Subject:
Title
Approval of Coordination Agreement, Re: Bus Transportation Services with School Board of Brevard County
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Fiscal Impact:
Up to $600,000 for the length of the contract-
Dept/Office:
Transit Services
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Coordination Agreement between School Board of Brevard County and Brevard County for the purpose of Bus Transportation Services.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
Chapter 427.0158, of the Florida Statues, allows joint use of School buses for the purpose of providing transportation service to the transportation disadvantaged. This Coordination Agreement is necessary to meet the needs of County Finance, School Board Finance Officials, and the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged to delineate the specific terms of coordination and use of school buses in Brevard County.
Space Coast Area Transit’s fleet is currently not large enough to handle all demands; therefore, this Coordination Agreement would allow the School Board to assist in meeting additional needs of the community. Previously, all of the trips operated by the School Board on behalf of Brevard County occur during the summer months for various special recreating and training programs. This Agreement will also allow Space Coast Area Transit to utilize School Buses for other Transportation Disadvantaged Service, if necessary.
Under this Agreement, the School Board bills Space Coast Area Transit for the cost of the trips based on the average school bus driver’s salary and a set fee per mile. The rates are set yearly by the School Board and Space Coast Area Transit is notified before June 1st. This Agreement is for a period of 3 years, beginning on May 1, 2024, ending on April 30, 2027.
All of the School Board transportation costs are billed back to the County and City Parks and Recreation Departments. The cost of administering the Agreement to Space Coast Area Transit is approximately 68 hours of staff time to coordinate billings and payments. Although, Space Coast Area Transit does not retain any of the funding, they utilize the passenger trip data in their State Transportation Disadvantaged reports to generate additional funding yearly. If the number of passenger trips increase, then Space Coast Area Transit’s Transportation Disadvantaged funding would increase.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please have the Chair sign the attached Agreement and forward two copies to Transit Services with the Board Memorandum.