TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John Titkanich, Jr.; County Administrator
THROUGH: Brian Freeman, AICP; MPO Staff Director
FROM: Mark Vietze, Senior Planner
DATE: August 4, 2025
SUBJECT: Approval of a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) for a Public Transportation Block Grant
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
Each year, Indian River County receives public transportation operating assistance through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Public Transportation Block Grant program. The FDOT Block Grant funds are combined with local funds as a match towards federal transit operating assistance received under 49 USC Ch. 53, Section 5307 (also known as the Urbanized Area Formula Grant program) and Section 5311 (also known as the Rural Area Formula Grant program). These state and federal grant funds are passed through to the Senior Resource Association (SRA), Indian River County’s designated transit service provider. SRA operates the GoLine (fixed-route) and the Community Coach (demand response) transit services.
For FY 2025/26, $727,055 has been allocated through the state Block Grant program to the county. Because the Block Grant has a 50% match requirement, the county is required to provide a local match of $727,055. As was the case in previous years, matching funds will come from the County’s normal transit allocation. Together, the Block Grant funds and local funds ($1,454,110) will be applied as a local/state match towards federal operating assistance through the Section 5307 program.
ANALYSIS
As with the FTA Section 5307 grant program, only public agencies may be designated recipients of Block Grant funds pursuant to state regulations. Also, activities funded with Block Grant funds must be consistent with applicable approved local government comprehensive and transit plans. In this case, the provision of transit service is consistent with the MPO’s adopted 10-year Transit Development Plan and 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan.
To receive the Block Grant funds, the County must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement with FDOT, a copy of which is attached to this staff report (Attachment #2). The attached resolution (Attachment #1) authorizes the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners to execute the PTGA for Public Transportation Block Grant funds. Upon the Board's adoption of the resolution and the Chairman’s execution of the PTGA, County staff will transmit the grant agreement to FDOT. Once the PTGA has been executed by FDOT, the funds will be transmitted to the County and passed along to the Senior Resource Association (SRA), the County’s public transportation provider.
The grant agreement covers a two-year period and includes funding for the first year (FY 2025/26). Any unexpended funds in the first year will carry over to the remaining year of the agreement.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
Funding, in the amount of $727,055, will be budgeted and available in the General Fund/Community Transportation Coordinator/ account (Account Number 00111041-088230-54001) once the rollover budget amendment has been approved by the Board and posted. These funds are part of the allocation given to the Senior Resource Association to provide transit service in the county.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
The Board has previously approved annual block grant agreements dating back to the 1990's. For the current fiscal year (FY 24/25), the Board approved the previous FY24/25 block grant agreement on December 3, 2024.
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Staff anticipates that the Board will continue to approve Public Transportation Grant Agreements (PTGA) with FDOT in future fiscal years.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Quality of Life
OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT
The operation of the transit system is consistent with the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transit Development Plan (TDP), which was most recently updated in 2023.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Grant Agreement and adopt the resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign the agreement.