HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-01-2013 - 6aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 1, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 6 -a
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance
Program (ROAP) Grant Application for FY 2013/2014
DEPARTMENT: Planning /Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Public Hearing Notice
2. Certified Statement
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Benedict, 245 -2592
Al Terry, 245 -2002
Pearl Waite, 245 -2004
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PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program
(ROAP) grant and to approve the annual FY 2013/2014 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 Employment 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, 2013 through June 30, 2014.
Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services agency
transportation in rural Orange County. The EDTAP allocation of $80,561 will allow OPT to
continue 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 provider. All EDTAP service recipients are required to provide a
co -pay of $3 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 $34,980 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- owning 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 Orange County Department of Social
Services to administer and complete the required annual service report.
Orange Public Transportation has provided Rural General Public 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 2013/2014 Rural General Public funds
are $92,624 to support general public routes.
The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2013
through June 30, 2014. The FY 2013 -2014 ROAP individual programs totals are:
EDTAP
$80,561
EMPL
$34,980
RGP
$92,624
TOTAL $208,165
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires a local 10%
which will provided by a $3 co -pay per EDTAP trip. Orange County was awarded a total of
$181,761 for FY 2012/2013, and the County request for FY 2013/2014 is $208,165.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Interim Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Conduct and then close the required ROAP public hearing for public comments;
2. Approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds totaling $208,165
for FY 2013/2014; and
3. Authorize the Chair and Interim County Manager to sign the Certified Statement of
Participation.
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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 October 18, 2013 by Orange County. The public hearing will be held on
October 1, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Orange commissioners meeting in the Hillsborough Social Services
office located at 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278. 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 Pearl Waite 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) Program provides operating assistance for
the public transportation of elderly and disabled citizens.
2. Employment Transportation Assistance Program provides operating assistance for the public
transportation of persons with employment related transportation needs.
3. Rural General Public (RGP) Program provides operating assistance for the public transportation of
persons living in non -urban areas of the county.
The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2013 through June
30, 2014. The FY2014 ROAP individual program totals are:
PROGRAM
TOTAL
EDTAP
$80,561
EMPL
$34,980
RGP
$92,624
TOTAL
$208,165
This application may be inspected at the Orange County Public Transportation Administrative Office
located at 600 Highway 86 North, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday thru Friday. Written comments should be directed to Pearl Waite, 600 Highway 86 North,
Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 before October 1, 2013.
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Attachment 2
CERTIFIED STATEMENT
FY2014
RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
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 funding for
the operating cost of passenger trips 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 recipients 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 State Management Plan. 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 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, 2013 to June 30, 2014 regardless
of the date on which ROAP funds are disbursed to the county.
NOW, THEREFORE, by signing below, the duly authorized representatives of Orange
County North Carolina 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 transportation service 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 provided throughout the
period of performance.
• The county will only use the ROAP funds to provide trips 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 FY2014 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 will provide an accounting of trips and expenditures in a semi - annual report and a final
year -end report 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 FY2014 Rural Operating Assistance Program
funds:
/0/M
/ I
/
Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP)
$80,561
$80,561
Employment Transportation Assistance Program (EMPL)
$34,980
$34,980
Rural General Public Program (RGP)
1 $92,624
1 $92,624
TOTAL
$208,165 _F
$208,165
WITNESS my hand and county seal, this
Signature of Board of County Manager /Administrator
Printed Name of County Manager/Administrator
State of North Carolina County of
County Seal Here
day of , 20
Signature of Board of County Commissioners Chairperson
Printed Name of Chairperson
Signature of County Finance Officer
Printed Name of County Finance Officer