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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-26-2007-5aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 26, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. ~~°~ SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) and Supplemental ROAP Grant Application for FY 2007/2008 DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Public Hearing Notice 2. Certified Statements INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Passmore,245-2009 AI Terry, 245-2002 PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) and to approve the annual FY 2007/2008 ROAP grant application including supplemental request and authorize the Chair to sign the certifying 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 and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP), the Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance 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 2007 through June 2008. Orange Public Transportation is the lead agency for public and human services agency transportation in rural Orange County and the recipient of the EDTAP allocation of $58,885 in formula and $39,464 in supplemental funds. A total of $98,349 EDTAP funds are available with no local match requirements. Orange Public Transportation will continue to use its allocation to provide medical transportation for the sixty-plus and disabled residents of Orange County. Additionally, Orange Public transportation will offer one shopping/personal business round trip per week to those two population groups who live outside the Chapel Hill Transit service area and do not have access to the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill public route. To the extent possible, trips will be grouped by geographic area per weekday and the destination will be the closest possible provider. All EDTAP service recipients are asked to provide a co-pay of $3.00 per one- way trip. This fee is waived for any individual whose family income is at or below 125% of the poverty level as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. Co-payments are utilized to fund additional trips. 2 With an allocation of $10,746 in formula and $10,746 in supplemental funds, Orange Public Transportation provides 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 residents, the funds may assist with the purchase of bus passes, van/car pool expenses, or possibly a vehicle donated to the Wheels For Work Program. Orange Public Transportation has provided general public transportation on a seat available basis for many years. However, in FY 1993/1994 OPT program staff and the Human Services Transportation Board made a commitment to better serve the public by (1) changing the program's name from Coordinated Agency Transportation to its current Orange Public Transportation title, and (2) designating existing bus routes to be promoted as public routes. Additionally, in FY 2004/2005, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted to coordinate the Hillsborough to Chapel Hill public route with Triangle Transit Authority. Finally, the five routes operated to transport seniors to the Senior Centers and nutrition sites in Chapel Hill, Efland, Hillsborough, and Cedar Grove have as available seating for public passengers. The FY 2007/2008 Rural General Public formula funds are $44,304 and $29,282 in supplemental funds for a total of $73,586 to support general public routes. Supplemental funds for FY 2007/2008 will be utilized to expand transportation to the new Seymour Center and the existing Central Orange Senior Center through public routes. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires no local match. For FY 2006/2007, Orange County was awarded a total of $165,868. The request for FY 2007/2008 is $189,101, an increase of $23,233. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct a public hearing for comments, approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program including supplemental funds ($189,101) for FY 2007/2008, and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification Statement of Participation. 3 Public Hearing Notice This is to inform the public of the opportunity to attend a public hearing on the proposed Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAD) application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation no later than July 13, 2007 by the county of Orange. The public hearing will be held on June 26, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orange County commissioners meeting in the Southern Human Service Building located at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27514: 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 AI Terry as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made. The programs include in the Rural Operating Assistance Program application are: 1. Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance (EDTAP) Program provides operating assistance for the transportation of elderly and disabled citizens. This transportation assistance allows for the individual to reside for longer periods in their homes, thereby enhancing their quality of life. For the purpose of EDTAP, an elderly person is defined as one who reaches the age of 60 or more years. A disabled personrs defined as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, an individual who has a record of such impairment, or an individual who is regarded as having such impairment. 2. Employment Transportation Assistance Program is intended to provide operating assistance for transitional Work First, Workforce Development Programs and general public employment transportation needs. These funds are used to support the employment transportation needs of individuals that are not eligible to receive benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. 3. Rural General Public (RGP) Program funds are intended to provide transportation service to individuals who are not human service agency clients. The period of performance for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds is July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The FY 2007-2008 ROAD individual program totals are: PROGRAM TOTAL EDTAP $94,023' EMP $21,492 RGP $73,586 TOTAL $189,101 This application may be inspected at the Orange Public Transportation Office located at 600 Hi~hway 86 North, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Written comments should be directed to Jerry Passmore, Director, before June 26, 2007 (date). State of North Carolina County of Orange G~-- CERTIFIED STATEMENT FY 2007 - 2008 RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Whereas Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the North Carolina General Statutes and the Governor of North Carolina have designated the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as the agency responsible for administering all federal and/or state programs related to public transportation, and grants NCDOT authority to do all things required in applicable federal and/or state legislation to properly administer the public transportation programs within the State of North Carolina; WHEREAS, G.S. 136-44.27 established the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program; WHEREAS, funds will be used for transportation related expenditures as specified in the FY 2007 - 2008 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application; WHEREAS, information regarding use of the funds will be provided at such time and in such a manner as NCDOT may require; WHEREAS it is the polic~ofthe Nortlz Carolina Department of'Ti•ansportation that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Minority Owned Bz~siness Enterprises and Women Owned Business Enterprises shall have the opportunit,~to participate in the performance o,('contracts financed in whole or part by Federal and State funds in order to create a level playinQ field and the county shall nat discriminate on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, or sex in the per ormance ofthis contract. WHEREAS, ROAP funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008; WHEREAS, any interest eazned on ROAP funds will be' expended for eligible program uses as specified in the ROAP application; and WHEREAS, 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. This is to certify that the undersigned is duly elected, qualified and acting chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Orange, North Carolina, and that the following statements are true and accurate: Elderly and Disabled TransRortation Assistance Program 1. The funds received from G.S. 136-44.27 will be used to provide transportation services for the elderly and disabled allowing individuals to reside for a longer period in their homes, thereby enhancing their quality of life, 2. The funds will not be used to supplant or replace existing federal, state or local funds designated to provide elderly and disabled transportation services in the county. Employment Transportation Assistance Program 1. The purpose of these transportation funds is to support transitional transportation needs of Work First participants after eligibility for cash assistance has concluded and/other specified general public employment transportation needs 2. The funds are limited to use by the local Department of Social Services, Worlc Force Development Pro~ranz or the community transportation system. 3. The funds may be transferred to the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program or the Rural General Public Program after. an assessment of employment transportation needs in the service area indicates that employment transportation needs are substantially being met. This assessment will occur prior to any transfer of funds and following submission of a statement to that effect from the County Manager to the Public Transportation Division. Rural General Public Program 1. The funds are limited to use by the community transportation system. 2. The funds will not be used to provide human service agency trips. WITNESS my hand and official seal, this day of 20= Attest: Certifying Official* State ofNorth Carolina County Board of County Commissioners Chairperson* County Manager/Administrator* *Note that the Certifying Official, Board of County Conunissioners Chairperson, and County Manager/Administrator n:ust bet/tree separate individuals. 5 10