TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John Titkanich, Jr.; County Administrator
THROUGH: Brian Freeman, AICP; MPO Staff Director
FROM: Mark Vietze, Senior Planner
DATE: May 7, 2025
SUBJECT: Extension of the Transit Service Agreement, Transit Administration Facility Lease, and Main Transit Hub Sublease with Senior Resource Association
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BACKGROUND
Indian River County’s public transportation system consists of the GoLine fixed route system and the Community Coach demand response (door-to-door) service. Both of these services are operated by the Senior Resource Association (SRA).
In response to a request from the Federal Transit Administration, the County and the Senior Resource Association entered into an Agreement for Management and Operation of Public Transportation Services in 1999. That agreement has been renewed multiple times by both parties, with the most recent renewal occurring in 2023.
ANALYSIS
The 2023 renewal followed the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the management and operation of the County’s public transportation services in 2018. Through the RFP process, the Board approved the selection of the Senior Resource Association, the top ranked proposer. Subsequently, the County entered into a five-year agreement with SRA for management and operation of the GoLine and Community Coach.
The 2018 agreement identifies the responsibilities of the County and the SRA regarding grant application and administration, vehicle procurement and maintenance, drug and alcohol testing, public comment on fare and service changes, handicapped accessibility, and other issues (see Attachment #1). The agreement also provides for County oversight of the SRA’s transit activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The 2018 agreement was extended by the Board of County Commissioners at its June 6, 2023, regular meeting. The current contract expires on June 30, 2025. The 2018 agreement allows for an additional two-year extension beyond the current extension.
In cooperation with SRA, staff has prepared an Extension of Agreement for Management and Operations of Indian River Public Transportation Services (see Attachment #2). The proposed extension is effective through June 30, 2027.
SRA operates the public transportation from a county-owned facility at 4385 43rd Avenue. That facility was constructed in 2012 with grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). SRA uses the 43rd Avenue facility under a lease that was approved by the Board of County Commissioners effective June 1, 2012, for an initial 5-year term at $1.00 per year. Since 2012, the lease has been extended four times and is set to expire on June 30, 2025.
Additionally, SRA utilizes the Main Transit Hub at 1225 16th Street, which is leased to the County by the City of Vero Beach. The County’s lease of the property is for a 40-year term, which began on April 16, 2013. The County subsequently subleased the property to SRA on June 1, 2017, for an initial period of five years. In 2023, the sublease was extended by the Board and is set to expire on June 30, 2025.
Staff have prepared new lease agreements and associated required resolutions (see Attachment #3, 4, 5, & 6), which will extend the leases through June 30, 2027, to run concurrently with the proposed extension of the transit service agreement.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
This is a continuation of a series of agreements to provide mass transit service in Indian River County. It does not commit the County to any specified level of financial support, which is approved by the Board of County Commissioners through its annual budget process.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
On June 19, 2018, the Board approved the current public transportation agreement with Senior Resource Association. The Board approved a two-year extension on June 6, 2023.
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Prior to June 30, 2027, the Board will need to approve a new contract for operation of the public transportation system.
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
Staff recommends the Board approve the extensions of the Transit Service Agreement, the Transit Administration Facility Lease, and the Main Transit Hub Sublease with Senior Resource Association.