Submitted By: Tom Duncan
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Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2026-2 to accept a Public Transit Grant Agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Ocala for operational funding for the Ocala/Marion County Public Transit System, SunTran, in the amount of $796,934
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Fiscally Sustainable
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
On September 19, 2023, the City of Ocala (City) and Marion County (County) entered into an interlocal agreement, establishing their respective funding commitments of local funds to operate SunTran. The agreement states that the percentages of support between the City and the County may vary from year to year based on service changes identified in the Transit Development Plan. For Fiscal Year 2026, the percentages will be 75 percent for the City and 25 percent for the County.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) annually provides grant funding to communities that will pay operating assistance of up to 50 percent for fixed-route public transit systems. To be awarded funding, the City must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT. The City has been awarded grant funding of $796,934, pending approval of the PTGA. This grant funding amount requires a local match of $796,934 to be provided by the City and the County. The City and County are collectively providing an additional $12,000 to the match, which can be used for travel and training, as this expense is not reimbursable under the PTGA Agreement. This brings the total local match to $808,934.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The funding will be used toward the daily operation of the Ocala/Marion County Public Transportation System/SunTran. This includes, but is not limited to, paying RATP Dev to run the daily operations of SunTran, staff salaries for working on the federal and stat...
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