Legislative Update Legislative and Strategic Planning Committee - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Legislative Update

Legislative and Strategic Planning Committee December 9, 2019

Tallahassee Update

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Critical Safety Upgrades to Radio Communications Appropriation Request

• Sponsors:
• Sen. Cruz, SB 1151
• Rep. Toledo, HB 2601
• Request: $600,000
• An upgraded radio communication system will

allow HART to send requests securely between agencies, manage operations, coordinate planned event safety and security, respond to incidents, and share the information needed to keep the communities HART serves safe.

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Tallahassee Update

Uniformed Public Servant Protection Act

• Sponsors:
• Sen. Perry
• Rep. Beltran
• HART proposed a language amendment to

FS 784.07 to increase the penalty for assault from a misdemeanor in the first degree to a third degree felony.

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Tallahassee Update

Public Transit Worker Protection Act

(This bill will be folding in with the Uniformed Public Servant Protection Act)

• Sponsors:
• Sen. Perry
• Rep. Beltran
• HART is proposing language to create section FS 341.0611,

under the Transit Safety Standards; Inspections and System Safety Reviews which creates authorization for amending FDOT’s Rule 14-90 Florida Administrative Code; Equipment and Operational Safety Standards for Bus Transit Systems.

• Requiring posted notification of enhanced penalties on all

public transit vehicles;

• Requiring the use of assault mitigation barriers and

technology on buses;

• Requiring de-escalation training for public transit operators

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Tallahassee Update

HART already adheres to these standards and has been communicating with agencies across the state to garner support.  On October 11, 2019, HART released the second phase

• ur ‘Ride with Respect’ Campaign: the onboard

messages that reinforce security rules and riding etiquette. HART placed decals on the bus shields reinforcing the message to the public that it is against the law to threaten

• r assault Transit Operators.

 149 Shields of 180 total fleet (82%) have barriers installed  All HART Operators have received De-escalation & Situational Awareness Training. Signs and Symptoms of Mental illness training opportunity will be added in 2020.

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Tallahassee Update

Travel to Tallahassee: November 12 -13 (Holland & Knight)

• Sen. Keith Perry (R), 8th District – North Central Florida, Chair Criminal Justice Committee
• Sen. Darryl Rouson (D), 19th District – Hillsborough/Pinellas, Appropriations Committee on Criminal

& Civil Justice

• Sen. Janet Cruz (D), 18th District – Hillsborough, Delegation Member
• Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D), 63rd District – Hillsborough, Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee
• Rep. Clay Yarborough, (R), 12th District – Duval, Chair Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
• Rep. Dianne Hart, (D), 31st District – Hillsborough, Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee
• Rep. Jackie Toledo, (R), 60th District – Hillsborough, Delegation Member
• Rep. Wengay Newton (D), 70th District – Pinellas/Hillsborough, Delegation Member
• Sen. Jeff Brandes (R), 24th District – Pinellas, Chair Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and

Civil Justice Office of Rep. Hattersley (D), 59th District – Hillsborough, Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee In addition we met with staff from: Senate Criminal Justice Committee Senate Criminal & Civil Justice Appropriations House Justice Appropriations House Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations House Criminal Justice Committee Legislative Affairs FDOT Governor’s Office Transportation & Economic Development

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Grants

Awarded

Demand for FTA's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program far exceeded available funds, as FTA received applications for 318 eligible projects totaling approximately $1.9 billion in funding requests, from a total of 270 applicants in 43 states and territories. Only 94 projects received grant funding, and HART is one of two awarded in the state of Florida. $4.3M by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Buses and Bus Facilities Program to replace diesel buses with new Compressed Natural Gas buses.

• HART requested $21,060,000 of the FTA’s Bus and Bus

Facilities Section 5339 funds to replace 39 diesel buses with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses.

• Based on awarded amount the project will be scaled back to

address the most critical fleet needs which is the replacement

• f high mileage buses (697,100 miles to 708,673 miles).

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Grants

Filed

Request for Information (RFI) filed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Volkswagen Mitigation Plan

• HART submitted a mitigation plan for the replacement of

69 Diesel buses

Pending

Human Trafficking Awareness & Public Safety Initiative

• HART requested $100,000

Integrated Mobility Innovation (IMI) Grant

• HART submitted in coalition with Nashville Metropolitan

Transit Authority (MTA), Rideshares, PSTA and other entities.

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Current Opportunity

FTA Mobility For All Pilot Program

• A $3.5 million initiative to fund projects that that enhance

transportation, connections to jobs, education, and health services.

• Staff attended a webinar on December 3 and will make a

determination as to the feasibility to apply for this grant based on the grant’s parameters and HART’s current capacity.

• Applications due January 6.

Grants

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Upcoming Grant Opportunities in 2020

US Department of Transportation (USDOT), Complete Trip Deployment Solicitation

• Expected in January 2020
• Up to $40 million available to enable communities to

showcase innovative business partnerships, technologies, and practices that promote independent mobility for all.

• “Complete Trip” means that a user can get from

point A to point B seamlessly, regardless of the number of modes, transfers, and connections.

Grants

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Upcoming Grant Opportunities in 2020

FTA Low or No Emission Vehicle Program - 5339(c)

• Expected around March 2020
• Provides funding for the purchase or lease of zero-

emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. US DOT Build Grant

• Expected around April 2020
• Grants are for investments in surface transportation

infrastructure such as roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation.

Grants

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COMMENTS/QUESTIONS