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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-15-2009 - 5bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 15, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. _ s- b SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) and Supplemental ROAP Grant Application for FY 2009/2010 DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Public Hearing Notice 2. Certified Statement INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Passmore 245-2009 AI Terry 245-2002 PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) and to approve the annual FY 2009/2010 ROAP grant application and budget amendment. BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division, designates Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) funds each fiscal year to Orange County. ROAP consolidates the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP), the Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance Program and the Rural General Public (RGP) Program into a single application package. These ROAP funds allow Orange County to continue servicing the above-mentioned programs from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services agency transportation in rural Orange County. The EDTAP allocation of $61,734 in formula and $35,340 in supplemental funds will total $97,074 with no local match. OPT will continue to use its allocation to provide medical transportation for the sixty-plus and disabled residents of Orange County. Additionally, OPT will offer one shopping/personal business round trip per week to those two population groups who live outside the Chapel Hill Transit service area and do not have access to the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill Public Route. To the extent possible, trips will be grouped by geographic area per weekday and the destination will be the closest possible provider. All EDTAP service recipients are asked to provide a co-pay of $3.00 per one-way trip. This fee is pro-rated for any individual whose family income is at or below 125% of the poverty level as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Co-payments are utilized to fund additional trips. With an allocation of $11,205 in formula and $13,904 in supplemental funds for Employment Transportation Assistance, Orange Public Transportation (OPT) will receive a total of $25,109. The funds provide former Work First participants or other low-income persons certified for Medicaid or Food Stamps with a maximum of $300 per year to assist with employment related transportation. For vehicle owners, the funds may be used for repairs and/or insurance. For non- vehicle owners the funds may assist with the purchase of bus passes, van/car pool expenses, or possibly a vehicle donated to the Wheels For Work Program. OPT will allocate the Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance funds to the Orange County Social Services Department to administer and complete the required annual service report. Orange Bus has provided the rural general public transportation on a seat available basis for many years. In FY 2004/2005 the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted to coordinate the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill public route with Triangle Transit Authority. In addition, OPT operates five rural routes that have available seating for public passengers to transport seniors to the two Multipurpose Senior Centers coming from Chapel Hill, Bingham, Cheeks, Hillsborough and Cedar Grove townships. The FY 2008/2009 Rural General Public formula funds are $49,632 and $43,647 in supplemental funds for a total of $93,279 to support general public routes. Supplemental funds for FY 2009/2010 will be utilized to continue transportation to the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill and the new Central Orange Senior Center in Hillsborough through public routes and for transportation to Durham Tech Campus. The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2009 through June 30. 2010. The FY2010 ROAP individual program totals are: PROGRAM Formula Supplement TOTAL EDTAP $61,734 $35,340 $97,074 EMPL $11,205 $13,904 $25,109 RGP $49,632 $43,647 $93,279 TOTAL $122,571 $92,891 $215,462 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires no local match. Orange County was awarded a total of $199,292 for FY2008/09 and the County request for FY 2009/2010 is $215,462, an increase of $16,170. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends that the Board: 1. Hold the required ROAP public hearing for public comments, 2. Approve the application for the Rural Operating Assistance Program including supplemental funds totaling $215,462 for FY 2009/2010, 3. Authorize the Chair and Interim Manager to sign the Certified Statement, and 4. Amend the OPT budget to include the ROAP funds with an increase of $16,170 in the operations account. 3 Public Hearing Notice This is to inform the public of the opportunity to attend a public hearing on the proposed Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation no later than September 14, 2009 by the county of Orange , The public hearing will be held on September 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the Orange County commissioners meeting in the Southern Human Services Buildin located at Homestead Road, Chapel Hill N.C Orange County will provide auxiliary aids and services under the ADA for disabled persons who wish to participate in the hearing. Anyone requiring special services should contact Al Terry ,Transportation Manager, 919.245.2002 as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made. The programs included in the Rural Operating Assistance Program application are: Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance (EDTAP) Program provides operating assistance for the transportation of elderly and disabled citizens. This transportation assistance allows for the individual to reside for longer periods in their homes, thereby enhancing their quality of life. For the purpose of EDTAP, an elderly person is defined as one who reaches the age of 60 or more years. A disabled person is defined as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, an individual who has a record of such impairment, or an individual who is regarded as having such impairment. 