Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutS Grant - North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant FundingState of North Carolina County of Orange APPENDIX A CERTIFIED STATEMENT li'Y 2006 - 2007 RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ~~,~~=~~d ~~ ~~. Whereas Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the North Cazolina General Statutes and the Governor of North Cazolina have designated the North Carolina Department of Transportation as the agency responsible for administering all federal and/or state programs related to public transportation, and grants the department authority to do all things required in applicable federal andlor state legislation to properly administer the public transportation programs within the State of North Cazolina; 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 FY 2006 - 2007 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAD) application; WHEREAS, information regarding use of the funds will be provided at such time and in such a manner as the department may require; WHEREAS, ROAP funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007; WHEREAS, any interest earned on ROAP funds will be expended for eligible program uses as specified in the ROAD 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: Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program 1. The funds received from G.S. 136-44.27 will be used to provide additional transportation services for the elderly and disabled, exceeding the quantity of trips provided prior to receipt of the funds. 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. Application for Operating Assistance FY06-07 Rural Operating Assistance Program Funds Name of Applicant ~Counh~l County of Orange Gouniy nZanager : Mr. John Link CouniS, ~4anager's £ma3l.Adc9ress j11n1C~CO.Oran~e.llC.uS ` CountyFihance Officer Mr. Ken Chavious c~o-5 E,-~~.~aaress chaviousCa~co.oran et? nc.us - h~a~~ng.4aaress . p.O.Box 8181, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 Transportation S•stem , Cantact Person ~ Terry E~,r:aaare5s aterry@co.orange.nc.us Application Instructions • Read each question carefully. Be sure to answer all the questions. • Your application can be any length. Answer questions with complete sentences, providing no more detail than needed to concisely answer the question. • Click on the gray rectangle and type your answer. As you type, the text will automatically wrap to the next row. Your answer may wrap to the next page if necessary. • If you have questions regarding this application, contact your assigned NCDOT-PTD Regional Transportation Program Consultant. III. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS -EDTAP These funds maybe sub-allocated to human service agencies in the county. These funds are intended to assist elderly or disabled individuals that do not qualify for transportation assistance from other funding programs with stricter eligibility criteria. These funds may not supplant agency funds for transportation. EDTAP-1 How were the projected units of service with EDTAP funds determined? Can EDTAP funded services be provided throughout the twelve months of FY2007 with the allocated funds? see the Sub-allocation Worksheet in Appendix B. The projected units are determined through historical data, 2000 census, and information through Department on Aging. All EDTAP funds are expensed each year with additional funds provided through the county to continue services throughout the year. OPT will continue to use it's EDTAP allocation to provide medicaUsociaUeducational transportation for the sixty-plus and disabled residents of orange County. EDTAP-2 How will client eligibility for EDTAP funded services be documented by all the agencies receiving a sub-allocation of EDTAP funds from the county? No agencies receive EDTAP funds; all funds are expensed through Orange Public Transportation. Client registration eligibility forms are completed before clients are provided transportation. These forms are updated yearly and filed in a database. EDTAP-3 How do elderly and disabled persons in your county receive EDTAP funded services if they are not human service agency clients? EDTAP funds are available for all Orange County residents that meet the criteria and complete the proper forms. Disabled clients are required to have a physician's signature and elderly must provide proof of age. Open forums and brochures are distributed to inform the public of these services. All services are provided through demand response requests. EDTAP-4 Describe any out-of-county transportation services to be provided using EDTAP funds. EDTAP funds are not utilized for out of county trips. EDTAP-5 Describe how EDTAP funded services and expenditures will be monitored throughout the yeaz to assure that program guidelines aze being. followed. EDTAP funds are monitored through the completed forms and updates of new forms. Clients receive instructions on the EDTAP program and OPT staff review and discuss issues with all clients. EDTAP-6 What performance measurements will be used to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the EDTAP funded services. What methods will be used to evaluate the delivery of these services? When will the Servlces be evaluated? Sample Measures ofE,~"ectiveness for Transit Systems are in Appendix D. The service is evaluated on a quarterly basis and reviewed with the Transportation Services Board. Riders per mile, riders per hour, and growth in ridership are used as performance measures for EDTAP funded trips. III. