigibility determination process using new
application form, ID card, and advanced reservation application
form for new applicants.
Completed.
o Begin six month data collection period to determine demand.
This data collection period was started but was discontinued
after 30 day review letter from PTA questioned feasibility of study
and required a "best guess" estimate of demand.
o Implement reciprocal and presumptive eleigibility
guidelines.
Completed.
o Implement required guest policy.
Completed.
o Begin recertification process for current clients using new
eligibility standards and new documentation.
This process was started and is still currently in progress as
recertifications become due.
.o Implement new appeals process.
Completed.
o Implement personal care attendant policy.
Completed.
o Implement new denial of service/temporary suspension policy.
Completed.
o Begin making STS documentation available in acessible
formats as sson as possible.
Completed.
March 1992 :
o Purchase telephone answering machine.
Completed and in service.
o Begin experimentation with answering machine, answering
service, or other methods of scheduling on days the office is
closed.
Completed and determined that answering machine was sufficient
to handle scheduling.
o Install separate telephone line for TDD device.
Completed.
o Publish and distribute TDD number.
Completed.
o Investigate purchasing computer scheduling software.
This process is underway and information, sample discs, and
pricing information has been obtained from various vendors.
However, the cost of this type of software is expensive and will
probably have to be purchased under a capital assistance grant. All
capital assistance projects applied for in FY 1993 were denied due
to a shortage of Section 9 funds in Texas. This situation will be
further explained under the FY 1993 grant approval milestone:
o Begin analysis of fixed route service to include improving
acessibility of vehicles and bus stops locations.
Completed.
April 1992:
o Conduct survey of disabled community and organizations which
serve the disabled in order to help estimate demand.
Eliminated after FTA 30 day review letter required "best
guess" estimate of demand without conducting a data collection
period.
o Have all STS documentation in acessible formats.
Completed.
June 1992 :
o Present recommendation to City Council to purchase an
additional three paratransit vehicles and hire another four
operators for the STS Program. Service would be increased from
three vehicles operating a total of 28 hours on weekdays and two
vehicles operating a total of 16 hours on Saturdays, to five
vehicles operating a total of 56 hours on weekdays and three
vehicles operating a total of 28 hours on Saturdays. This would
about double current operating capacity.
Completed.
o Prepare FTA Capital and Operating Assistance Grant for the
purchase of three paratransit vehicles and operating monies for FY
1993 . Present to City Council and submit to FTA.
This was completed one month later in July 1992.
July 1992•
o Analyze data collected during previous six month period.
Eliminated after PTA 30 day review letter.
o Prepare report to City Council on results of six month study
period and make recommendations for compliance with capacity
constraints.
Study period eliminated as result of FTA 30 day review letter
but recommendation to purchase additional vehicles and hire
additional operators in order to reduce capacity constraints made
to City Council earlier in June 1992 above as a result of "best
guess" estimate of demand.
o Consult with public, TAC, Mayor's Committee, MPO, and other
agencies on results of study period.
Eliminated by PTA 30 day review letter.
o Analyze results of experimentation with various methods used
to schedule on days the office is closed and make recommendations
on which method to implement.
Completed.
o Submission of FY 1993 budget with service improvements as
approved by City Council.
Completed.
August 1992•
o Begin scheduling using 3/4 mile corridor for defining
service area.
Eliminated as City Council decided to continue using the City
Limits of Beaumont to define service area for STS Program.
o Notify all current of new service area and cessation
of service to those not eligible.
Eliminated since service area did not decrease as noted above.
September 1992•
o FTA approves grant for FY 1993 .
The City of Beaumont's request for an PTA Capital and
Operating Assistance Grant for FY 1993 was finally approved on
December 30,1992. However, all four capital projects, including the
purchase of three additional paratransit vehicles, were denied. The
State of Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) would not
concur with the requested amount of the grant due to a shortage of
Section 9 funds. TXDOT has transferred over $30,000,000 from the
Section 9 account to newly created or existing Section 18 programs
during the past five years. This procedure has finally exhausted
all surplus Section 9 funds for the State of Texas, resulting in
not only Beaumont, but three other Section 9 recipients from not
being fully funded in their FY 1993 grant requests.
The sudden and unexpected rejection by TXDOT of Beaumont's
grant request has required the exploration of alternative funding
measures in order to purchase additional paratransit vehicles. This
process is currently underway.
o Paratransit vehicle specifications prepared and requests for
bids sent out.
Obviously, this will not occur until funding for the
additional paratransit vehicles is secured.
