Community Based Circulators Program
Background
The Community Based Transit Circulator Program (Project V) provides Measure M2 (M2) funding for local transit services, which complement regional transit.
The Comprehensive Transportation Funding Programs (CTFP) is the mechanism by which the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) administers competitive funding for streets and roads projects. The CTFP allocates funds through an annual competitive call for projects (call) based on guidelines and scoring criteria approved by the OCTA Board of Directors (Board). The CTFP guidelines identify procedures and requirements that local agencies must satisfy to apply for M2 funding and how project applications are evaluated. These guidelines were first approved by the OCTA Board on March 22, 2010, and are updated as needed to initiate a Project V call cycle.
2024 Call Overview
In April 2024, OCTA requested letters of interest for a future round of Project V funding. Responses were received from 18 eligible local agencies with these findings reported to the OCTA Board on August 14, 2023. At that meeting, the OCTA Board directed staff to develop and evaluate potential revisions for the Project V CTFP guidelines in support of a 2024 call.
The revisions and the request to authorize a fifth call since M2 inception are anticipated to be presented to the OCTA Board in late 2023.
2024 Call Schedule
|
Key dates and deadlines
|
dates
|
|---|---|
| Guidelines Stakeholder Meeting | Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 1:30pm |
| Transit Vendor Fair | Monday, October 30, 2023 at 10:30am (Online) |
| Call Issuance | Monday, November 13, 2023 |
| Application Workshop | Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 10:00am (Online) |
| Application Deadline | Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 5:00pm |
| Final Resolutions Adopted by Governing Body Due to OCTA | Thursday, February 15, 2024 |
| Funding Recommendations Presented to OCTA Board | Spring 2024 |
| 2024 Project V Funds Allocated* | July 1, 2024 |
*Earliest date projects can be programmed for the 2024 call.
Transit Vendor Fair
OCTA held the Transit Vendor Fair virtually on Monday, October 30, 2023. The vendor fair materials can be accessed here and in the resources below.
2024 CTFP Call Workshop
Scheduled for Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Workshop to include a presentation from OCTA staff on 2024 Project V call process, application, and opportunity for Q&A.
2024 CTFP Guidelines
OCFundtracker
The OCFundtracker database can be accessed here.
The OCFundtracker training manual can be downloaded here. Please contact OCTA staff if you require additional training on the database.
OC Go Branding for Project V Services
For all awarded services, local agencies are required to visibly display M2 OC Go logo decals on the vehicles in accordance with OCTA specifications regarding sizing, placement, and furnishing of decals, as well as on marketing and related service publication materials, including software applications.
Note: Updated guidance for OC Go project signage requirements anticipated summer 2024.
Please contact Charvalen Alacar at calacar@octa.net or (714) 560-5401 for OC Go decal requests or questions.
Call Questions/Answers
For questions regarding the call or if you would like to schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss an application or proposed project, please contact Charvalen Alacar at calacar@octa.net or (714) 560-5401.
Resources
Notice to prospective applicants: OCTA is aware of errors with OCFundtracker preventing submitting of applications. Successful submission will include entering project information online and providing a physical copy. Upon receiving documents, OCTA will follow up via email to confirm receipt. If you have any questions, please contact Charvalen Alacar, Senior Transportation Funding Analyst calacar@octa.net.
OCTA has released a revision to Supplemental Application (excel) version 1.02 to address the following:
V1.02 (1/12/24)
- Various auto calculation fields including fare collected (Section C) and average cost per revenue vehicle hour (Section H).
V1.01 (1/5/24)
- There was a discrepancy between the calculation of fares / revenues collected in Section C vs Section E. The calculation of fares collected requires input from Section H, including annualized ridership years in operation funded through this 2024 CFP.
- Refinements were made to formulas and annotations in margins to distinguish calculation of the average fare collected per year (Section C), vs the cumulative fare collected during the life of the grant (Section E).
The CTFP Guidelines are updated for each call cycle. Projects are subject to the version of the guidelines approved by the OCTA Board for the call cycle in which a project was awarded. The CTFP Guidelines for each call issued to date are available online and can be accessed below:
|
Call Cycle
|
CTFP Project Number Prefix
(EXAMPLE: 25-OCTA-CBT-4024) |
CTFP Guidelines Version
(CALL CYCLE – APPROVAL DATE OF GUIDELINES - MONTH/YEAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 14- CITY-FND- #### | 2014 Project V Call - CTFP Guidelines - Jun 2013 2021 Project V Program Revisions - Staff Report - Jan 2021 |
| 2016 | 16- CITY-FND- #### | 2016 Project V Call - CTFP Guidelines – Nov 2016 2021 Project V Program Revisions - Staff Report - Jan 2021 |
| 2018 | 18- CITY-FND- #### | 2018 Project V Call - CTFP Guidelines - Feb 2018 2021 Project V Program Revisions - Staff Report - Jan 2021 |
| 2020 | 20- CITY-FND- #### | 2020 Project V Call - CTFP Guidelines - Oct 2019 2021 Project V Program Revisions - Staff Report - Jan 2021 |
| 2024 | 24- CITY-FND- #### | 2024 Project V Call - CTFP Guidelines - Nov 2023 2024 CTFP Off Cycle Guidelines Revisions - May 2024 |