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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-07-2005-5fORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 7, 2005 Action Ages 'F Item No. SUBJECT: NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant Funding DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y!N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Certified Statement INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Passmore, ext 2009 AI Terry, ext 2002 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To approve a FY 2005/2006 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) fund application far $116,426. BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Public Transportation Division, 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 allow Orange County to continue servicing the above-mentioned programs from July 2005 through June 2006. 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 $55,376 with no local match required, Orange Public Transportation (OPT) will continue to use its allocation to provide medical transportation for the sixty-plus and disabled residents of Orange County. Additionally, OPT 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 $10,367, Orange Public Transportation provides former Work First participants ar 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 expense, or possibly a vehicle donated to the Wheels For Work Program. OPT 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 Ccordinated Agency Transportation to its current Orange Public Transportation title, and (2) designating existing bus routes to be promoted as public routes. Additionally, the Orange Enterprise routes have been opened to the general public on aseat-available basis for the early morning and late afternoon transportation between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Finally, the five routes operated to transport seniors to the Senior Centers and nutrition sites in Chapel Hill/Carrborc, Hillsborough, Efland, and Cedar Grove have as available seating for public passengers. The FY 2005/2006 allocation of $50,683 will support these routes. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires no local match. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds ($116,426) for FY 2005/2006 and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification Statement of Participation. State of North Carolina County of APPENDIX A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FY 2005 - 2006 RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 3 Whereas Article 2B of Chapter 1.36 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 2005 - 2006 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 .luly 1, 2005 through .Tune 30, 2006; 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 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 funds designated to provide elderly and disabled transportation services in the county. 3. The funds received will be used in a manner 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. Worlc First Transitional/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. The funds may be transferred to the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program or the Rural General Public Program if not needed for Work First transportation. 2. 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 Chairpcrson* State of North Carolina County County Manager/Administrator* *Note that the signatures on this statement should be those of three (.3) separate individuals.