December 1992:
o Contract awarded for three paratransit vans.
Again, this will be postponed until funding can be secured.
o Prepare annual plan update, conduct public hearing, and
continue ongoing public participation process.
Completed in January 1993.
The list of milestones included with the response to the FTA 30 day
review letter on the original plan projected that Beaumont
Municipal Transit would be in compliance with ADA by May 1993 . This
was based on the assumption that the City of Beaumont's FY 1993 FTA
Section 9 grant request would be fully funded. Since it was not,
alternative funding options are currently being pursued. It has
only been a few weeks since Beaumont was informed that the amount
of the grant request was cut. This has not provided enough time for
the City to secure an alternate funding plan. With already over
three months of FY 1993 expired, and the budget in place for the
remainder of the year, it is highly doubtful that the additional
paratransit vehicles will be purchased in this fiscal year.
Beaumont"s intention is to agressively pursue other avenues of
funding the paratransit vehicle purchase. This includes the
possibility of utilizing Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality
(CMAQ) or Section 3 funds. It will take time to explore these other
funding possibilities. Therefore, a tentative table of milestones
for 1993 is outlined below:
January 1993•
o Begin exploring alternative funding sources other than
Section 9 for capital assistance in the purchase of three
additional paratransit vehicles for BMT.
o Submit ADA paratransit plan update to FTA.
May 1993:
o Make recommendations to City Council on FY 1994 budget and
how to fund purchase of paratransit vehicles.
June 1993:
o Submit FY 1994 FTA Section 9 grant request.
o Assuming no ' Section 9 funds are available for capital
projects again in FY 1994, and an alternative funding source for
purchase of the paratransit vehicles has been found by this date,
submit an application for the alternative funding for FY 1994.
October 1993:
• Section 9 grant request approved.
• Alternative funding source for paratransit vehicle purchase
approved.
o Prepare paratransit vehicle specifications and requests for
bids are sent out.
December 1993:
o Contract awarded for paratransit vehicles.
March 1994:
o Take delivery of three new paratransit vehicles.
o Hire and train an additional four vehicle operators.
April 1994:
o Implement expanded STS service by placing additional
paratransit vehicles into service.
NOTE: COMPLIANCE WITH ADA SHOULD BE COMPLETED AT THIS TIME BASED ON
DEMAND ESTIMATE OF TWO TIMES CURRENT LEVEL.
III - DEMAND ESTIMATE FORECAST
The following provides a five year paratransit demand and vehicle
estimate:
1992 (Actual) 1993
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips]Year 15,827 16,250
Number of Total Paratransit Trips/Year 16,019 16,500
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips Denied 1,640 1,800
(because of capacity constraints or
other reasons)
Number of Paratransit Vehicles -- Vans 4 4
--. Buses 0 0
1994* 1995
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips/Year 16,750 17,600
Number of Total Paratransit Trips/Year 17,000 17,850
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips Denied 900 0
(because of capacity constraints or
other reasons)
Number of Paratransit Vehicles -- Vans 7 7
-- Buses 0 0
1996 1997
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips/Year 18;500 19,400
Number of Total Paratransit Trips/Year 18,750 19,700
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips Denied 0 0
(because of capacity constraints .or
other reasons)
Number of Paratransit Vehicles -- Vans 7 7
-- Buses 0 0
Five Year Total
(1992 to 1997)
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips 104,327
Number of Total Paratransit Trips 105,819
Number of ADA Paratransit Trips Denied 4,340
(because of capacity constraints or
other reasons)
*Note: Revised milestones project that Beaumont Municipal Transit
will eliminate current capacity constraints in April 1994
and therefore be in compliance with ADA at that time.
