Discussion and possible action to ratify the submission and acceptance of grant application and to approve by order cash match funds for ONE HUNDRED SIXTY NINE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($169,800) for the Fleet Replacement Grant (FR- 2018- WEBB CO- 00010). Webb County CAA El Aguila Rural Transit is requesting to accept a grant and authorize purchasing agent to purchase three (3) buses with a total cost of TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($ 273,000). Texas Department of Transportation has allocated ONE HUNDRED THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($103,200) with a required cash match in the amount of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY NINE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($169,800); with additional action to designate a funding source for any pending amount not available in the account number listed and any other matters incident thereto. All required documents were sent for review to the Economic Development Department and the solicitation is compliant with Webb County Single Point of Contact (SPOC) procedures. [Requested by Robert Martinez, Rural Transit Manager; Account #1001-1160-001-463902-005]
Issue: Grant application was initiated before item was brought to Commissioner’s Court for approval and application was approved by Texas Department of Transportation for funding on September 1, 2018. CAA El Aguila is requesting a total cash match of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY NINE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS ($169,800) to cover the purchase of three (3) new vehicles. Rural residents of Webb County depend on El Aguila Rural Transit to provide a safe and reliable mode of transportation. Currently, El Aguila’s fleet includes seven (7) buses that travel over three hundred (300) miles daily and are ten (10) years old. These vehicles have an average of one hundred seventy five thousand (175,000) miles.
Solution: Approval of cash match and authorization of payment for three (3) new vehicles as set forth above to ensure that Webb County CAA El Aguila Rural Transit can continue to operate a safe and reliable transportation service without the risk of any liability to Webb County and it's rural residents.
Result: El Aguila Rural Transportation will be able to provide continued, uninterrupted transportation service to the rural areas of the Webb County.