Judging by the approval of applying for federal funds through ADOT in the consent agenda last week, the fate of the transit system was more of a formality than a potential goner.
In accordance with ADOT and Federal Transit Administration guidelines, on March 28 a public hearing was held to give the public the opportunity to comment on the City of Coolidge’s FY2016 and FY 2017 application for 5311 Rural Public Transit Funding.
The Coolidge City Council listened as numerous citizens made their pleas for the saving of the transit system during the March 28 hearing, including the Cotton Express and Central Arizona Regional Transit, but the hearing appeared to be more of a formality, because on Monday April 11, it was approved as part of the consent agenda.
This is the first year ADOT has requested submitting an application for two federal fiscal years. ADOT will utilize the information provided for both fiscal years; however they will only for awarding funds for one fiscal year. Before the FY 2017 contract year begins, ADOT will negotiate with each applicant on the funds to be awarded for FY 2017 and the match that will be required.
ADOT (through the Federal Transit Administration) provides 80 percent of the administrative funding and 58 percent of the operating funding for the transit systems.
ADOT can fund capital costs at 80 percent or 90 percent depending upon the activity. The match calculated by city staff is on an 80/20 breakdown and would look like $721,655 in total federal funds, with a Coolidge match of $242,966.
