The
following actions were taken
during the RTA’s Board of
Directors monthly meeting
on Thursday, December 15,
2005:
RTA
to Lobby Lawmakers for Funding
of Various Projects
Board
members authorized RTA staff
to contact federal lawmakers
to request funding for various
projects totalling $13.7
million. The requested funds,
which could appear on the
fiscal year 2007 appropriations
bill, include $1.4 million
for the Riverside Transit
Center, $3.2 million for the
Temecula Transit Center, $3.3
million for the Corona Transit
Center, $4.8 million for the
Moreno Valley Transit Center
and $838,000 for bus stop
upgrades. Those projects would
also receive matching local
funds. RTA typically lobbies
lawmakers each year in an
effort to acquire muchneeded
federal funding for its projects.
Requests earlier this year
resulted in federal appropriations
of $1.2 million for the Riverside
and Corona transit centers,
and through the federal transportation
bill, $417,820 for the Temecula
transit center and $417,820
for the Advanced Traveler
Information System. Funding
for those projects was made
possible by the support of
Inland Rep. Ken Calvert,
R-Corona, and Rep. Darrell
Issa, R-Vista.
Agency
Considers Using $4.8 in Reserves
to Offset Expenses
While
RTA awaits its share of approved
federal grant money, board
members supported RTA’s use
of $4.8 million in allocated
unclaimed local transportation
reserves to offset a temporary
revenue shortfall during
Fiscal Year 2006. The funds
would help the Agency maintain
current service levels and
support expenditures projected
for the current fiscal year.
The request to draw down the
reserves is contingent upon
approval by the Riverside
County Transportation Commission
and would be discontinued
if RTA’s federal grant request
is made available prior to
the need to use the funds.
Board
Authorizes Drawdown of Reserve
to Pay for Projects
Board
members authorized the use
of $111,960 of unclaimed
Local Transportation Fund
reserves at Riverside County
Transportation Commission
to pay for new projects. The
funds are a cumulation of
remaining balances left over
from already-completed RTA
projects, and their use would
ensure that the unclaimed
money remains in Riverside
County. RTA has been successful
in obtaining federal grants
and local matches for new
projects, but in some instances
federal grants are in limbo
due to insufficient match
funds. RTA would used the
unclaimed reserves to match
federal funds to pay for
new CNG buses and Dial-A-Ride
vans, among other things.
New
Board Officers Elected
Board
members held an election
Thursday that produced the
following changes. Jim Ayres
concluded his one-year term
as board chair by handing
the gavel to Jeff Fox. Mr.
Fox represents the city of
Beaumont and has been on the
RTA board for five years.
The new first vice chair is
Frank Hall of Norco and the
new second vice chair is Frank
Kessler of Canyon Lake. Board
members typically hold their
appointed positions for one
year.
The
next board meeting will be
held on Thursday, January
26 at 2 p.m. For more information,
contact: Bradley Weaver, Communications
Specialist (951) 565-5172
bweaver@riversidetransit.com |
