HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - BOCCS7
October 26, 2021
Nuria Fernandez, Administrator
Federal Transit Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
GRANT COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PO Box 37
Epi-iRATA WA 98823
(509) 754-2011
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RE: Federal Transit Administration Section 5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities -
Washington State Department of Transportation
Dear Administrator Fernandez:
The Grant County Board of Commissioners write today in support of People For People and its
Buses and Bus Facilities grant application submitted by the Washington State Department of
Transportation's (WSDOT) to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
People For People, a rural nonprofit in central Washington state, has successfully provided
transportation since 1982. People For People's transportation service offers individuals a critical link
to nutrition programs, health care, childcare, shopping, social services, jobs, and other community
resources. To support this essential service, an investment is requested of $210,000 to purchase three
5 -passenger, ADA accessible vans equipped with manual lifts. This project requests $168,000 from
FTA, and $42,000 is committed from People For People's agency reserves.
Maintaining buses, and supporting infrastructure, in a state of good repair is not only safer for the
traveling public, but also cost effective. The newer vehicles will have improved gas mileage and
lower emissions to operate efficiently in the vast rural regions of central Washington. This rural
region has extremely hot summers and frigid winters that make breakdowns a serious health and
safety concern. Adams County has over 2300 square miles and a population density of 4.58 person
per square mile. This population of Adams County is also an aging population (26% of the
population is 65+). Transportation is necessary for residents in Grant, Adams, Lincoln, and the
surrounding counties to contribute positively to the economy and remain in their own homes and
communities.
Investing in capital assets supports many of Washington State's transportation system policy goals:
mobility, economic vitality, stewardship, environment, and safety.
Danny E. Stone Rob Jones Cindy Carter
District 1 District 2 District 3
"To MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS9 SERVING TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES9 WHILE FOSTERING
A RESPECTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT."
We are pleased to support this application for funding, and we urge your full and fair consideration
of this request.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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October 20, 2021
Commissioner Tom Taylor
Grant County Board of County Commissioners
PO Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823
Dear Commissioner Taylor,
PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE
People For People is requesting your support for an application that the Washington State Department of
Transportation (WSDOT) is submitting to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
The request is for the purchase of three 5 -passenger, ADA accessible vans equipped with manual lifts to
replace aging vehicles that need frequent repairs. The investment for that request is for $210,000 with
People For People committing $42.,000 from agency reserves and FTA providing $168,000. This will help
to assure That elderly individuals can remain independent in their own homes; That individuals with
special needs can access dialysis, cancer treatment, and other health care services; That individuals have
access to employment, job training, educational opportunities, social services, nutrition, and shopping.
The funding is extremely competitive. With that in mind, People For People would appreciate a letter of
support in order to continue providing transportation services. Some facts that you may consider
mentioning in your letter include the following:
• The lack of transportation options for many of our residents.
■ The critical need to provide transportation service for individuals to access health care,
education, employment, social services, nutrition, shopping, and other basic services.
■ The rising cost of fuel has a dramatic impact on low-income and fixed-income individuals that live
in remote rural locations.
■ Your interest in coordinating services and opportunities that you provide to the public.
■ Any other information that would demonstrate the value of this service to the communities or
specific customer needs.
I have enclosed an Executive Summary and a Sample Letter of Support. In order to meet the deadline for
the application, please return your letter of support by Thursday, November 4, 2021 to
mcarlson@pfp.org or 304 W Lincoln Ave Yakima, WA 98902. If you should have any questions or would
like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at mcarlson@pfp.org or (509) 248-6726.
Sincerely,
Madelyn Carlson
People For People, CEO
Enclosures
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304 West Lincoln, Yakima, WA 98902, (509) 248-6726
We are an Equal Opportunity Agency. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request o' individuals with disabilities.
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PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE
People For People is submitting an application that Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSD®T) will submit on our behalf to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Buses and Bus
Facilities Grant.
Transportation Project
People For People's request will fund three 5 -passenger ADA accessible vans equipped with manual lifts.
These vehicles will replace aging 2014 MV -1 cutaway vehilces that are beyond their state of good repair.
Special needs pop ' ulations with mobility challenges that reside in Adams,, Grant., Lincoln, and the
surrounding counties will have access to health care, nutrition, shopping, education, jobs, and other
community resources.
Benefit — Safety and Effliciency
Replacement vehicles will provide safe and efficient transportation service for passengers with mobility
challenges in'rural parts of central Washington. The current vehicles are past their useful life and
breakdowns in the isolated areas during extreme weather conditions are a serious health concern for
4.
fragile passengers. The newer vehicles will have improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions to provide
reliable, rural transportation service.
These projects will preserve the transportation services to special needs populations in addressing the
transportation needs that are identified in the QUADC® Coordinated Public Transit -Human Services
Transportation Plan:
• Persons with disabilities lack access to employment, health care, social services, recreation, and social
events.
• Older adults need access to health care, as well as, shopping, nutrition, and socialization with friends and
family.
• Low-income individuals lack access to social services, health care, job search, employment, education, and
taking children to childcare.
• Youth lack transportation for after-school activities, summer activities, recreation, child care, alternative
schools, and post -secondary education.
• Veterans lack transportation for health care, employment, employment related services, education, and other
vital services.
Bob Walsh
Jan 011ivier
Madelyn Carlson
People For People
People For People.,
People For People., CEO
Transportation Operations Manager
Transportation Director
509.248-6726
509.754.1075 Ext. 494
509.925.5311
mcarlson@pfp.org
bwaIsh@pfp.'0rg
joilivier@pfp.org
304 West Lincolljn, Yakima,, WA 93902, (509) 248-6726
We are an Equal Opportunity Agency. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TTY717