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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 12-11-07 - 4yURANUE CUUN'rY' GUARD OF CUMMISSIUNERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December ~, 2DD?' Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Safe Raines to School Action Plan A lication DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections .PUBLIC HEARING: YIN} ATTACHMENTS}: INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution of Support and Administration Karen Lincoln, 2452594 Craig Benedict, 245-2592 PURPOSE: To endorse a Resolution of Support and Administration to sponsor an application far a North Carolina Safe Routes to School Action Plan Service Award to develop a multiple schools Action Plan for New Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford Middle School and Cameron Park Elementary School. BACI~GRUUND: The 2oD5 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy far Users ~SAFETEA-LU}federal transportation legislation established the Safe Routs to School SRTS} Program, a federally~funded grant reimbursement program, to provide an opportunity for communities to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school. The North Carolina Department of Transportation ~NCDOT} has set aside $3DD,DDD SRTS dollars to assist communities in preparing Action Plans to address active travel to schools serving Kindergarten ~-Grade S. Each SRTS Action Plan must address engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. The plan will provide a framework to systematically identify obstacles to safe travel and~then identify solutions and prioritize their implementation. Any state, lvcal,~and regional agency, including nonprofit organizations, that can demonstrate the ability to meet the requirements of the federal SRTS program is eligible to apply for an Action Plan. The Action Plan Service Award program is unlike other NCDOT SRTS grants. in that it is not a reimbursement program. The NCDOT will assign a qualified consultant under contract with NCDOT to work with recipients of Action Plan Service Awards, and will directly compensate consultants according to an agreed upon scope of work and agreed upon fee ~$15,DDD $3D,DDD}. This is a competitive program and requires support of local government, schools, school board, .the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and other stakeholder and partners teachers, parents} committed to making changes required to get mare children walking and biking to school. The lead agencylsponsor must be able to enter into an award agreement with NCDOT and is responsible for the following tasks: ® Lead and coordinate public meetings; ® Provide start-up materials maps, other information}; Provide meeting venues; and 2 ® Assist with data collection activities. Grange County has a clearly articulated interest in promoting pedestrian and bike access to Grady Brown Elementary School hand by proximity Cedar Ridge High School} as demonstrated by the Grange Grave Rvad Access Management Plan and endorsement of an Urange Grove Road pedestrian bridge over 1~4D TIP Project EB~498D~ as the County's first priority for inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Program, Walkable Hillsborough is one co~imunity group that is supporting this application, and has offered to help with any related tasks. Walkable Hillsborough members have discussed issues related to making it safe for children to walk or bicycle to school, and have recommended Stanford Middle School hand by connection Grange High} because Stanford represents some of the biggest challenges to planning for connected walking routes that take in bath county and flown jurisdictions. That group also recommends Cameron Park Elementary School because it is located almost directly south of Stanford Diddle School, and a plan may identify a potential walking corridor that serves both schools. Walkable Hillsborough members did not recommend the other schools far the following .reasons: Central Elementary and Hillsbarou~gh Elementary are wholly in Hillsborough and their needs are partially addressed by the Nash Street sidewalk Efland-Cheeks, Pathways and New Hope are in areas having dower density. . The Grange Unified Transportation Board ~C~UTBoard} has delegated choosing recommended ro'ects forthe Action Plan Service Award to the Chair and Vice Chair. The C~UTBoard Chair p1 and Vice Chair recommend that the County pursue an Action Plan Service Award for New Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford Middle School and Cameron Park Elementary School. The timeline forthe Action Plan Service Award is: December ~ ~ , 200 County Commissioner endorsement of Resolution of Support and Administration Dec. 2oD7 ~- Jan.1 D, 2DD8 Prepare application and get required endorsements January ~ D, 2oD8 Gbtain resolution of endorsement from DCHC MPG TAC January ~4, 2DD8 All materials due in NCDGT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation office by ~5:DD pm February 2DD8 Eligible applications distributed to review committee for scoring March 2DD8 Review committee makes recommendations April 2008 Board of Transportation approved selection and applicants are notified November 2DD8 Legal agreement with NCDC~T outlining responsibilities of each party, scope of work and deliverables must be completed and executed FINANCIAL INIpACT: There is no direct f nancial impact associated with this item although it will require staff resources. RFC~JNI~IE~IQATIQN~S~: The Manager recommends that the Board endorse the Resolution of Support and Administration to apply for a NCDaT SRTS Action Plan Service Award, ORANGE couNTY BOARD of couNTYCOMMISSIONERS RESQLUTION of SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION FoR A NORTH CARt]LINA DEPARTMENT of TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN SERVICE AWARD ~`aR DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN FoR NEW GRADY BROWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STANFgRD DIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAMERON PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEREAS, ~7range County gives priority to identified safety needs, especially with regard to schools, and to transportation projects that encourage alternatives to automobile travel; and WHEREAS, the SAFETEA-LU federal transportation reauthorization of August 2405 established the Safe Routes to School Program to empower communities tv improve conditions fvr bicycling and walking tv school; and ~ . WHEREAS, the Safe Route to School SRTS} programs facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools; and WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has appropriated $3oa,o44 to assist communities in preparing Action Plans to address active travel to schools serving Kindergarten -~ Grade S; and , WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has issued a call for projects for SRTS Action Plan Service Awards; and WHEREAS, the Grange Unified Transportation Board endorses making application fvr a SRTS Action Plan Service Award; and NC]W, THEREI=ORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Qrange County Board of County Commissioners that The Board. of County Camr~nissioners is willing and able to enter into an award agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and supports development of a Service Pian that addresses engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation of programs and projects to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to New Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford .diddle School and Cameron Park Elementary School. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners commits to administration of a Service Plan, and charges the Orange County Planning Department to act as program managerfor the preparation, management, and completion of the Action Plan. 4 Upon motion of Commissioner ,~., seconded by Commissioner the fore ping resvlutian was adopted this the ~ ~~~ day of Cecember g ~DD`l. 1, Conna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of grange, North Carolina, ~~ HBRBBY CERTIFY Chet the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on December ~ 1, ADD?', as relates in any way to the adoption ofthe foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said Board. ~ITNFSB my hand and the seal of said County, this , day of ,ADD?. -_ Clerk to the Board of Commissioners ~~ (~ jii~,67 yy • ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION FOR A NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN SERVICE AWARD FOR DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN FOR NEW GRADY BROWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAMERON PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEREAS, Orange County gives priority to identified safety needs, especially with regard to schools, and to transportation projects that encourage alternatives to automobile travel; and WHEREAS, the SAFETEA-LU federal transportation reauthorization of August 2005 established the Safe Routes to School Program to empower communities to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school; and WHEREAS, the Safe Route to School (SRTS) programs facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools; and WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has appropriated $300,000 to assist communities in preparing Action Plans to address active travel to schools serving Kindergarten -Grade 8; and WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has issued a call for projects for SRTS Action Plan Service Awards; and WHEREAS, the Orange Unified Transportation Board endorses making application for a SRTS Action Plan Service Award; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners that The Board of County Commissioners is willing and able to enter into an award agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and supports development of a Service Plan that addresses engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation of programs and projects to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to New Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford Middle School and Cameron Park Elementary School. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners commits to administration of a Service Plan, and charges the Orange County Planning Department to act as program manager for the preparation, management, and completion of the Action Plan. • Upon motion of Commissioner ~_, seconded by Commissioner the foregoing resolution was adopted this the 11~' day of December 2007. I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTII=Y that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on December 11, 2007, as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this/~iay of 007. Clerk to the oard of Commissioners • •