Formula Grant SC2023020

APPLICATION PURPOSE: WACCAMAW REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (WACCAMAW RTA) IS APPLYING FOR APPORTIONED FY 2023 5307 FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2197040 ALONG WITH LAPSING (RE-ALLOCATED) FY 2017 5307 FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $204980; ALL TOGETHER TOTALING $2402020; IN ADDITION TO REQUIRED LOCAL MATCH FUNDS FOR ITS 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR. BOTH SPLIT LETTERS ARE ATTACHED. THIS FEDERAL FUNDING ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY LOCAL MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $1694620 WILL ASSIST IN OPERATING THIS RAPIDLY GROWING LARGE URBAN AND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY DURING ITS FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024. WE ARE APPLYING FOR SECTION 5307 FUNDS FOR OUR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE OPERATING ASSISTANCE AND I.T. SAFETY SECURITY. ADDITIONALLY WACCAMAW RTA IS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTING EARLY USE AND ACCESS TO OPERATING ASSISTANCE FUNDING DATING BACK TO AUGUST 1 2023 (WITH AN OPERATING ASSISTANCE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE SET FOR 8/1/2023 - 9/30/2024).; ACTIVITIES PERFORMED: THE 5307 FUNDING WILL BE UTILIZED FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS OPERATING ASSISTANCE FUNCTIONS I.T. SAFETY SECURITY FUNCTIONS DEEMED NECESSARY TO OPERATE THIS PUBLIC ENTITY. THE FEDERAL 5307 AMOUNTS ALONG WITH THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THIS GRANT ARE IDENTIFIED AND CATEGORIZED BELOW: PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE (POP 10/1/2023 - 9/30/2024): TOTAL FY 2023 FEDERAL FUNDING = $900000TOTAL LOCAL MATCH = $225000TOTAL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE = $1125000OPERATING ASSISTANCE (ADJUSTED POP 8/1/2023 THROUGH 9/30/2024):TOTAL FY 2023 FEDERAL FUNDING = $1253840*TOTAL FY 2017 FEDERAL LAPSING FUNDING = $204980LOCAL MATCH = $1458820TOTAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE = $2917640ALL OF THE LAPSING FY 2017 $204980 IS BEING APPLIED TO OPERATING ASSISTANCE.BECAUSE OPERATING ASSISTANCE IS COMING FROM TWO DIFFERENT FISCAL YEARS OPERATING ASSISTANCE IS BEING SEPARATE INTO 2 PROJECTS FOR THE APPERTAINING FISCAL YEAR FUNDING BEING UTILIZED! I.T./SAFETY/SECURITY (POP 10/1/2023 - 9/30/2024):TOTAL FY 2023 FEDERAL FUNDING = $43200TOTAL LOCAL MATCH = $10800TOTAL SAFETY/SECURITY = $54000; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 5307 FUNDING COMBINED WITH LOCAL MATCH FUNDS WILL OFFER WACCAMAW RTA THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MASS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND PROJECTS WHICH ARE MAINLY AIMED AT PROVIDING SAFE RELIABLE TRANSIT SERVICE TO ITS GROWING DIVERSE AND VISITING COMMUNITY WHILE MAKING LIFES IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS OCCUR. ALTHOUGH STILL OPERATING FIXED-ROUTE DIESEL BUSES AND GASOLINE PARATRANSIT VANS MOST OF THE AUTHORITYS FLEET IS NEW OR MUCH NEWER WITH NEWER DESIGNED ENGINES AND THIS HELPS THE AUTHORITY IN SEEKING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT; WHILE STILL INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL; AND IMPROVING ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY.WHILE THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO UTILIZING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT WACCAMAW RTA DEMANDS AND SEEKS INCLUDE:- ENJOYING A LESS STRESSFUL JOURNEY THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA BY LETTING SOMEONE ELSE DO THE DRIVING.- NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT FINDING A PARKING SPACE.- REDUCING CONGESTION IN TOWNS AND CITIES THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA.- SAVING MONEY; BECAUSE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS A PROVEN CHEAPER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION THAN OWNING AND OPERATING A CAR.- CONTINUED SAFE AND EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF FIXED ROUTE AND PARATRANSIT SERVICES FOR AREAS SERVED BY WACCAMAW RTA.- FUNDING WILL ALSO ALLOW WACCAMAW RTA TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL EXISTING REGULATIONS.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE RESIDENTS OF THE TWO COUNTIES SERVED BY WACCAMAW RTA MANY WHOM ARE DEPENDENT COMMUTERS AND/OR EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT HORRY AND GEORGETOWN COUNTIES IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL INFLUX OF TOURISTS INTO HORRY COUNTY WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH A RESIDENTIAL AND SIGNIFICANT VACATION RESORT ON SOUTH CAROLINAS ATLANTIC COAST ARE THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES. THIS AREA IS THE HUB OF THE GRAND STRAND WITHIN A 60-MILE STRING OF BEACHES ALSO KNOWN FOR ITS CELEBRITY-DESIGNED GOLF COURSES BEACHFRONT BOARDWALK ARCADES SOUVENIR STANDS VARIETY SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS AND CONSISTS OF THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF WACCAMAW RTAS SERVICE(S). A CONSIDERABLY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF WACCAMAW RTAS RIDERSHIP ARE DEPENDENT RIDERS UTILIZING THE TWO-COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE TO REACH THEIR EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS LARGELY TO THESE AFOREMENTIONED LOCATIONS. WE HOPE TO BECOME KNOWN AND UTILIZED AMONG THE EXTENSIVE POPULATION GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SERVICE AREA. HORRY COUNTY ALONE IS THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. ADDITIONALLY GEORGETOWN COUNTY CONTINUE TO GROW RAPIDLY EACH YEAR WITH THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE RELOCATING TO THIS AREA. PASSENGERS OF WACCAMAW RTAS FIXED AND PARATRANSIT SERVICES WILL CONTINUE BENEFITTING THROUGH THE CONTINUED SERVICES PERMITTING WORKERS TO GET TO WORK AND RIDERS TO GET TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND DESTINATIONS.; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: -NONE-WACCAMAW RTA DOES NOT CURRENTLY UTILIZE ANY SUB-RECIPIENT COMPANIES FOR OUTSOURCED TRANSIT SERVICE(S). THE AUTHORITY ITSELF OPERATES ALL FIXED ROUTE AND PARATRANSIT VEHICLES AND SERVICES. ALL MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES ARE PERFORMED IN-HOUSE EXCEPT FOR RARE INSTANCES.