HomeMy WebLinkAboutNS Grant - N C Dept of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) & Supplemental ROAP Grant Application FY 2010/2011REVISED 8/17/10
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ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 17, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. (~ ' 0.
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance
Program (ROAP) and Supplemental ROAP Grant Application for FY 2010/2011
DEPARTMENT: Planning/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Public Hearing Notice
2. Certified Statement
INFORMATION CONTACT:
AI Terry, 245-2002
Craig Benedict, Planning Director
245-2592
PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) and to approve the annual FY
2010/2011 ROAP grant application and certified statement.
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/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, 2010 through June 30, 2011. Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead
agency for public and human services agency transportation in rural Orange County.
Elderly/Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP)
EDTAP allocations of 61 601 in formula and 35 509 in supplemental funds will total 97 110
with no local match requirements. OPT will continue to use its allocation to provide medical
transportation for the sixty-plus and disabled residents of Orange County. To the extent
possible, trips will be grouped by geographic area per weekday and the destination will be the
closest possible provider. This is a demand response service. 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 NC
Department of Health and Human Services. Co-payments are utilized to fund additional trips.
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Headley Employment Transportation Assistance (EMPL)
With allocations of 15 745 in formula and 19 748 in supplemental funds for Employment
Transportation Assistance, Orange Public Transportation (OPT) will receive a total of 35 493.
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 residents the funds may assist. with the purchase of bus passes, van/car pool
expenses, or possibly gas coupons. OPT allocates the Work First Transitional/Employment
Transportation Program funds to the Orange County. Department of Social Services to
administer and complete the required annual service report.
Rural General Public (RGP)
Orange Public Transportation has provided rural general public transportation on a seat
available basis (for general public) for many years. In FY 2004/2005 Orange County Board of
Commissioners voted to coordinate the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill public route with Triangle
Transit. In addition, OPT operates five rural routes to transport seniors to the two Multipurpose
Senior Centers coming from Chapel Hill, Bingham, Cheeks, Hillsborough and Cedar Grove
townships that have available seating for public passengers. The FY 2010/2011 Rural General
Public formula funds are 48 787 and 43 225 in supplemental funds for a total of 92 012 to
support general public routes.
The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2010
through June 30 2011. The FY 2011 ROAP individual program totals are:
PROGRAM FORMULA Supplemental TOTAL
EDTAP $61,601 $35,509 $97,110
EMPL $15,745 $19,748 $35,493
RGP $48,787 $43,225 $92,012
TOTAL $126,133 $98,482 $224,615
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires no local match.
Orange County was awarded a total of $215,462 for FY 2009/2010 and the County request for
FY 2010/2011 is 224 615, an increase of 9 153. There was a projection included in the
FY2010/2011 budget that did not include the increase. -
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Hold a required ROAP public hearing for public comments,
2. Approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program including supplemental
funds totaling 224 615 for FY 2010/2011,
3. Authorize the Chair and County Manager to sign the Certification Statement of
Participation, and
4. Amend the OPT budget to include the ROAP funds with an increase of 9 153 in the
operations account and make the associated budget amendments.
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 August 31, 2010 by the county of Orange. The public hearing will be held
on August 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Orange County commissioners meeting in the Department of
Social Services Meeting Room located at 113 Mavo Street, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278. Orange
Coun 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 AI Terry, 919-245-2008 as
soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.
The programs included in the Rural Operating Assistance Program application are:
1. Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance (EDTAP) Program provides operating assistance for
the transportation of elderly and disabled citizens.
2. Employment Transportation Assistance Program is intended to provide operating assistance for the
transportation of persons with employment related transportation needs.
3. Rural General Public (RGP) Program funds are intended to provide operating assistance for the
transportation of individuals who do not have human service agency assistance to pay for their
transportation and live in non-urbanized areas.
The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2010 throu h June
30, 2011. The FY2011 ROAP individual program totals are:
PROGRAM TOTAL
EDTAP $61,601
EMPL $15,745
RGP $48,787
Su lemental EDTAP $35,509
Su lemental EMPL $19,748
Su lemental RGP $43,225
TOTAL $224,61 S
This application may be inspected at the Orange Public Transportation Administrative Office located
at 600 Highway 86 North, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 from 8:00 a.m: 5:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday. Written comments should be directed to Mr. Al Terry, Transportation Administrator, 600
Highway 86 North, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278, before August 17, 2010.
Note: The public hearing notices must be published at least once, not less than seven (7) days and not more than
fourteen (14) days before the scheduled public hearing. This notice must be published in English and some other
language based on the Limited English Proficiency population of the county. 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.
