| ITEM #: 3. DATE: 03/02/2026 AI #:3084 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | APPROVAL OF GRANT PASS-THRU AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF PHOENIX FOR FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) FUNDS |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator |
SUMMARY
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 program provides funding specifically for transportation services that meet the special needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The city of Phoenix serves as the designated recipient for FTA Section 5310 funds in the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urbanized Area and has the authority to distribute these federal funds to subrecipients throughout the region. Goodyear has been approved to receive funding to support operating assistance for seniors and individuals with disabilities that use WeRIDE for public transportation.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATION
Approve a Grant Pass-Thru Agreement (Attachment A) with City of Phoenix for FTA Section 5310 Grant funds and authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute and administer the grant agreement. (Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator)
FISCAL IMPACT
This Section 5310 grant award totals $13,199 and requires a dollar-for-dollar local match, which will be funded by the Council approved Fiscal Year 2026 budget of $1,614,340, for the fourth year of WeRIDE microtransit service. Staff is requesting a budget transfer of $13,200 to authorize the additional funds made possible by this grant award for FY2026 microtransit expenses.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The FTA Section 5310 program provides funding specifically for transportation services that meet the special needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. This program fills gaps in conventional public transportation by providing transit and mobility services for populations that may have difficulty using fixed-route transit services.
City of Phoenix serves as the designated recipient for FTA Section 5310 funds in the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urbanized Area and has the authority to distribute these federal funds to subrecipients throughout the region. Goodyear was approved to receive funding to support operating assistance for public transportation alternatives; specifically, for WeRIDE, which serves seniors and individuals with disabilities.
City of Phoenix serves as the designated recipient for FTA Section 5310 funds in the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urbanized Area and has the authority to distribute these federal funds to subrecipients throughout the region. Goodyear was approved to receive funding to support operating assistance for public transportation alternatives; specifically, for WeRIDE, which serves seniors and individuals with disabilities.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates the regional application process and the programming responsibilities for the Section 5310 funding. The MAG Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Transportation (EPDT) Committee develops the Section 5310 priority listings of projects for the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urban Area. The regional priority listings of projects are approved through the MAG committee process and forwarded to City of Phoenix for submission to the FTA.
In February 2024, staff applied for $187,500 to offset the city’s cost to provide WeRIDE service to 18,596 senior and/or disabled passengers that used WeRIDE between January 2023 - January 2024. The application was reviewed by the MAG EPDT committee and ranked with four additional funding requests from agencies that provide specialized transportation to the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urban Area, seeking a portion of the $436,000 available. The funding requests from all five applications totaled over one million dollars. The committee chose to distribute award amounts based on the funds available instead of the amount requested. Goodyear was awarded a federal share of $13,199, that will be matched in the same amount with local transit funds.
In February 2024, staff applied for $187,500 to offset the city’s cost to provide WeRIDE service to 18,596 senior and/or disabled passengers that used WeRIDE between January 2023 - January 2024. The application was reviewed by the MAG EPDT committee and ranked with four additional funding requests from agencies that provide specialized transportation to the Phoenix West-Goodyear-Avondale Urban Area, seeking a portion of the $436,000 available. The funding requests from all five applications totaled over one million dollars. The committee chose to distribute award amounts based on the funds available instead of the amount requested. Goodyear was awarded a federal share of $13,199, that will be matched in the same amount with local transit funds.