HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-2008-4hORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 6, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~' {'1
SUBJECT: Ratify the Submission of Joint Application for Funding an Experimental Chapel
Hill/Carrboro Cross Town Senior Shuttle ,
DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Funding Application Introduction
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry Passmore 245-2009
AI Terry 245-2008
PURPOSE: To ratify staff's submission of a joint funding application for a Chapel Hill/Carrboro
Cross Town Senior Shuttle in cooperation with the Chapel Hill Transit and Orange Public
Transportation.
BACKGROUND: The Durham/Chapel Hill/Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC
MPO) is soliciting projects that have been derived from the DCHC-MPO's adopted Coordinated
Public Transportation -Human Services Transportation Plan. "New Freedom" funds are
intended to fund innovative and flexible programs that identify the transportation needs of
individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with limited incomes. Coordinating
service between Chapel Hill Transit and Orange Public Transportation would enable residents to
visit the Seymour Senior Center Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. An application was jointly prepared and if approved, project funds would begin FY2008-09.
The application was due February 29, 2008 and provided necessary background studies of both
systems to show impacts to existing services, possibilities for future coordinated efforts, and
possible improvements to both systems. Staff submitted the application by the February 29,
2008 deadline and requests the Board's ratification of the submission. Staff can withdraw the
application if the Board directs this to occur.
The older population of Orange County is projected to double in 2020, especially among the
75+. With this increase in the older population, new services must be offered to ensure seniors,
with a wide range of mobility needs, can access City and County services. Chapel Hill Transit
would benefit from coordination with Orange Public Transportation by offering a more frequent
service to access designated stops to include the Seymour Center and relieve some E-Z Rider
transportation for more disabled clients.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No Orange County funds will be used to support this application. The
required 50% local match will be requested from Chapel Hill Transit. Discussions are under way
with Chapel Hill transit concerning the financial impact, services changes, and route
configuration changes.
2
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board ratify staff having
collaboratively prepared and submitted a joint application for New Freedom funds to operate an
experimental Chapel Hill/Carrboro Cross Town Senior Shuttle.
0
~~C
DURHAM -CHAPEL HILL - CARRBORO -,METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.
FUNDING APPLIC~.TI~N
r® rams
Intr®uCt~®n
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) reauthorized
federal transportation funding programs through Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2009. SAFETEA-LU
promotes more efficient and effective Federal surface transportation programs by focusing on
transportation issues of national significance, while giving State and local transportation
decision makers more flexibility for solving transportation problems in their communities.
SAFETEA-LU continues. a strong fundamental core formula program emphasis coupled with
targeted investment, featuring Safety, Equity, Innovative Finance, Congestion Relief, Mobility
and Productivity, Efficiency, and the Environment.
With the passage of . SAFETEA-LU, transportation projects receiving funding under the ]ob
Access/Reverse Commute program or the New Freedom program must be "derived from a
locally developed, coordinated public transit -human services transportation plan." Further,
the law requires that this plan be "developed through a process that includes representatives
of public, private, and nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation
by the public:"
This funding app/ication addresses two Federa/ Transit Administration FTA
funded by SAFEIEA-LU; .706 Access/Reverse Commute (3ARC, Section 5326) and rlVew
Freedom (Section 53.7),
Background on'ARC and IVew Freedom Funds
The .lob Access Reverse Commute grant program is intended to fund "the development and
maintenance of transportation services designed to transport welfare recipients and eligible
low-income individuals to and from jobs and activities related to their employment." For the
two federal fiscal years, 2007 and 2008, the Durham urbanized area, which includes Chapel
Hill, has remaining apportionments totaling approximately $180,000. These funds must be put
into a grant within three years.
According to FTA, the purpose of the New Freedom Program is to provide improved public
transportation services, and alternatives to public transportation, for people with disabilities,
beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). For the three
federal fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008 the Durham urbanized area has remaining
~~
~~~ ~®
DURHAM -CHAPEL HILL - CARRBORO -METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
apportionments of approximately $170,000. These funds also must be put into a grant within
three years.
Eligibili vervievv: ,ARC anti New freed®rn funds
Elicaible A~piican~s
]ARC and New Freedom is a formula grant program for member jurisdictions in the Durham,
Chapel Hill - Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization. Applicants may include state or
local government authorities; private non-profit organizations; and operators of public
transportation services including private operators of public transportation services.
Eliaihle Ilse of Program Funds:
JARC and New Freedom program funds are intended to fund innovative .and flexible programs
that identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and
individuals with. limited incomes. Therefore, it is expected that JARC and New Freedom funds
be directed to meet these needs by funding new programs or services, or to continue existing
programs.
Eli4ible Proiec~°
JARC and New Freedom funds may be used for planning, capital or operating costs of
providing access to jobs; or services and facilities that improve mobility for persons with
disabilities but .not limited to persons who are ADA-certified. Specific project eligibility is
detailed later in this document under each program's description. As well, FTA circulars
providing guidance on applying for JARC and New Freedom funds can be found at: JARC:
http:!/www.fta dot gov/documents/FTA C 9050 1 JARCIi) pdf; New Freedom:
http.//www fta dot aov/documents/FTA C 9045 1 New Freedom~l7 gdf
Further, the Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC-MPO) is
soliciting projects that have been derived from the DCHC-MPO's adopted Coordinated Public
Transportation -Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HSTR). The plan outlines a vision
for improving mobility options for the disabled, aging, and low-income population subgroups
living in the region. SAFEfEA-LU requires that beginning in FFY 2007, projects selected for
funding under the JARC and New Freedom programs must be derived from the locally
developed CPT-HSTP and address service needs and gaps/barriers.. Federal funding of
projects through these two programs will~be utilized to meet plan goals. Selection criteria will
be used to prioritize potential programs and develop a listing of projects. To view the entire
CPT- HST Plan, please visit _htto://www.dchcmpo ora/dmdocuments/CPT HSTP%20
%20adoated%202007-03-14 pdf.
2