Consider approval of a Resolution accepting Galveston County Commissioners' Court invitation to join the GULF COAST TRANSIT DISTRICT, and approving an Interlocal Contract Amendment between the City and Gulf Coast Center.

Public transportation services in Texas City, La Marque. and Dickinson are currently being provided by the GULF COAST CENTER through their transportation department known as CONNECT TRANSIT.  In an effort to focus on their core mission, GCC would like to transfer transportation services to an entity directly related to transit and public transportation.  The idea of Galveston and Brazoria counties creating a bi-county transit district has been evaluated for several months.  This evaluation concluded with the three major participants, GCC, Galveston County, and Brazoria County, approving efforts to establish the GULF COAST TRANSIT DISTRICT.

In a letter from Galveston County Commissioner, Stephen Holmes, Texas City has been invited to join the GCTD and appoint a primary and alternate board member.  La Marque and Dickinson have received identical letters.  In Brazoria County, the cities of Lake Jackson, Angleton, Clute, and Freeport will be participating in the same way Galveston County cities are.

Currently, Texas City receives public transportation services through the Gulf Coast Center.  The City pledges Federal transportation dollars to the GCC and thereby funds Connect Transit.  This all occurs through an Interlocal Contract between the City and GCC.  The Resolution (Exhibit B Interlocal Contract Amendment) under consideration would transfer the City's agreements and commitments to the newly created GULF COAST TRANSIT DISTRICT.

Discussions with the evaluation committee were clear; the local levels of participation from the counties and cities would stay the same and Federal and State transportation funding would shift from GCC to the GCTD.