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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-16-2006-8aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 16, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. ~~ :°~ SUBJECT: North Carolina Department of Transportation, Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant Funding DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): 1, Public Hearing Notice 2. Certified Statements INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Passmare, 245-2009 AI Terry, 245-2002 NOTE: The Board previously conducted a public hearing and approved this item on April 10, 2006. However, the necessary advertisement for the public hearing which was provided to the newspaper was inadvertently omitted from the published edition, Guidelines require the newspaper advertisement. Therefore, the public hearing has been advertised for tonight's meeting for public hearing and Board action, PURPOSE: To conduct a public hearing for the NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) grant application, approve the FY 2006/2007 ROAP grant application, and authorize the Chair to sign the certifying statement. BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division (NCDOT), designates 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 in the combined total amount of $116,025 allow Orange County to continue servicing the above-mentioned programs from July 2006 through .June 2007, Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the lead agency for public and human services agency transportation in rural Orange County and the recipient of the EDTAP allocation of $55,124 with no local match required. 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 Orange Express public shuttle. 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 contribute $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, Contributions are utilized to fund additional trips, With an allocation of $11,239, Orange Public Transportation provides former Work First participants or other low-income persons certified for Medicaid or Faad 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 expense, or possibly a vehicle donated to the Wheels For Work Program, Orange Public Transportation has provided Rural General Public (RGP) transportation on a seat available basis far many years, However, in FY 1993/1994, OPT program staff and the Htaman 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 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/Carrboro, Efland, Hillsborough, and Cedar Grove have as available seating for public passengers, The FY 2006/2007 ROAP allocation of $49,662 for RGP will support these routes, FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires no local match in any of the three areas, Last year's funds were EDTAP ($55,376); Work First ($10,367); RGP ($50,683), The State adjusts grant dollar amounts by county according to rural papulaticn figures. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct a public hearing for comments, approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds in the combined total amount of $116,025 for FY 2006/2007, and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification Statement of Participation, Appendix C -Sample 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 Mav 12, 2006 by the county of Oran e. The public hearing will beheld on Mav 16, 2006 at 7:30 n.m. at the Orange County commissioners meeting in the F Gordon Battle Court Building located at Margazet Lane, Hillsborough, N.C. 27278.. The programs include in the ROAP application are: 1. Elderly & Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP) provides operating assistance for the transportation of elderly and disables 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 person is 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. Work FirsUEmployment program is intended to provide operating assistance for transitional Work First 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) funds are intended to provide transportation service to individuals who are not human service agency clients. The amount allocated for EDTAP $55,124, Work First $11,2.39, and Rural General Public $49,662 totals to $116,025 for the period July 1, 2006 tlrrou~h June 30, 2007. This application maybe inspected at Orange Public Transportation office, 600 Highway 86 North, Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278. Written comments should be directed to Mr. Jerry Passmore, Director of Department on Aging and Transportation.. 4 Public Hearing Minutes DATE: PLACE: SUBJECT: BOARD MEMBERS: PUBLIC: State of North Carolina County of Orange APPENDIX A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FY 2006 - 2007 RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 5 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 as the agency responsible for administering all federal and/or state programs related to public transportation, and grants the department 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 2006 - 2007 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 the department may require; WHEREAS, ROAP funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period .July 1, 2006 through .Tune 30, 2007; WHEREAS, any interest earned 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 Transportation Assistance Program 1. The funds received from G.S. 1.36-44.27 will be used to provide additional transportation services for the elderly and disabled, exceeding the quantity of trips provided prior to receipt of the funds. 2. The funds will not be used to supplant or replace existing federal, state or local fiords designated to provide elderly and disabled transportation services in the county. .3. The firnds received will be used in a mamier consistent with the local Transportation Development Plan (TDP) or Community Transportation Services Plan (CTSP) and application approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Board of Commissioners. Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance Program 1. The purpose of these transportation funds is to support hansitional transportation needs of Work First participants after eligibility for cash assistance has concluded and other specified general public employment transportation needs, The funds maybe transferred to the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program or the Rural General Public Program if not needed for Work First transportation.. The funds are limited to use by the designated local entity(s) specified in the ROAP application, or any revisions or amendments thereto. Rural General Public Program 1. The funds will be used in a manner consistent with the Rural General Public Transportation Project Description. 2. The funds will not be used to provide human service agency's trips. WITNESS my hand and official seal, this day of 20 Attest: Certifying Official Board of County Commissioners Chairperson* State of North Carolina County of (~ranIIe County Manager/Administra[or* *Note that the signatures on this statement should be those of three (3) separate individuals.