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS - NCDOT Work FirstlEmployment Funds These funds can only be sub-allocated to the Department of Social Services and the Rural Public Transportation System in your county. WF/EMP-1 How were the projected units of service with WF/EMP funds determined? Can WF/EMP funded services be provided throughout the twelve months of FY2007 with the allocated funds? see the sub-allocation Worksheet in Appendix B. Funds will be used for WF other services. Units will be determined by the number of clients receiving auto repairs, insurance assistance or tam service. Anticipated projected level of funding to be exhausted in first 8 months of fiscal year based on four years of historical data evaluation and current needs determined. WF/EMP-2 How will client eligibility for WF/EMP funded services be documented by either of the agencies receiving asub-allocation of WF/BMP funds from the county? Individual clients will submit an application for assistance for fund administrator's approval. Developed eligibility criteria and a Quality Control Checklist will be used to validate county residence, low income status, employment status, current driver's license and previous submissions for assistance. WF/EMP-3 How do citizens in your county receive WF/EMP funded services if they are not DSS clients? Citizens apply for assistance directly to the County Transportation Coordinator located within the Department on Aging and Transportation. Information on services is provided through the County web site, community forums (to include DSS presentations and workshops), and brochures. WF/EMP-5 Describe any out-of-county transportation services to be provided using WF/EMP funds. None WF/EMP-6 Describe the process for determining when it is appropriate or necessary to transfer WFl]rMP funds to EDTAP or RGP funds as allowed in the program guidelines? Do not anticipate transfer of funds as Work First program will fully exhaust projected funds prior to the end of the fiscal year. Overwhelming demand for the program precludes transfer to other sources. WF/EMP-7 Describe how WF/EMP funded services and expenditures will be monitored throughout the yeaz to assure that program guidelines are being followed. Weekly accounting of funds is reconciled from funds provided and funds expended to date. Each client application is reviewed and approved based on eligibility criteria and rechecked against a developed Quality Control Checklist. Only legitimate repair businesses, insurance companies and taxi services that are validated and do formal business with the county are utilized. Only essential repairs, insurance or tai~i services are provided based on indept review by the fund manager. 2 WF/EMP-8 What performance measurements will be used to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the WF/E1vIP funded services. What methods will be used to evaluate the delivery of these services? When will the services be evaluated? Sample Measures of E~'ectiveness for Transit Systems are in Appendix D. WF Other Services performance measurements include; fund allocation/#clients to maximize the number of clients served, as compared to previous four years of historical data. Objective is to maximize the number of clients served based on funding provided. Response time to client inquiry will be evaluated annually. Objective is to address client's inquiry within 1 business day with a 90% effectiveness rate. Delivery of services is evaluated by monthly review of services provided to insure repairs, insurance or taxi services were legitimate, essential and acquired at the most reasonable cost. Objective is 95% of all cases. III. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS -Formula Rural General Public Funds These funds aze intended to provide transportation services for individuals who are not human service agency clients. The county must sub-allocate these funds to the local rural public transportation system RGP-1 Describe the geographic azea in which the rural general public transportation services will be provided. Triangle Transit Authority and Orange Public transportation coordinate a public route between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill. All routes are open to the public on a seat available basis. All residents of rural Orange County (outside Chapel HiWCarrboro) are eligible for public transportation. RGP-2 How were the projected units of service with RGP funds determined? Can RGP funded services be provided throughout the twelve months of FY2007 (CT System requirement) with the allocated funds? see the Sub- allocation Worksheet in Appendix B. Historical data, projected ridership through TTA/OPT coordinated