HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-06-2015 - 6g 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 6, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-g
SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation Rural Operating Assistance
Program (ROAP) Grant Application for FY 2016
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Certified Statement Peter Murphy, Transportation Administrator, 919-245-
2002
Bret Martin, Transportation Planner, 919-245-2582
Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 919-245-2592
PURPOSE: To approve the annual FY 2016 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, 2015 through June 30, 2016. The amounts being
made available for each respective program for FY 2016 are:
Program Amount ,
Elderly/Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP) $73,755
Employment Transportation Assistance Program (EMPL) $31,620
Rural General Public Program (RGP) $63,558
TOTAL $168,933
Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services
transportation in central and rural Orange County. The EDTAP allocation of $73,755 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 $31,620 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
employment-related transportation. The funds may be used to fund transportation to a qualified
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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, which is now known as the Orange-Chapel Hill Midday Connector, is no longer eligible
to make use of RGP funding due to the expansion of the Durham Urbanized Area (UZA)
boundary that encompasses stop locations associated with the service that were previously
located outside the UZA boundary. RGP funds are ineligible for use within UZAs. The RGP
Program funds transportation for persons living outside the urbanized area boundary. With the
increase in size of the UZA boundary and corresponding decrease in the area of the county
considered rural, the revised formula results in an approximate 9.5% reduction in RGP funding
to Orange County. The FY 2016 RGP allocation is $63,558.
The period of performance for FY 2016 Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1,
2015 through June 30, 2016. Board members may recall that, in past years, the consideration
of ROAP funding allocations occurred as part of a public hearing. Actions at the State level
have removed the public hearing provisions from this year's process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The RGP segment of the ROAP funding allocation requires a 10% local
match ($6,355.80), which OPT has incorporated into its FY 2015-16 budget. OPT estimates the
anticipated amount to be received in preparation for upcoming budget years but does not apply
for and receive the funding until October or November of the subject budget year/period of
performance. Orange County was awarded a total of $174,322 for FY 2014-15, which results in
a $5,389 reduction in ROAP funding from FY 2014-15 to FY 2015-16.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable
to this agenda item:
• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
The ROAP grant application gives Orange County access to funding that supports valuable
transportation services specifically for elderly persons and persons with disabilities, populations
that tend to have fewer transportation options than other segments of the population. The
services provided that will make use of the funding will also provide an inexpensive alternative
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to travel by personal vehicle that will help facilitate economic self-sufficiency by expanding
transportation options for populations exhibiting the greatest need.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds totaling $168,933
for FY 2016; and
2. Authorize the County Manager and County Finance Officer to sign the Certified Statement
of Participation.
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ATTACHMENT 1
CERTIFIED STATEMENT
FY2016
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, 2015 to June 30, 2016 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 for at least 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 and
federal guidelines.
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ATTACHMENT 1
• 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 is 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 FY2016 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 FY2016 Rural Operating Assistance Program
funds:
State-Funded Rurat Operating Assistance Program Allocated Reqiu sted
Elderly &Disabled Transportation Assistance Program(EDTAP) $73,755 $73,755
Employment Transportation Assistance Program(EMPL) $31,620 $31,620
Rural General Public Program(RGP) $63,558 $63,558
TOTAL $168,933 $168,933
WITNESS my hand and county seal,this day of 20
Signature of County Manager/Administrator Signature of County Finance Officer
Printed Name of County Manager/Administrator Printed Name of County Finance Officer
State of North Carolina County of County Seal Here