IV - BUDGET
The following provides estimated ADA paratransit and total system
operating and capital expenses for the next five years:
ADA PARATRANSIT BUDGET ESTIMATES
Actual 1993 1994
1992
ADA PARATRANSIT EXPENSES
1. Capital -0- -0- $200,000
2. Operating $204,251 $322,242 $442,693
3 . Subtotal (lines 1+2) $204,251 $322,242 $642,693
TOTAL PARATRANST EXPENSES
(ADA and Non-ADA combined)
4 . Capital -0- -0- $200,000
5. Operating $206,729 $327,200 $449,300
6. Subtotal (lines 4+5) $206,729 $327,200 $649,300
1995 1996 1997
ADA PARATRANSIT EXPENSES
1. Capital $300,000 -0- -0-
2 . Operating $465,192 $488,795 $5120278
3 . Subtotal (lines 1+2) $765,192 $488,795 $512,278
TOTAL PARATRANST EXPENSES
(ADA and Non-ADA combined)
4 . Capital $300,000 -0- -0-
5. Operating $471,800 $495,400 $520,200
6. Subtotal (lines 4+5) $771,800 $495,400 $520,200
Five Year Total
11992 to 1997)
ADA PARATRANSIT EXPENSES
1. Capital $500,000
2. Operating $2,435,451
3 . Subtotal (lines 1+2) $2,935,451
TOTAL PARATRANSIT EXPENSES
(ADA and Non-ADA combined)
4 . Capital $500,000
5. Operating $2,470,629
6. Subtotal (lines 4+5) $2,970,629
In 1991, the paratransit costs for our transit system were
$204,610.
TOTAL SYSTEM BUDGET ESTIMATES
Actual 1993 1994
1992
TOTAL SYSTEM EXPENSES
1. Capital $45,000 -0- $825,000
2 . Operating _ $1,822, 692 $2,098,000 $2,258,000
3 . Total (lines 1+2) $1,867,692 $2,0981000 $3,083,000
TOTAL SYSTEM REVENUE
4 . Revenues $1,867, 692 $2,098,000 $3,083,000
5. Estimated Surplus
or Deficit (lines
4-3) . -0- -0- -0-
1995 1996 1997
TOTAL SYSTEM EXPENSES
1. Capital $360, 000 -0- -0-
2. Operating $2,418,000 $2,538,000 $2,654,000
3 . Total (lines 1+2) $2,778, 000 $2,538, 000 $2,654,000
TOTAL SYSTEM REVENUE
4 . Revenue $2,778,000 $2,538,000 $2,654,000
5. Estimated Surplus
or Deficit (lines
4-3) -0- -0- -0-
V - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The public participation process involves consultation with the
Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) , a citizen's advisory group
appointed by the Mayor and City Council of Beaumont. A TAC meeting
was held on December 4, 1992 at which time the plan update and
ramifications of the FY 1993 Section 9 grant request denial were
discussed. A plan for seeking alternative funding options was
formulated.
The local Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) , the Southeast
Regional Planning Commission, was also consulted on formulation of
the plan. The MPO Certification is attached under Section VIII of
this update.
Two public hearings were conducted. A sample of the public hearing
notice is attached. This notice was published in the local
newspaper and distributed as flyers on BMT paratransit and fixed
route vehicles. It was distributed to local radio and television
stations as a news release. It was also mailed to members of the
Beaumont Mayor's Committee on Employment of the Disabled. A list of
attendees and any comments made at both public hearings is
attached.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR
PARATRANSIT TRANSPORTATION
SERVICE UNDER THE AMERICANS
WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) ?
NOTICE OF ADA PARATRANSIT
PLAN UPDATE MEETING
The annual update to the Beaumont Municipal Transit (BMT) System's
Special Transit Services (STS) Program is due to be submitted to the
Federal Transit Administration (FrA). Two public hearings will be
conducted in order to give the public, disabled individuals, social service
agencies who serve the disabled community, and other disabled
transportation providers a chance to review the plan update and make
comments. Copies of the plan update are available at the Beaumont
Municipal Transit Office at 550 Milam and may be picked up between the
hours of 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. If additional
information is required, individuals may call the BMT Office at 835-7895
or on the TDD line at 832-7656. The first public hearing will be at the
regular session of the Beaumont City Council on Tuesday, January 19, 1993,
City Hall, City Council Chambers, 801 Main Street, at 1:30 pm. The second
public hearing will be at the same location on Thursday, January 21, 1993,
at 1:30 pm also. ADA paratransit certified passengers for the BMT STS
Program may schedule rides to and from the public hearings through the
normal scheduling process by calling the BMT Office the day prior to each
hearing. If you are unable to attend either of the public hearings, written
comments may be submitted mailed to:
William J. Munson, General Manager
Beaumont Municipal Transit System
550 Milam
Beaumont, Texas 77701
VI - UNRESOLVED ISSUES
Two comments/recommendations were made by FTA in their concurrence
letter of BMT's Special Transit Services Program, a plan for
implementing the complementary paratransit requirements of the ADA.
Discussion of these two items follow below:
1. Beaumont should develop standards for on-time performance and
ride time. These indicators should be monitored and reported in the
next annual plan update. Incidence of capacity constraints, such as
denied trips, should also be monitored and reported. Demand
estimates and budgets should be updated annually.
BMT has established a standard that 90% of all pick-ups should
be within 30 minutes of the scheduled time. Also, 90% of all
passengers should not have ride times exceeding one hour. Trip
denials will be monitored. The process of monitoring and
recording this data began on January 1, 1993. Results will be
reported in the next plan update due in January 1994. Budget
and demand estimates will be updated accordingly on an annual
basis.
2. In its next annual plan update, Beaumont should clarify that if
an ADA eligibility application is not processed within the required
21 days, the applicant will be presumed eligible until a
determination is made for denial of eligibility.
In the initial plan on page 26 under Section VI, Description
of Proposed Eligibility Process, BMT's policy is that all ADA
eligibility applications will be processed within a maximum of
ten days of receipt. There have been no problems accomplishing
this on all applications submitted to date. BMT will add to
their policy that if for some reason, an application is not
processed within the ADA required 21 day period, presumptive
eligibility will be in effect until a determination for
approval or denial is made.
VII - OTHER ISSUES
Two significant changes have occurred since submission of the 1992
plan. They are discussed below:
1. As discussed earlier in detail, Beaumont's FY 1993 FTA Section
9 grant request was not approved for the full amount. All funding
for capital projects, including the purchase of three additional
paratransit vehicles, was denied due to a shortage of Section 9
funds. This has caused the City of Beaumont to explore alternative
funding mechanisms in order to purchase the paratransit vehicles
and be in compliance with the capacity constraint requirements of
ADA. The purchase of the paratransit vehicles, originally
programmed in FY 1993 , will most probably not be accomplished until
at least FY 1994.
2 . Beginning in October 1992, the start of FY 1993 , four additional
hours of STS paratransit service was added on weekdays. Up until
that time, three vehicles operated a total of 28 hours on weekdays.
Due to an addition of a bus on the fixed route service, the system
run cuts were adjusted creating an additional four hour block of
STS service. This change allows three vehicles to operate a total
of 32 hours on weekdays. This helps with BMT's capacity
constraints, but certainly does not eliminate them. The three
additional paratransit vehicles are still needed.
VIII - MPO CERTIFICATION AND CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
MPO CERTIFICATION OF ADA PARATRANSIT PLAN UPDATE
The Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission hereby certifies
that it has reviewed the ADA paratransit plan update prepared by
the City of Beaumont for the Beaumont Municipal Transit System as
required under 49 CFR 37. 139 (h) and finds it to be in conformance
with the transportation plan developed under 49 CFR part 613 and 23
CFR part 450 (the FTA/FHWA joint planning regulation) . This
certification is valid for one year.
(signature)
Robert A. Dickinson
(name of authorized official)
MPO Coordinator
(title)
(date)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ADA PARATRANSIT PLAN UPDATE
This is to certify that the members of the Beaumont City Council
approved and adopted, at a meeting on January 19, 1993, the
attached ADA paratransit plan update, and hereby recommends
submission to the Federal Transit Administration.
(signature)
Ray A. Riley
(name of authorized individual)
City Manager, City of Beaumont
(title)
(date)
TRANSIT SYSTEM
FUNDING IN TEXAS
The Surface Transportation Act of 1967 established a funding formula for
transit systems based on population and population density. Cities with
populations between 50,000 and 200,000 are considered midsize and are
eligible to receive funding under Section 9. Additionally, the State of Texas
is considered as a Governors Apportionment State. This means the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) concurrence is required for any
amounts that exceed the administrative formula.
Under the existing funding formula,Texas midsize cities receive approximately
$10 million a year in Section 9 funds. Although there are twenty-five (25)
midsize cities in Texas, only eighteen (18) currently have transit systems. The
funds allocated to those seven cities and funds not spent by other cities were
set aside each year for use as operating and/or capital assistance in future
years. In 1986, the Section 9 surplus totalled over $50 million. A portion of
these surplus federal funds were used to purchase the fifteen new buses and
to offset the difference between the funding allocation and actual annual
operating expenses for Beaumont Municipal Transit.
The TxDOT began transferring surplus Section 9 funds into the rural systems
Section 18 program in 1987. This transfer of funds continued until 1992. As
a result, there is less than $2 million available for assistance to the midsize
cities.
The failure to adequately plan for the needs of Section 9 cities by TxDOT has
resulted in a lack of funds for 1993 capital expenditures. Additionally, this
lack of planning will most likely result in the City having to fund more of the
operating costs, in addition to the capital costs, in future years.
01-15-93