route, advanced planning with developers, and latest census reports provide information regarding the units of service. RGP funds do not fund all public ridership funds for the entire year; Orange County provides funds to continue the service. RGP-3 What service design(s) will be used to deliver RGP funded transportation services? Does the rural public transportation system in your county provide RGP funded services with any service limitations? if yes, describe these limitations (e.g. days, hours, zones, curb to curb, space available basis only, no out-of-county trips, distance from destination or transit station). TTA and OPT track all data regarding the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill route (riders per hour, revenues, cost per hour, etc.). All routes are available for public ridership on a seat available basis with curb-to-curb services. OPT provides public transit Monday through Friday from 6:15 a.m to 7:15 p.m. There are no out of county public routes available through Orange County. RGP-4 Has the service design for RGP funded services changed in the last twelve months? If yes, describe the process for altering or changing service designs. The coordinated route between TTA and OPT began January 3, 2006. The original route provided 5 round trips per day, Monday through Friday (6:30 a.m - 5:00 p.m.) between Hillsborough to Chapel Hill. The new expanded route provides 10 round trips per day between the two cities from 6:15 a.m. - 7:15 p.m. The new route provides more options for employment, medical, educational, and social travel between the two urban areas. RGP-5 Describe the plan for marketing the RGP funded services to the target market. How are persons with disabilities included in the marketing plan? The TTA/OPT route was marketed through local media (television, newspaper) before the route began. An official start date for the route was determined and marketed with local officials, public, and agencies to provide more notice of the route. Continuous marketing efforts continue to enhance ridership. Persons with disabilities may access the vehicle (lift equipped) or may utilize paratransit services though Orange Public Transportation. RGP-6 Will a passenger pay for RGP service? Describe the proposed fare structure? The fare structure for the ublic route is as follows: General ublic $2.00 er tri ; Elderl $1.00 er tri ; Disabled $1.00 per trip; Children under the age of 10 ride free. Regional passes, day passes transfers, and other specialty passes may be purchased for this route. RGP-7 Descnbe how the local match requirement for RGP funds will be met. The local match funds are met through the revenue generated through fare collection. Other funds such as cost share and ticket sells also provide funds for local match. RGP-8 Descnbe how RGP funded services and expenditures will be monitored throughout the yeaz to assure that program guidelines are being followed. TTAlOPT coordinated the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill route utilizing a computerized fare boz, which collects all ridership data. This will assist in the monitoring of RGP funds. Riders utilizing other routes as public are captured in the CT5 software program RGP-9 What performance measurements will be used to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the RGP funded services. What methods will be used to evaluate the delivery of these services? When will the services be evaluated? Sample Measures of Efj'ecriveness for Transit Systems are in Appendix D. TTA/OPT use measures to include customer service evaluations, cost per trip, revenues collected, riders per hour, riders per mile, and hours of service. All factors will determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the route. 4 * ~ 3. The funds received will be used in a manner consistent with the local Transportation Development Plan (TDP) or Community Transportation Services Plan (CTSP) and application approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Board of Commissioners. Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance Program 1. The purpose of these transportation funds is to support transitional transportation needs of Work First participants after eligibility for cash assistance has concluded and/other specified general public employment transportation needs. The funds maybe transferred to the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program or the Rural General Public Program if not needed for Work First transportation. 2. The funds aze limited to use by the designated local entity(s) specified in the ROAD application, or any revisions or amendments thereto. Rural General Public Program 1. The funds will be used in a manner consistent with the Rural General Public Transportation Project Description. 2. The funds will not be used to provide human service agency's trips. WITNESS my hand and officials .~ ~• ~ day of , 20 .,. Attest: n n ~ .a • _h~ ~ ~ ~ _ Certifying Official* ~or~~"",~w~' Hof State of North Carolina County of Orangg Manager/, *Note that the signatures on this statement should be those of three (3) separate individuals.