HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-20-2011 - 7ao K ~-- d o l l- 030
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 20, 2011
Action Agenda
Item No. -j = (~
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation Rural Operating Assistance
Program (ROAP) Grant Application for FY 2011/2012, and Approval of Budget
Amendment # 2-A
DEPARTMENT: Planning/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Public Hearing Notice
2. Certified Statement
INFORMATION CONTACT:
AI Terry, 245-2002
Pearl Waite, 245-2004
Craig Benedict, 245-2575
PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) grant; to approve the annual FY
2011/2012 ROAP grant application and certified statement; and to approve Budget Amendment
# 2-A.
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 Employment Program (EMPL), 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, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
The County originally budgeted $135,388 for FY 2011-12. Staff has recently been notified that
the County will receive a total of $180,949 in ROAP funds, an increase of $45,561.
Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services agency
transportation in rural Orange County. The EDTAP allocation of $80,370 will allow OPT to
continue to provide medical transportation for the elderly (age sixty and up) 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 provider. All EDTAP service recipients are
required 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.
With an allocation of $33,410 for Employment Transportation Assistance funds, Orange Public
Transportation will 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 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.
Orange Public Transportation has provided Rural General P ublic transportation on a seat
.available basis for many years. The development of the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill public
route, no longer funded through Triangle Transit, and the Hillsborough Circulator public route
are subsidized through RGP allocated funds. The FY 2011/2012 Rural General Public funds
are $67,169 to support general public routes.
The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2011
through June 30, 2012. The FY 2012 ROAP individual programs totals are:
EDTAP $80,370
EMPL $33,410
RGP $67,169
TOTAL $180,949
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County will provide matching funds by requiring a $3.00 co-pay
per EDTAP trip. Orange County was awarded a total of $126,133 for FY 2010/2011 and the
County request for FY 2011/2012 is $180,949, an increase of $54,816. The FY 2011/2012
budget allocated $135,388.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Conduct the required ROAP public hearing for public comments;
2. Close the Public Hearing;
3. Approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds totaling 180 949
for FY 2011 /2012;
4. Authorize the Chair and County Manager to sign the Certified Statement of Participation;
and
5. Approve Budget Amendment # 2-A to include the additional $45,561 in ROAP funds in
OPT's budget.
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Attachment 1
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 ~Septerrrber 30, 2011 by the county of Orange. The public hearing will
be held on Seutember 20, 2011 at 7:00-nm at the flran~e County com-missioners meeting in the
Southern Human Services Center located at 2501 Homestead Road, Chanel Hill, NC 27516 .
Orange County will provide auxiliary aids and services under the ADA for disablea persons who wish
to participate in the hearing. Anyone requiring special services should contact Al Terry, Transportation
Administrator-at 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) Programprovides operating assistance for
-the transportation of elderly and disabled citizens.
2. Employment Transportation Assistance Program is intended to provide operating assistance for the
transportation- ofpersons 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 1.2011 throu hg_ June
30.2012. The FY2012 ROAP individual program totals are:
PROGRAM TOTAL
EDTAP $80,3 70
EMPL $33,410
RGP $67,169
TOTAL $180,949
This application may be inspected at the Orange Public Transportation Administrative Offices located
at 600 Highway 86 North, Hillsborough, NC 27278 from Monday -Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 um .
Written comments should be directed to Al Terry, Transportation Administrator, 600 Highway 86
North, Hillsborough, NC 27278 before September 19, 2011.
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 Spanish if the county has
1000 or more persons that speak Spanish at home, and have limited English proficiency. A list is provided in
Appendix B of the RDAP State Management Plan. 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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Attachment 2
CERTIFIED STATEMENT
FY 2012
RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAIVI
Orange County
WHEREAS, the state-funded, formula-based Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) administered
by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division provides fending 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 or regional public transportation authorities created pursuant to
Article 25 or Article 26 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes (upon written agreement with the
municipalities or counties served) are 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 counties and eligible
transportation authorities and not to any sub-recipients selected by the county;
WHEREAS, the county finance 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, 2011 to June 30, 2012 regardless
of the date on which ROAP funds are disbursed to the county.
NOW, THEREFORE, by signing below, the duly authorized representatives of the Orange
County, North Carolina certify that the following statements are true and accurate:
• The county employed a documented methodology for sub-allocating ROAD 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.
• 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 FY2412 ROAP can be generated from
faresandJor provided from local funds.
• The county will notify the Mobility Development Specialist assigned to the county if any ROAP
funded services armdiscontinued 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. The letter will describe the process used to make this
determination. Transfer of EMPL 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 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.
• The county is applying for the following amounts of FY 2012 Rural Operating Assistance Program
funds:
State-Funded Rural Operating Assistance Program Allocated Requested
Elderly & Disabled Trans ortation Assistance Pro am (EDTAP) 80,370 80,370
Em to ent Trans ortation Assistance Pro am (EMPL) 33,410 33,410
Rural General Public Program (RGP) 67,169 67,169
TOTAL 180,949 180,949
V~ITNESS my hand and county seal, this
Signature of Board 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