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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-13-2004-8aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 13, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. g- p SUBJECT: NCDOT Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) Grant Funding DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Yes ATTACHMENT(S): Application Summary Appendix A Certified Statements 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 hold a public hearing and to approve a FY 2004/2005 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) fund application for $97,766, BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Transportation, 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 2004 through June 2005, The current application is due to the State by April 16, 2004. 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 $54,941 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 da not have access to the Orange Express public shuttle, To the extent passible, trips will be grouped by geographic area per weekday and the destination will be the closest possible provider, The "Orange Voucher Program", an effort funded by EDTAP in 2001/2002, will continue to offer eligible disabled persons under age 60 up to $100/month to pay for travel arrangements to meet the individuals' needs and to the destination(s) of their choice, This service is provided Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, All EDTAP service recipients are asked to contribute $3,00 per one-way trip, This fee 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 $9,594, 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 owners, 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 several 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, the Orange Enterprise routes have been opened to the general public an aseat-available basis for the early morning and late afternoon transportation between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, Finally, the five rcutes operated to transport seniors to the Senior Centers and nutrition sites in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Hillsborough, Efland, and Cedar Grave have as available seating for public passengers, The FY 2004/2005 allocation of $33,231 will support these routes, FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Rural Operating Assistance Program grant requires no local match, RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board conduct the public hearing, approve the application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds ($97,766) for FY 2004/2005 and authorize the Chair to sign the Certification Statement of Participation. APPLICATION FOR OPERATING ASSISTANCE RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ROAP) FY 2004-2005 General Information Applicant (County): Orange County County Finance Officer: Ken Chavious Address: Post Off ce Box 8181 City: Hillsborough Zip: 27278 Telephone No: 919-245-2000 Fax No: 919-644-3044 E-mail Address: jpassmore~co.oran ee nc.us Project Descriptions Elderly and. Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP) Orange Public Transportation (OPT) is the designated lead agency for public and human services agency transportation in rural Orange County and the recipient of the EDTAP allocation of $54,941 with no local match required, 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. The "Orange Voucher Program" an effort funded by EDTAP will continue to offer eligible disabled persons under sixty up to $100/month to pay for travel arrangements to meet the individuals' needs and to the destination(s) of their choice. 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 used to pay for additional tripe. Persons sixty years and older can be certified for services by completing a Client Registration Fonn which is kept on ftle at the OPT administrative off ce in Hillsborough. Persons under sixty seeking EDTAP service must have certification completed and authorized byhis/her physician. All EDTAP recipients must be recertified annually. 4 Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance Program With an allocation of $9,594, 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 car owners the funds can be used for repairs and/or insurance. For non-car owners the funds can assist with the purchase of bus passes, van or carpool expense, or possibly a vehicle donated to the Work First Program,. The actual service provider will vary depending upon the need, i.e. auto repair shop, insurance agent, or Taxicab Company. The OPT Transportation Coordinator will determine the most appropriate vendor on a case-by-case basis. Rural General Public (RGP) Orange Public Transportation, managed by the Orange County Department on Aging, serves human service agency clients whose ridership is paid by the 14 local sponsoring agencies and special populations such as the elderly, disabled or Medicaid clients who are supported with NC Department of Transportation, Home and Community Care Block Grant, or state public assistance funds. The majority of the OPT service is fixed routes or deviated fixed routes for human service clients. Utilizing lift-equipped vans and minibuses, the OPT program continues to expand coordination of its demand-response medical trips. The geographic service area is rural Orange County, outside the Chapel Hill Transit service area.. OPT service is provided each weekday, with weekend or' evening trips for' special leases or life-sustaining medical services. OPT had provided general public transportation on a seat available basis for several years. However, in FY 1993-94 OPT program staff and the Human Services Transportation Board made a commitment to better serve the public by (1) changing the program's Warne from Coordinated Agency Transportation to Coordinated Area Transportation and finally to its current Orange Public Transportation title, (2) designating existing bus routes to be promoted as public routes. In October, 1993 OPT established its first general public deviated fixed route from Prospect I-Iill Health Center through Hillsborough and into Chapel hill/Can-boro. Additionally, the Orange Enterprises route have been opened to the genera] public on aseat-available basis for early morning and late afternoon transportation between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. All routes with public seating operate on a deviated fixed route schedule. With advance notice, the OPT Dispatcher can approve and arrange for apick-up with route deviations made up to''/a mile for disabled persons or subscription riders. Also, public riders can be picked up at identified bus stops along the route with no advance notice. Orange Public Transportation has an allocation of $.3.3,231 for Rural General Public transit services for FY 2004/2005 with no local match required. Transportation Advancement Orange Public Transportation is currently completing the Community Transportation Improvement Plan (CTIP). This research will determine future service levels and provisions necessary to ensure mobility to all Orange County residents.. The CTIl' should be completed in .Tune 2004 with recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners following. OPT has coordinated transit efforts with Triangle Transit Authority, Capital Area Transit, and Durham Area Transit Authority through the distribution of month transfer passes.. These passe are available for sell from each agency and offer riders the ability to transfer between each of the transit systems as often as necessary. This service has widened the mobility to Orange County residents. The Transportation Services Board (TSB), fomlally the Transportation Advisory Board, is formed with new membership and direction. The TSB will meet bi-monthly to ensure all aspects of community transportation service levels are met or exceeded. This Board will recormnend transit issues to the Board of County Commissioners to include regional transit issues and county placement of OPT. FY 2004-2005 ROAP Allocations EDTAP $54,941 Work First $ 9,594 RGP $3.3,2.31 TOTAL: $97,766 (no local match) State ofNorth Carolina County of 6 APPENDIX A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FY 2004 - 2005 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 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 2004 - 2005 Rura] 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, 2004 through .June 30, 2005; 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 certify that the undersigned is duly elected, qualified and acting chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of North Carolina, and that the following statements are true and accurate: Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program 1. The funds received from G.S. 136-44..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 fluids 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 Deparhnent of Transportation and the Board of Commissioners. Work Tirst 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 maybe 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 be used to provide non-Inman service trips.. WITNESS my hand and official seal, this day of Attest: Certifying ,20 _ Board of County Commissioners Chairperson* State of North Cazolina County County Manager/Administrator* '"Note that the signatures on this statement should be those of tlu-ee (.3) separate individuals, APPENDIX A CERTIFIED STATEMENT FY 2004 - 2005 DISCRETIONARY RURAL GENERAL PUBLIC FUNDING FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 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 firings required in applicable federal and/or state legislation to properly administer the public transportation programs within the State of North Carolina; This is certify that the undersigned is duly elected, qualified and acting chairperson of the Governing Board of , a regional transportation system operating in North Carolina, and that the following statements are true and accurate: Rural General Public Program 1. The funds will be used in a manner consistent with the Discretionary Rural General Public Transportation Prgject Description 2. Information regarding use of the funds will be provided at such time and in such a marmer as the department may require. 3. Discretionary RGP funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period July 1, 2004 tluough .Tune .30, 2005. 4. Any interest earned on discretionary RGP funds will be expended for eligible program uses as specified in the discretionary RGP application. 5. The system will include discretionary RGP funds received and expended in its amoral independent audit on the schedule of federal and state financial assistance. WITNESS my hand and official seal, this day of , 20. Attest: Certifying Official* Chairperson FORM ONLY TO BE USED BY REGIONAL. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS (CARTS, CPTA, KARTS, NASH/EDGECOMBE, ICPTA, RANDOLPH/MONTGOMERY AND YVEDDI)