Referred to: The Housing and Transportation Committee (Chairman Collins and Legislators Clinton, Corcoran, Harmon, Kitchen, McCollough, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Collins, Hansut, Kovacs, Nolan, Roberts, and Uchitelle)

Chairman of the Housing and Transportation Committee, Jeff Collins, and Deputy Chair Thomas Corcoran offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT); and

WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Urbanized Area Formula Funding program (49 U.S.C. 5307) is a formula grant which makes federal resources available to recipients for transit capital and operating assistance and transportation-related planning in urbanized areas; and 

WHEREAS, Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) is a designated recipient of FTA funding as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5307(a)(2) and annually receives Urbanized Area Formula Program assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5307 (5307 funding); and

WHEREAS, UCAT utilizes 5307 funding for operation, maintenance, salaries, and certain capital expenses and the required match is met through State and County funds which are appropriated and anticipated in the annual County budget; and 

WHEREAS, Pursuant to Resolution No. 446 of August 20, 2024 establishing a Policy to Require Approval of All Grant Applications Requiring County Matching Funds Prior to Submission, any application which requires appropriation of additional County or State fund for match would require approval of the Ulster County Legislature; and

WHEREAS, one of the prerequisites of receiving FTA funding is demonstration of legal capacity to carry out the projects or work included in the federal assistance awards as well as demonstration that the recipient is eligible and authorized under local law to request, receive, and spend FTA funds to administer FTA-assisted projects; and 

WHEREAS, specifically to meet these prerequisites FTA requires an Opinion of Counsel that states the recipient is legally empowered to carry out the award

activities as well as an Authorizing Resolution allowing the recipient to apply for assistance and legally commit the applicant to compliance with terms of an award; and

WHEREAS, it is also required that the applicant has or will provide all annual certification and assurances to the Federal Transit Administration required for any funded projects; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the County Executive is hereby authorized to execute any required applications for federal assistance on behalf of Ulster County Area Transit with the Federal Transit Administration for Federal Assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C Chapter 53; Title 23, United States Code, or other federal statutes administered by the Federal Transit Administration; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Attorney is authorized to execute and file with its applications the annual certifications and assurances and other documents the Federal Transportation Administration requires before awarding a federal assistance grant; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Director of Transportation or the Director of Purchasing is authorized to submit and execute grant agreements related to Urbanized Area Formula Program Assistance (5307) with the Federal Transit Administration on behalf of Ulster County,  

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:             

Passed Committee: Housing and Transportation on ________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.