Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
Subject
SUBJECT: AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VISIONARY SEED FUND COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
A. APPROVING the recommended Visionary Seed Fund competitive grant program funding awards totaling $2,559,090 (Attachment A);
B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or her designee to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements for approved projects; and
C. AUTHORIZING the CEO or her designee the authority to administratively approve minor changes to the scope of work of approved Visionary Seed Fund awards.
Issue
ISSUE
Measure M allocates $20 million over 40 years to the Visionary Seed Fund (VSF), and the Measure M Final Guidelines give Metro authority to make $1.5 million available every three years through a competitive grant process to fund Metro, Municipal Operator, and Local Operator pilot projects that "help spark and develop innovative mobility concepts in Los Angeles County." In March 2023, Metro launched the first competitive grant cycle. Since unused VSF funds had rolled over from 2017, Metro released $3 million for grant awards.
Background
BACKGROUND
On November 15, 2022, at CoMotion LA, Metro announced that the first VSF grant cycle would seek pilots that test and assess strategies that demonstrate through measurable outcomes how to grow ridership to pre-COVID levels and beyond. Staff briefed the Policy Advisory Council (PAC), Bus Operations Subcommittee (BOS), Local Transit Systems Subcommittee (LTSS), and local transit General Managers about the grant program. Further, staff hosted two Metro internal webinars, and on March 8, 2023, Metro hosted a VSF Innovation Forum, attended by local operators, community-based organizations, and private companies interested in learning more about the program. Staff released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) following the Forum.
Discussion
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