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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-07-2023; 8-g - Approval of Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) Project 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 7, 2023 Action Agenda Item No. 8-g SUBJECT: Approval of Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) Project DEPARTMENT: Orange County Transportation Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. December 13, 2022 CMAQ Letter Nishith Trivedi, Transportation Director, 2. CMAQ Resolution of Local Support 919-245-2007 PURPOSE: To review and approve Orange County's Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) project, and approve the associated Resolution. BACKGROUND: The CMAQ program was implemented to support surface transportation projects and other related efforts that contribute to air quality improvements and provide congestion relief. The program is jointly administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Funds are made available through the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and applications are facilitated by the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), funds are provided to areas in nonattainment or maintenance for ozone, carbon monoxide, and/or particulate matter. Orange County is classified as an area in Maintenance. CMAQ funds require a state or local match. The typical split between federal and project sponsor is 80 percent Federal and 20 percent State and/or local match. For this grant, Orange County contributed a 20 percent local match. The Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) established the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP). The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must establish a carbon reduction formula program for states to reduce transportation emissions. Eligible state funding activities include truck stop electrification, diesel engine retrofits, vehicle-to-infrastructure communications equipment, public transportation, port electrification, and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles, including charging or fueling infrastructure and the purchase or lease of zero emission vehicles. Funding can also be used to support the development of state carbon reduction strategies by November 15, 2023, in consultation with designated metropolitan planning organizations. At the request of a state, DOT must provide technical assistance in the development of the carbon reduction strategy. State projects will be treated as Federal-aid Highway Program projects. Additional funding eligibility and considerations will apply. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with this item. However, should the County be awarded either CMAQ or CRP funding, it will be required to provide 20 percent local match for the project's overall cost and local administration. This will be choreographed with the County's budget process. 2 TRANPORTATION ADVISORY SERVICE (TAS): TAS met Thursday, January 26, 2023 and unanimously recommended approval. Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) Action: The OUTBoard met on Thursday, January 26, 2023 and unanimously recommended approval. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with this item. The grant will be choreographed with the County's budget process. 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. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact is applicable to this item: • CLEAN OR AVOIDED TRANSPORTATION Implement programs that monitor and improve local and regional air quality by: 1) promoting public transportation options; 2) decreasing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles, and 3) otherwise minimizing the need for travel. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve Orange County's CMAQ and CPR project (Attachment 1) and the Resolution (Attachment 2). Attachment 1 3 ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ORRANGEE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT C-AROLINAr re�r" 12/13/2022 Karyl Fuller Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization 4307 Emperor Blvd, Suite 110 Durham, NC 27703 RE: Call for Projects — Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) or Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) Mrs. Fuller Orange County Transportation Services seeks CMAQ or CRP funding to expand its microtransit service commonly referred to as Mobility-on-Demand (MOD). The funds will be used to acquire two ADA accessible minivans in an effort to expand our MOD fleet. The total project cost is $180,000 and we submit this letter of local match support to provide the required twenty percent local match of $30,000 as indicate below, seeking $150,000 in CMAQ or CPR: Project Name County RPO Source of Match/ Contribution Mobility-on-Demand Orange TARPO General Funds Total Project $ Amount $ Amount local % Total Project Required Cost sought match Cost Match Yes/No $180,000 $150,000 $30,000 20% Yes Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Sincerely, Nishith Trivedi Transportation Director 600 Hwy 86 N • Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 Phone (919)245-2008 • Fax(919)732-2137 orangecountync.gov/transportation 4 RES-2023-020 Attachment 2 Resolution of Local Support CMAQ/CPR Funding Resolution Authorizing the filing of an allplication for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Ouality Improvement(CMAO) and/or Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funding and committing the necessary non-federal match and stating the assurance to complete the project WHEREAS, Orange County(herein referred as APPLICANT) is submitting an application to the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO) for $180,000 dollars in funding from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) and/or Carbon Reduction Program(CRP)program for the expansion of Mobility-on-Demand (herein referred as PROJECT); and WHEREAS,the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) continues the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) (23 U.S.C. § 149) and starts the Carbon Reduction Program(CRP) (23 U.S.C. § 175); and WHEREAS, pursuant to BIL, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, eligible project sponsors wishing to receive federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement and Carbon Reduction Program(CMAQ/CRP) funds for a project shall submit an application first with the appropriate Rural Planning Organization(RPO), for review and inclusion in the RPO's Transportation Improvement Program(TIP); and WHEREAS, the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO) is the RPO for Orange County; and WHEREAS, APPLICANT is an eligible project sponsor for CMAQ/CRP funds; and WHEREAS, as part of the application for CMAQ/CRP funding, TARPO requires a resolution adopted by the responsible implementing agency stating the following: 1) The commitment of necessary local matching funds of at least 20%; and 2) That the sponsor understands that the CMAQ/CRP funding is fixed at the programmed amount, and therefore any cost increase cannot be expected to be funded with additional CMAQ/CRP funds; and 3) The assurance of the sponsor to complete the project as described in the application, and if approved, as included in TARPO's TIP; 5 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Orange County is authorized to execute and file an application for funding under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program(CMAQ) and Carbon Reduction Program(CRP) of BIL for the Moblity- on-Demand Expansion Project and be it further RESOLVED that the APPLICANT by adopting this resolution does hereby state that: 1. APPLICANT will provide $ 30,000 in non-federal matching funds; and 2. APPLICANT understands that the CMAQ/CRP funding for the project is fixed at the TARPO approved programmed amount, and that any cost increases must be funded by the APPLICANT from other funds, and that APPLICANT does not expect any cost increases to be funded with additional CMAQ/CRP funding; and 3. PROJECT will be implemented as described in the complete application and in this resolution and, if approved, for the amount programmed in the TARPO federal TIP; and RESOLVED that APPLICANT is an eligible sponsor of CMAQ/CRP funded projects; and be it further RESOLVED that APPLICANT is authorized to submit an application for CMAQ/CRP funds for the PROJECT; and be it further RESOLVED that there is no legal impediment to APPLICANT making applications for the funds; and be it further RESOLVED that there is no pending or threatened litigation that might in any way adversely affect the proposed PROJECT, or the ability of APPLICANT to deliver such PROJECT; and be it further RESOLVED that APPLICANT authorizes its Executive Director, General Manager, or designee to execute and file an application with TARPO for CMAQ/CRP funding for the PROJECT as referenced in this resolution; and be it further RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution will be transmitted to the TARPO in conjunction with the filing of the application; and be it further RESOLVED that the TARPO is requested to support the application for the PROJECT described in the resolution and to include the PROJECT, if approved, in MTC's TIP.