HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-21-2014 - 5aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 21, 2014
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 -a
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SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation Rural Operating Assistance
Program (ROAP) Grant Application for FY 2015
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) Yes
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1) Public Hearing Notice Bret Martin, Transportation Planner, 919 - 245 -2582
2) Certified Statement Peter Murphy, Transportation Administrator, 919 -245-
2002
Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 919 - 245 -2592
PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program
(ROAP) grant and to approve the annual FY 2015 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 (EMPL), and the Rural General Public (RGP) Program into
a single application package. These ROAP funds allow Orange County to continue providing
the above mentioned programs from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The amounts being
made available for each respective program for FY 2015 are:
Program
Amount
Elderly /Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP)
$73,344
Employment Transportation Assistance Program (EMPL)
$30,893
Rural General Public Program (RGP)
$70,085
TOTAL
$174,322
Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services
transportation in central and rural Orange County. The EDTAP allocation of $73,344 will allow
OPT to continue to provide medical appointment transportation for elderly (age 60 +) and
disabled residents of Orange County. To the extent possible, medical appointment trips are
grouped by geographic area per weekday, and the destination is the closest provider. All
EDTAP service recipients are required to provide a copay /fare of $3.00 per one -way trip.
Copayments are utilized to fund additional eligible trips beyond those that are supported by the
State EDTAP grant.
The majority of the $30,893 allocation for the Employment Transportation Assistance program
will be made available for the Department of Social Services' use in assisting former Work First
participants or other low- income persons certified for Medicaid or Food Stamps with
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employment - related transportation. The funds may be used to fund transportation to a qualified
recipient's workplace, job interviews, job fairs, job readiness activities, or GED classes. The
funds may also be used to transport the children of a qualified recipient to child care.
OPT has provided rural general public transportation on a seat - available basis for many years
on three (3) deviated fixed - routes (one Hillsborough area route and two transfer routes from the
Chapel Hill area) that are also designed to provide transportation to work opportunities and
programs for persons with developmental disabilities. RGP funds have also been used in the
past to fund the Route 420 midday service (Hillsborough to Chapel Hill shuttle); however, this
service is no longer eligible to make use of RGP funding due to the expansion of the Durham
Urbanized Area (UZA) boundary that encompassed stop locations associated with the service
that were previously located outside the UZA boundary. RGP funds are ineligible for use within
UZAs. The FY 2015 Rural General Public funds are $70,085.
The period of performance for FY 2015 Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1,
2014 through June 30, 2015.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The RGP segment of the ROAP funds requires a 10% local match
($7,008.50), which OPT has incorporated into its FY 2014 -15 budget. Orange County was
awarded a total of $208,165 for FY 2013 -14, which results in a $33,843 reduction in ROAP
funding from FY 2013 -14 to FY 2014 -15.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Conduct the required ROAP application public hearing for public comments;
2. Close the public hearing;
3. Approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds totaling $174,322
for FY 2014 -2015; and
4. Authorize the Chair, County Manager and County Finance Officer 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 24, 2014, by Orange County. The public hearing will be held on
October 21, 2014 at 7:00pm at the Orange County Board of County Commissioners meeting in the board
room of the Southern Human Services Center located at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
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 Peter Murphy at (919) 245-
2002 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.
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, 2014 through June
30, 2015. The FY2015 ROAP individual program totals are:
PROGRAM
TOTAL
EDTAP
$73,344
EMPL
$30,893
RGP
$70,085
TOTAL
$174,322
This application may be inspected at the Orange Public Transportation Administrative Office located at
600 Highway 86 North; Hillsborough, NC 27278 from between the hours of Sam and 5pm, Monday
through Friday. Written comments should be directed to Peter Murphy; 600 Highway 86 North;
Hillsborough, NC 27278 before October 21, 2014.
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ATTACHMENT 2
CERTIFIED STATEMENT
FY2015
RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
County of Orange
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, 2014 to June 30, 2015 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 Orange 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.
ATTACHMENT 2
• 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 FY2015 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 FY2015 Rural Operating Assistance Program
funds:
State- Funded Rural 00erating Assistance Program
Allocated
Requested
Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP)
$73,344
$73,344
Employment Transportation Assistance Program (EMPL)
$30,893
$30,893
Rural General Public Program (RGP)
$70,085
$70,085
TOTAL
$174,322
$174,322
WITNESS my hand and county seal, this
Signature of County Manager /Administrator
day of , 20
Signature of Board of County Commissioners Chairperson
Printed Name of County Manager/Administrator Printed Name of Chairperson
State of North Carolina County of
County Seal Here
Signature of County Finance Officer
Printed Name of County Finance Officer