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CERTIFIED STATEMENT
FY 2011
RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
County of Orange
WI~REAS, the state-funded, formula-based Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) administered
by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division provides funding for
the operating cost of passenger trips and for other transportation services for counties within the state;
WHEREAS, the county uses the most recent transportation plans (i.e. CTSP, CTIP, LCP) available and
other public involvement strategies to learn about the transportation needs of agencies and individuals in
the county before determining the sub-allocation of these ROAP funds;
WHEREAS, the county government is the only eligible recipient of Rural Operating Assistance Program
funds which are allocated to the counties based on a formula as described in the Program Guidelines
included in the ROAP application. NCDOT will disburse the ROAP funds only to the county and not to
any sub-recipients selected by the county;
WHEREAS, the county fmance officer will be considered the county official accountable for the
administration of the Rural Operating Assistance Program in the county, unless otherwise designated by
the Board of County Commissioners;
WHEREAS, the passenger trips and transportation services provided with ROAP funds must be
accessible to individuals with disabilities and be provided without discrimination on the basis of national
origin, creed, age, race or gender (FTA C 4702.1A, FTA C 4704.1, Americans with Disabilities Act
1990); and
WHEREAS, the period of performance for these funds will be July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 regardless
of the date on which ROAP funds are disbursed to the county.
NOW, THEREFORE, by signing below, the duly authorized representatives of the County
of North Carolin a certify that the following statements are true and accurate:
• The county employed a documented methodology for sub-allocating ROAP funds that involved the
participation of eligible agencies and citizens. Outreach efforts to include the participation of the
elderly and individuals with disabilities, persons with limited English proficiency, minorities and low
income persons in the county's sub-allocation decision have been documented.
• The county will advise any sub-recipients about the source of the ROAP funds, specific program
requirements and restrictions, eligible program expenses and reporting requirements. The county will
be responsible for invoicing any sub-recipients for unexpended ROAP funds as needed.
• The county will monitor ROAP funded services routinely to verify that ROAP funds are being spent
on allowable activities and that the eligibility of service recipients is being properly documented. The
county will maintain records of trips and services for five years that prove that an eligible citizen was
provided an eligible service or trip on the billed date, by whatever conveyance at the specified cost.
• The county will be responsible for monitoring the safety, quality and cost of ROAP funded services
and assures that any procurements by subrecipients for contracted services will follow state
guidelines.
• The county will conduct regular evaluations of ROAP funded passenger trips and transportation
services provided throughout the period of performance.
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• The county will only use the ROAP funds to provide trips and other transportation services when
other funding sources are not available for the same purpose or the other funding sources for the same
purpose have been completely exhausted.
• The county assures that the required matching funds for the FY2011 ROAP can be generated from
fares and/or provided from local funds.
• The county will notify the Mobility Development Specialist assigned to the county if any ROAP
funded services are discontinued before the end of the period of performance due to the lack of
funding. No additional ROAP funds will be available.
• The county manager will provide written assurance to the Public Transportation Division that the
employment transportation needs in the county have been met prior to transferring any Employment
Transportation Program (EMPL) funds or Supplemental EMPL funds. The letter will describe the
process used to make this determination. Transfer of EMPL or SuppEMPL funds is prohibited if
there are any unmet needs or service strategies in the Coordinated Public Transit -Human Services
Transportation Plan that have not been addressed.
• The county will provide an accounting of trips, services and expenditures in semi-annual reports to
NCDOT -Public Transportation Division or its designee.
• Any interest earned on the ROAP funds will be expended for eligible program uses as specified in the
ROAP application. The County will include ROAD funds received and expended in its annual
independent audit on the schedule of federal and state fmancial assistance. Funds passed through to
other agencies will be identified as such.
• The county is applying for the following amounts of FY 2011 Rural Operating Assistance Program
funds:
State-Funded Rural Operating Assistance Program Allocated Requested
Elderly & Disabled Trans ortation Assistance Program (EDTAP) $61,601. $6.1,601
Em to ent Trans ortation Assistance Pro am (EMPL) $15,745 $15,745
Rural General Public Pro am (RGP) $48,787 $48,787
Su lemental EDTAP $35,509 $35,509
Su lemental EMPL $19,748 $19,748
Su lemental RGP $43,225 $43,225
TOTAL $224,615 $224,615
WITNESS my hand and county seal, this
Signature of County Manager/Administrator
Printed Name of County Manager/Administrator
day of 20
Signature of Board of County Commissioners Chairperson
Printed Name of Chairperson
State of North Carolina County of
County Seal Here
Signature of County Finance Officer
Printed Name of County Finance Officer