2. Employment Transportation Assistance Program is intended to provide operating assistance for transitional Work First, Workforce Development Programs and general public employment transportation needs. 3. Rural General Public (RGP) Program funds are intended to provide transportation service to individuals who are not human service agency clients and live in non-urbanized areas. The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is Julv 1, 2009 throu h June 30, 2010. The FY2010 ROAP individual program totals are: PROGRAM TOTAL EDTAP $61,734 EMPL $11,205 RGP $49,632 Su lemental EDTAP 35,340$ Su lemental EMPL $13,904 Su lemental RGP $43,647 TOTAL $215,462 This application may be inspected at the Orange Public Transportation Administrative offices located at 600 Highway 86 North. Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 from Monday through Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm Written comments should be directed to Al Terry, Transportation Manager, 600 Highway 86 North. Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 ,before September 14, 2009 (date). Note: An original copy of the published Public Hearing Notice must be attached to a signed Affidavit of Publication. Both the Public Hearing Notice and the Affidavit of Publication must be submitted with the Rural Operating Assistance Program application. CERTIFIED STATEMENT ~- FY 2010 County of Orange RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Whereas Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the North Carolina General Statutes and the Governor of North Carolina have designated the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as the agency responsible for administering all federal and/or state programs related to public transportation, and grants NCDOT authority to do all things required in applicable federal and/or state legislation to properly administer the public transportation programs within the State of North Carolina; WHEREAS, G.S. 136-44.27 established the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program; WHEREAS, funds will be used for transportation related expenditures as specified in the FY2010 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application; WHEREAS, information regarding use of the funds will be provided at such time and in such a manner as NCDOT may require; WHEREAS, it is the policy of the North Carolina Department of Transportation that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Minority Owned Business Enterprises and Women Owned Business Enterprises shall have the opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts financed in whole or part by Federal and State funds in order to create a level playing field, and the county shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex in the performance of this contract. WHEREAS, ROAP funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010; WHEREAS, any interest earned on ROAP funds will be expended for eligible program uses as specified in the ROAP application; and WHEREAS, the County will include ROAP funds received and expended in its annual independent audit on the schedule of federal and state financial assistance. Funds passed through to other agencies will be identified as such. This is to certify that the undersigned is duly elected, qualified and acting chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Orange North Carolina, and that the following statements are true and accurate: Check the box if the county's application includes a request for funding. ® Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program 1. The funds received from G.S. 136-44.27 will be used to provide transportation services for the elderly. and disabled allowing individuals to reside for a longer period in their homes, thereby enhancing their quality of life. 2. The funds will not be used to supplant or replace existing federal, state or local funds designated to provide elderly and disabled transportation services in the county. 5 ~ Emnloyment Transportation Assistance Pro ram 1. The funds will be used to assist transitional Work First participants after eligibility for cash assistance has concluded, participants in local Workforce Development Programs, and/or the general public with employment-related transportation needs The funds will be suballocated to the local Department of Social Services, Work Force Development Program or the community transportation system for employment transportation. 3. The funds will be transferred to the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program or the Rural General Public Program after an assessment of employment transportation needs in the service area indicates that employment transportation needs are substantially being met. This assessment will occur prior to any transfer of funds and following submission of a statement to that effect from the County Manager to the Public Transportation Division. Rural General Public Pro ram 1. The funds will be limited to use by the community transportation system 2. The funds will not be used to provide human service agency trips. 3. The funds will be used to provide transportation to residents in the non-urbanized area of the county. ® Supplemental Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Progr,_am 1. The funds will be used according to the eligibility criteria and restrictions provided in the EDTAP Guidelines. 2. The funds will be used to initiate new or expanded services or continue a service that began operating after July 1, 2006 with Supplemental EDTAP funds as the funding source. ® Supplemental Employment Transportation Assistance Program 1. The funds will be used according to the eligibility criteria and restrictions provided in the EMPL Guidelines. 2. The funds will be used to initiate new or expanded services or continue a service that began operating after July 1, 2006 with Supplemental EMPL funds as the funding source. ® Supplemental Rural General Public Program 1. The funds will be used according to the eligibility criteria and restrictions provided in the RGP Guidelines. 2. The funds will be used to initiate new or expanded services or continue a service that began operating after July 1, 2006 with Supplemental RGP funds as the funding source. WITNESS my hand and official seal, this day of 20 Attest: Signature, Board of County Commissioners Chairperson Signature, County Manager/Administrator Print Name: Print Name: