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Allegany County approves transit grant appropriations and will solicit proposals for bus operations
Summary
The county authorized requests for proposals to operate Access Allegany and OATS systems and approved resolutions accepting federal FTA Section 5311 formula and capital grants totaling multi‑year awards; county officials said no county general fund dollars were required for the 5311 awards.
Allegany County's Ways & Means Committee on June 17 authorized staff to solicit proposals to manage the county's Access Allegany and OATS public transportation services and approved resolutions to accept and appropriate Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 formula and capital grant awards.
County Administrator Carissa Knapp asked the committee to solicit proposals because current service contracts expire Dec. 31, 2026. The committee approved the request to issue requests for proposals and instructed staff to prepare resolutions.
Ms. Knapp also presented a request to accept and appropriate Section 5311 Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Contract #C005963) totaling $2,839,422 (Federal $1,419,721; local match $1,419,721). Project budget lines were identified for CORE Allegany, CORE Cattaraugus, ADTAP operating assistance and other subprograms. The committee approved the appropriation on a motion by Legislator Havey, seconded by Legislator Demick.
Separately, the committee approved acceptance and appropriation of a 2023-2029 Capital 5311 award (Contract #C006000) with a project total of $3,489,294 (Federal $2,791,434; State $348,932; Local match $348,928). The request included appropriation lines in the General and Capital funds for motor vehicles, equipment and mobility management. Legislator Burdick asked whether the local share was included in the budget; County Treasurer Jenna Kelley responded that funding would come from non-emergent medical transportation and partner reserves (including Cattaraugus agencies) and that no county general fund dollars were required.
The committee approved both funding requests and authorized the board chairman to execute necessary agreements with prior county attorney review. The county will begin the procurement process for transit operations with the goal of replacing expiring contracts by the end of the year.
