GAINESVILLE - The City of Gainesville is looking to expand Gainesville Connection services.
Community Service Center Director Phillippa Lewis Moss told council members Thursday morning at their work session, “This is our most ambitious application…in ten years.” Moss was referring to the annual application for Federal Transit Administration funding for small urban transit systems.
“For the first time since I’ve been with the city we are going to be asking for our entire federal allocation of over one point five million (dollars),” Moss explained.
The one string attached to the application, and the reason the full amount has never been requested before, is that the city must match the amount requested. The city will need to provide or find $1.5-million in order to receive the matching federal funds.
“The match for this will hopefully come from a variety of sources,” Moss said. “The city is one source, and then as you all know we are starting a public-private campaign where we’re going to local businesses and asking them to pitch in.”
Lewis explained briefly to the council the goals for the coming year for the Gainesville Connection and Dial-A-Ride and the adherent need for increased funding. “…to expand routes specifically around the airport, Candler Highway, Calvary Church and Palmour Roads.”
“We’re also looking to possibly extend our operating hours. Currently we operate from six in the morning to six in the evening; we’re looking actually to start at 4 a.m. in the morning and work until 8 p.m.”
“This is the gap that we’ve discovered as we talk to local businesses in terms of how they’re able to get their employees to work. They just need us to be open earlier and later.”
Councilwoman Ruth Bruner asked Moss if she thought those affected businesses would contribute to the needed matching funds.
“That’s my hope,” Moss responded.
“We’ve already been in conversation with Mincey Marble; they’re very excited about this project,” Moss said.
“So if everything works out we’ll get lots of funds from these local businesses, so wish us luck.”
Moss held up the application and said, “Whether or not we draw down those funds depends upon how much money we gather so you’re not committed to this local match, we’re just saying to the federal government that this is our goal for FY’19 (Fiscal Year2019).”
Mayor Danny Dunagan – who operates several local businesses – said, “As hard as labor is to come by today…anything to get them in there (is needed).”
The city council will vote on the resolution to submit the request at their next voting session: Tuesday, November 21, 5:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex on Queen City Parkway.
