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: Amendment to the Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with the Florida Department
of Transportation (FDOT) for Intercounty Bus Service
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
For the past several years, the county has applied for and received transit operating assistance under the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Corridor Grant program. These grant funds have been passed through to the Senior Resource Association (SRA), Indian River County’s transit service provider.
FDOT Corridor Grant funds may be used for improving transit operations, such as realigning routes or increasing coverage areas. Since 2009, the County has used FDOT Corridor Grant funding for intercounty service to the Indian River State College (IRSC) Main Campus in Fort Pierce. Since 2014, this service has been provided through GoLine Route 15, which connects with three other GoLine routes (Routes 4, 6, and 7) at the Intergenerational Center. With a simple transfer, riders coming from the IRSC Mueller Campus, the Main Transit Hub, the Indian River Mall, Vero Beach Highlands, and other locations may travel to the IRSC Main Campus in St. Lucie County.
On September 29, 2023, the County entered into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT to continue intercity bus service via GoLine route 15. Through this grant, intercounty transit service to St. Lucie County is 100% funded by FDOT with no local contribution needed. The grant covers a three-year period that lasts until September 30, 2026. The original grant agreement provided $150,000 to the County for the first year of service. On August 20, 2024, the Board approved the first amendment to extend funding by $150,000. At this time, FDOT has allocated an additional $150,000 for the third year (See Attachment #1).
ANALYSIS
The attached resolution (Attachment #2) authorizes the Chairman to execute the PTGA Amendment for Corridor Grant funds. Upon the Board's adoption of the resolution and the Chairman’s execution of the PTGA Amendment, MPO staff will transmit the Amendment to FDOT.
As with the FTA Section 5307 grant program, only public agencies may be designated recipients of state Corridor Grant funds. With respect to the Corridor Grant program, the county receives the grant funds and transfers those funds to the county’s Community Transportation Coordinator and transit service provider, the Senior Resource Association (SRA). The SRA, in turn, provides the service as directed by the county and as identified in the PTGA. In this case, the funds are to be used to provide intercounty service to the IRSC Main Campus in St. Lucie County.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
No funding is required for this item, as the intercounty transit service is fully grant funded and no local match is required.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
The Board previously approved the PTGA on September 29th, 2023. Additionally, the Board approved an amendment to add an additional year of funding at its August 20th, 2024 regularly scheduled meeting .
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Staff anticipates that the Board will approve a subsequent yearly Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT in the next fiscal year to continue inter-county bus service.
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 that the Board of County Commissioners approve the attached Amendment to the Public Transportation Grant Agreement and adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign the agreement.