HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-21-2009 - 4sORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 21, 2009
Action Agenda
Item No. ~' ' ~'
SUBJECT: Unobligated 2006-2012 Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO)
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Funds
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Lincoln, 245-2594
Craig Benedict, 245-2592
PURPOSE: To consider releasing Orange County's $33,558 unused portion of 2006 - 2012
CMAQ funds from the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO) for use by Chatham
County.
BACKGROUND: Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants are available to
jurisdictions in air quality non-attainment areas designated by the State and the Environmental
Protection Agency. The CMAQ Program requires a minimum 20% local match and reimburses
jurisdictions for project costs through conditions in a Memorandum of Agreement. Projects
must show quantifiable emissions reduction to benefit quality.
TARPO allocated $378,499 (approximately 60% of the total $639,141 in CMAQ funds allocated
to TARPO for 2006-2012) to Orange County and allocated the remainder to Chatham County.
Orange County has an approved project using $344,941 of its TARPO allocation for transit
amenities and for three years' operating assistance for a new intra-Hillsborough transit route to
provide primary service between the park-and-ride lot at the Durham Technical Community
College at Waterstone and the Justice Complex in downtown Hillsborough. That project,
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) project number C-4932, is scheduled to begin this
year and has been approved for the 2009 fast-track process for 100 % funding.
Applications for using the remaining $33,558 of Orange County's 2006-2012 TARPO CMAQ
funds must be submitted to NCDOT by May 1, 2009. Planning staff and Orange Public
Transportation staff have conferred and do not have a project that would be a good match for
the $33,558. Staff does not recommend applying for the unused $33,558 CMAQ funds
because of the local match at a time when there is no pressing need for any proposed project.
The County already has an obligation of a minimum additional $67,320 a year for years 2010
and 2011 for the existing CMAQ project. TARPO anticipates a yearly CMAQ allocation
2
estimated at $171,849 for years 2013 - 2017 (based on anticipated $859,243 CMAQ allocation
which is subject to change based on availability of funds). Using the previous funding split,
TARPO would allocate approximately $101,769 each year (2013 - 2017) for Orange County
projects. Applications for those funds are due this September.
The Town of Pittsboro has an application for Chatham County's TARPO CMAQ funds to
construct sidewalks along NC 87 from US 64 to a roundabout and continuing to a new library
location on the campus of the Chatham County Community College. Pittsboro also has an
unfunded project to add a crosswalk and signal timing with pedestrian "ped" heads at a busy
pedestrian location at the intersection of US 64 and NC 87 that would greatly enhance safety for
users of the new sidewalk project. Orange County's approval of releasing the $33,558 TARPO
CMAQ allocation would enable Pittsboro to construct the crosswalk improvements.
Orange County has two options:
1. Release unused TARPO CMAQ funds for use in Chatham County; or
2. Submit an application for using the $33,558 in CMAQ funds and determine the source of
the required matching funds.
A potential project is the "future parking area" at Cedar Grove Park that could be used for
a park-and-ride lot. The estimated cost is between $45,000 and $50,000. That project
would require a local match between $11,400 and $16,400 (24% - 33% of project costs).
It should be noted there are already approximately 75 parking spaces available that
could be used for park and ride on weekdays and it is not anticipated that Phase I of the
park will need additional parking.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact if Orange County releases the unused
funds.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board release Orange County's
$33,558 unused portion of 2006 - 2012 CMAQ funds from the Triangle Area Rural Planning
Organization (TARPO) for use by Chatham County.