HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-11-2007-4yORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 11, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. --~
SUBJECT: Safe Routes to School Action Plan Application
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections ~ PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resolution of Support and Administration Karen Lincoln, 245-2594
Craig Benedict, 245-2592
PURPOSE: To endorse a Resolution of Support and Administration to sponsor an application
for a North Carolina Safe Routes to School Action Plan Service Award to develop a multiple
schools Action Plan for New Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford Middle School and
Cameron Park Elementary School.
BACKGROUND: The 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) federal transportation legislation established the Safe Routes
to School (SRTS) Program, afederally-funded grant reimbursement program, to provide an
opportunity for communities to improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school. The
North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has set aside $300,000 SRTS dollars to
assist communities in preparing Action Plans to address active travel to schools serving
Kindergarten -Grade 8. Each SRTS Action Plan must address engineering, education,
encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. The plan will provide a framework to
systematically identify obstacles to safe travel and then identify solutions and prioritize their
implementation. Any state, local, and regional agency, including nonprofit organizations, that
can demonstrate the ability to meet the requirements of the federal SRTS program is eligible to
apply for an Action Plan.
The Action Plan Service Award program is unlike other NCDOT SRTS grants in that it is not a
reimbursement program. The NCDOT will assign a qualified consultant under contract with
NCDOT to work with recipients of Action Plan Service Awards, and will directly compensate
consultants according to an agreed upon scope of work and agreed upon fee ($15,000 -
$30,000). This is a competitive program and requires support of local government, schools,
school board, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, and other stakeholder and partners
(teachers, parents) committed to making changes required to get more children walking and
biking to school.
The lead agency/sponsor must be able to enter into an award agreement with NCDOT and is
responsible for the following tasks:
• Lead and coordinate public meetings;
® Provide start-up materials (maps, other information);
® Provide meeting venues; and
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• Assist with data collection activities.
Orange County has a clearly articulated interest in promoting pedestrian and bike access to
Grady Brown Elementary School (and by proximity Cedar Ridge High School) as demonstrated
by the Orange Grove Road Access Management Plan and endorsement of an Orange Grove
Road pedestrian bridge over I-40 (TIP Project EB-4980) as the County's first priority for
inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Program.
Walkable Hillsborough is one community group that is supporting this application, and has
offered to help with any related tasks. Walkable Hillsborough members have discussed issues
related to making it safe for children to walk or bicycle to school, and have recommended
Stanford Middle School (and by connection Orange High) because Stanford represents some of
the biggest challenges to planning for connected walking routes that take in both county and
town jurisdictions. That group also recommends Cameron Park Elementary School because it
is located almost directly south of Stanford Middle School, and a plan may identify a potential
walking corridor that serves both schools.
Walkable Hillsborough members did not recommend the other schools for the following .reasons:
Central Elementary and Hillsborough Elementary are wholly in Hillsborough and their needs are
partially addressed by the Nash Street sidewalk
Efland-Cheeks, Pathways and New Hope are in areas having lower density.
The Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) has delegated choosing recommended
projects for the Action Plan Service Award to the Chair and Vice Chair. The OUTBoard Chair
and Vice Chair recommend that the County pursue an Action Plan Service Award for New
Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford Middle School and Cameron Park Elementary
School.
The timeline for the Action Plan Service Award is:
December 11, 2007 County Commissioner endorsement of Resolution of
Support and Administration
Dec. 2007 =Jan. 10, 2008 Prepare application and get required endorsements
January 10, 2008 Obtain resolution of endorsement from DCHC MPO TAC
January 14, 2008 All materials due in NCDOT Division of Bicycle and
Pedestrian Transportation office by'5:00 pm
February 2008 Eligible applications distributed to review committee for
scoring
March 2008 Review committee makes recommendations
April 2008 Board of Transportation approved selection and applicants
are notified
November 2008 Legal agreement with NCDOT outlining responsibilities of
each party, scope of work and deliverables must be
completed and executed
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with this item although it
will require staff resources.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board endorse the Resolution of
Support and Administration to apply for a NCDOT SRTS Action Plan Service Award.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND ADMINISTRATION FOR A NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ACTION PLAN SERVICE AWARD FOR
DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN FOR NEW GRADY BROWN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, STANFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CAMERON PARK ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
WHEREAS, Orange County gives priority to identified safety needs, especially
with regard to schools, and to transportation projects that encourage alternatives to
automobile travel; and
WHEREAS, the SAFETEA-LU federal transportation reauthorization of August
2005 established the Safe Routes to School Program to empower communities to
improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school; and
WHEREAS, the Safe Route to School (SRTS) programs facilitate the planning,
development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and
reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has appropriated
$300,000 to assist communities in preparing Action Plans to address active travel to
schools serving Kindergarten -Grade 8; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has issued a call
for projects for SRTS Action Plan Service Awards; and
WHEREAS, the Orange Unified Transportation Board endorses making
application for a SRTS Action Plan Service Award; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners that The Board. of County Commissioners is willing and able to enter
into an award agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and
supports development of a Service Plan that addresses engineering, education,
encouragement, enforcement and evaluation of programs and projects to improve
conditions for bicycling and walking to New Grady Brown Elementary School, Stanford
Middle School and Cameron Park Elementary School.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners commits
to administration of a Service Plan, and charges the Orange County Planning
Department to act as program manager for the preparation, management, and
completion of the Action Plan.
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Upon motion of Commissioner ,seconded by Commissioner
the foregoing resolution was adopted this the 11th day of December
2007.
I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North
Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the
proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on December 11, 2007, as relates in any
way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the
minutes of said Board.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this _ day of ,2007.
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners