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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda 11-18-2025; 6-a - Chapel Hill Transit FY26 Q2 Annual Work Program Amendments for Transit 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 18, 2025 Action Agenda Item No. 6-a SUBJECT: Chapel Hill Transit FY26 Q2 Annual Work Program Amendments for Transit DEPARTMENT: Transportation Services ATTACHMENT(S): NFORMATION CONTACT: 1. CHT FY26 Q2 AWP Amendments Sarah Williamson, Interim Transportation 2. Presentation Director, 919-245-2102 PURPOSE: To consider Chapel Hill Transit FY26 Quarter 2 (Q2) Amendments to the Annual Work Program (AWP) for transit. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Staff Working Group (SWG) held a special meeting on Friday, October 31, 2025, to consider proposed amendments to the Annual Work Program. Chapel Hill Transit submitted two (2) amendments to the Staff Working Group which were subsequently distributed for public comment. No public comments were received. The Staff Working Group recommended that the BOCC approve the attached AWP FY26 Q2 amendments requested by Chapel Hill Transit (CHT). These amendments support meeting the required twenty percent (20%) nonfederal match for the North-South Bus Rapid Transit (NSBRT) project. The local match is required to meet the local fiduciary requirements for a Small Starts Grant Agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This match must be in place prior to the end of the 2025 calendar year. CHT received a 60% design cost estimate for the NSBRT this past summer. This updated estimate is more than $10 million higher than prior estimates and includes $20 million for property acquisition, according to CHT staff. Based on that update, the total cost of the project is $188 million. As a result, CHT must demonstrate a total nonfederal match of$38.1 million. The proposed amendments add $5.8 million to the $32.3 million in existing financial commitments from the Prior Transit Work Plans, CHT Partners, and the Town of Chapel Hill. EXISTING FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS AMOUNT Prior Transit Tax Annual Work Plans $29,125,000 CHT Partners $2,000,000 Town of Chapel Hill $1,144,322 TOTAL $32,269,322 2 PROPOSED AWP FY26 Q2 AMENDMENTS Route NS Vehicles $2,065,267 Converting from Operating to Capital $3,765,411 TOTAL $5,830,678 GRAND TOTAL $38,100,000 1. Chapel Hill Transit: Amendment to Existing Project Name & Scope CHT is requesting to amend the FY26 Annual Transit Work Program for vehicle acquisition to more explicitly describe the use and purpose of already-allocated funding and to incorporate NSBRT progress. The Annual Work Plan currently provides $2,065,267, for Chapel Hill Transit to purchase two (2) vehicles for the existing North-South Route. The proposed amendment would clarify that those vehicles would be dedicated to the NSBRT project when construction is completed. The 60-foot diesel vehicles will be uniquely branded and custom fabricated to serve NSBRT's elevated station platforms, communicate with systems unique to BRT, and provide enhanced BRT amenities. They will not be interchangeable with the rest of the CHT fleet due to FTA requirements that vehicles purchased for this program are not used for any other purpose other. CHT proposes purchasing NSBRT vehicles in the current year, so they are delivered approximately twelve (12) months prior to the launch of NSBRT revenue service. The year of lead time is required for vehicle/systems acceptance and testing and operator training. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The amendment has a net zero impact on the approved FY26 Orange County Annual Work Program. 2. Chapel Hill Transit: Converting Operating to NSBRT Capital CHT is requesting to reallocate $3.7 million in FY26 to FY 29 operating funds currently designated for staffing to improve service on four existing routes to capital funds to be used as part of a local match for the North-South Bus Rapid Transit project. The funds are currently programmed to increase service span and frequency on the following CHT routes: • Route CW: Improve weekday midday service, • Route HS: Add weekend service, • Route NS: Reduce peak headways to six minutes, and • Route D: Extend route's eastern terminus to Patterson Place. Chapel Hill Transit states that if the amendment is approved, there will be no operating impact because the services are not currently in operation. The operator positions will be re-considered as part of CHT's Short Range Transit Plan. CHT is not requesting changes to the timing of the allocations designated to occur over three fiscal years. 3 ID EXISTING FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 TOTAL PROJECT 23CHTTS01 Route CW: ($102,750) ($210,443) ($215,700) ($221,100) ($749,993) Improve Midday Service 24CHTTS01 Route HS: ($86,150) ($176,600) ($181,000) ($185,500) ($629,250) Weekend Service 26CHTTS13 Route NS: ($322,679) ($330,740) ($339,020) ($992,439) Eubanks-Southern Village 26CHTTS14 Route D: UNC- ($453,153) ($464,474) ($476,102) ($1,393,729) Patterson Place 20CHTCD03 BRT—North- $188,900 $1,162,875 $1,191,914 $1,221,722 $3,765,411 South FINANCIAL IMPACT: The amendment has a net zero impact on the approved FY26 Orange County Annual Work Program over three years. ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: • GOAL 4: MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION OBJECTIVE 2. Increase community awareness of all modes of transportation including transit, bike and pedestrian, vehicle, and all other modes. OBJECTIVE 3. Support road projects that address congestion and reduce commute time using the County' s Complete Streets policy. OBJECTIVE 4. Coordinate transit investments with municipal and county land use planning to reduce vehicle miles travelled and to provide more equitable access to shopping, employment, medical centers, college campuses, etc. OBJECTIVE 6. Update transportation related plans to provide more multi- modal options including rural Orange County. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the AWP FY26 Q2 amendments. 4 REQUEST# FY 2026 FY START DATE Orange Transit Work Plan Jul 2025 26CHTVP15 Project Amendment Request Form Operating and/or Capital Type of Amendment Minor ❑ Major ❑ Minor Amendments: a.An amendment that requires a transfer between budget ordinance appropriations but requires less than a 20%change to a project appropriation for projects equal to or less than$250,000; b.Changes to any adopted financial assumptions supporting the applicable Work Program that does not have a significant impact on the overall revenue or expenditure forecast,which is defined to be no more than a one percent(1%)over the life of the plan; c.Changes in reporting requirements for performance on implementation elements authorized in the applicable Work Program; d.Changes in funding amounts less than$250,000 for implementation elements programmed in future fiscal years; e.Any other change that does not meet any of the criteria of a Minor Amendment is a Major Amendment. Major Amendments are required when: a.A project requested to be added to the Work Plan b.A project requested to be removed from the Work Plan c.Changes to any adopted financial assumptions supporting the applicable Work Program that does have a significant impact on the overall revenue or expenditure forecast,which is defined to be over one percent(1%)over the life of the plan; d.Changes in scope for implementation elements programmed in current and future fiscal years; e.Any amendment that requires a transfer of funds between capital or operating funding categories f.Any change that requires a change in budgeted reserves or fund balance. These definitions are based on the Orange County Transit Work Plan Amendment Policy Update,which gives more clarity to the definitions without changing their meaning. New/Amended Project Name Requesting Agency Project Contact Estimated Operating Cost Caroline Dwyer Base Year Route NSBRT Vehicles Chapel Hill Transit FY 2025 cdwyer@townofchapelhill.or� Cumulative Estimated Start Date Estimated Completion Notes Capital Cost Jul-25 Jan-29 Base Year $ 2,065,267 Cumulative $ 2,065,267 Project Description/Scope Enter below a summary of the project amendment and impact on approved plan. Amend project description and scope to clarify use of funds 1. Enter Orange Transit Project ID(s)to Increase Appropriation Project ID Project Category Amount Recurring Amount Notes TOTAL 2. Orange Transit Project ID(s)to Reduce Project ID Project Appropriation Amount Recurring Amount Notes Category TOTAL 3. Impact on Transit Plan Project Costs From above,indicate whether amounts impact operating or capital budgets in Orange Estimated Operating Cost Current Year Transit Plan. Recurring $ No changes to Estimated Capital Cost Base Year project cost Cumulative 4. Is this project Operating,Capital or Both? Operating ❑ Capital ❑ Both ❑ 5. What is the timeframe for the request? Are you requesting a full year of funds or a partial year to be annualized in future fiscal years? 5 No changes requested 6. What is the expected outcome(s)if this request is funded? What is the alternative if the request is not funded? N/A 7. List any other relevant information not addressed. This amendment request has no fiscal impact on the adopted transit plan. 8. Please enter estimated appropriations to support expenses. Enter FY 2024 and the estimated annualized cost in FY 2025 using the 2.5%growth factor,if applicable. The spreadsheet will calculate 2026 and beyond by 2.5%. If your project is not expected to have recurring costs in FY 2026 and/or beyond,delete the calculation(s)in columns E-H. Cost Break Down of Project Request OPERATING COSTS FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 FY30 FY31 FY32 Growth Factors 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% Salary&Fringes Contracts Bus Operations: Estimated Hours Cost per Hour Estimated Operating Cost Bus Leases Park&Ride Lease Other Other Subtotal:Bus Operations Other(Describe) Other(Describe) TOTAL OPERATING COSTS 9. Please enter estimated appropriations to support contractual commitments and other expenses related to proposed capital projects. CAPITAL COSTS FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 FY30 FY31 FY32 Planning Design Construction Vehicles 2,065,267 Land-Right of Way Other TOTAL CAPITAL COSTS 2,065,267 Assumptions for Costs and Revenues Above: 10.Please state any assumption(s)used to calculate the capital and operating dollars and revenues shown above.(include details) N/A 6 Chnpel Hill 1ronsit DATE: August 5, 2025 TO: Orange County Staff Working Group FROM: Caroline Dwyer, Chapel Hill Transit RE: Requested Amendments to FY26 Orange County Annual Transit Workplan REQUEST SUMMARY Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) is requesting the following amendment to a capital project included in the FY 2026 Orange County Annual Transit Workplan, as further described in this memo. This amendment clarifies the name and description of a project in Orange County's adopted FY26 Annual Transit Workplan. No other changes are requested. TYPE EXISTING EXISTING ID AMOUNT NOTES PROJECT DESCRIPTION Existing Route NS Vehicle acquisitions 26CHTVP15 $2,065,267 Previously two project Vehicles projects (26CHTVP15 and 25CHTVP15), combined into one project in the FY26 AWP NEED Amendment to Existing Project: Name & Scope Change We are requesting to amend the FY26 Annual Transit Workplan to more explicitly describe the use and purpose of already-allocated funding and to incorporate NSBRT's progress, which will replace CHT's existing NS Route. CHT must clearly demonstrate all NSBRT funding sources to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of the project's risk and readiness reviews; this amendment clarifies CHT's intended use of the allocated funding and demonstrates the funding's availability to FTA. TYPE EXISTING EXISTING ID AMOUNT NOTES PROJECT DESCRIPTION Requested Route Vehicle acquisitions 26CHTVP15 $2,065,267 Previously two Amendment NSBRT for NSBRT projects Vehicles (26CHTVP15 and 25CHTVP15), combined into one project in the FY26 AWP Fiscal impact on FY26 Orange County Annual Transit Work Plan budget: $0 405 Martin Luther King Junior Blvd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 1 www.chtransit.org 7 REQUEST k FY 2026 FY START DATE Orange Transit Work Plan Jul 2025 20CHTCDo3 Project Amendment Request Form Operating and/or Capital Type of Amendment Minor ❑ Major 0 Minor Amendments: a.An amendment that requires a transfer between budget ordinance appropriations but requires less than a 20%change to a project appropriation for projects equal to or less than$250,000; b.Changes to any adopted financial assumptions supporting the applicable Work Program that does not have a significant impact on the overall revenue or expenditure forecast,which is defined to be no more than a one percent(1%)over the life of the plan; c.Changes in reporting requirements for performance on implementation elements authorized in the applicable Work Program; d.Changes in funding amounts less than$250,000 for implementation elements programmed in future fiscal years; e.Any other change that does not meet any of the criteria of a Minor Amendment is a Major Amendment. Major Amendments are required when: a.A project requested to be added to the Work Plan b.A project requested to be removed from the Work Plan c.Changes to any adopted financial assumptions supporting the applicable Work Program that does have a significant impact on the overall revenue or expenditure forecast, which is defined to be over one percent(1%)over the life of the plan; d.Changes in scope for implementation elements programmed in current and future fiscal years; e.Any amendment that requires a transfer of funds between capital or operating funding categories f.Any change that requires a change in budgeted reserves or fund balance. These definitions are based on the Orange County Transit Work Plan Amendment Policy Update,which gives more clarity to the definitions without changing their meaning. ew/Amended Project Nam Requesting Agency Project Contact Estimated Operating Cost Caroline Dwyer Base Year BRT-North-South Chapel Hill Transit FY 2025 cdwyer@townofchapelhill.orR Cumulative Estimated Start Date Estimated Completion Notes Capital Cost Jan-26 Jan-29 Base Year $ 3,765,411 Cumulative $ 3,765,411 Project Description/Scope Enter below a summary of the project amendment and impact on approved plan. Reallocate operating funds to capital funds to mitigate NSBRT cost increases without requesting additional funding from the OCTP.This amendment has a net zero fiscal impact on the Transit Plan and does not change the years that funds are available to CHT. 1. Enter Orange Transit Project ID(s)to Increase Appropriation Project lD Project Category Amount Recurring Amount Notes BRT- This request moves operating funds currently allocated in FY26-FY29.CHT has been 20CHTCD03 North- BRT $3,765,411 unable to implement these projects due to ongoing operator shortages. South TOTAL $ 3,765,411 2.Orange Transit Project ID(s)to Reduce Project lD Project Appropriation Amount Recurring Amount Notes Category Route CW: 23CHTTS01 Improve Transit Operations $ 749,993 Total allocated,FY26-FY29 Midday 24CHTTS01 Route HS: Transit Operations $ 629,250 Weekend Total allocated,FY26-FY29 1;-i- 26CHTTSI3 Route NS: Transit Operations $ 992,439 Eubanks- Total allocated,FY27-FY29 Southern 26CHTTS14 Route D: Transit Operations $ 1,393,729 UNC- Total allocated,FY27-FY29 Patterson TOTAL ($3,765,411) 3. Impact on Transit Plan Project Costs From above,indicate whether amounts impact operating or capital budgets in Orange Estimated Operating Cost Current Year $ (188,900.00) Transit Plan. FY27-FY29 $ (3,576,511) Estimated Capital Cost Base Year $ 188,900 Cumulative $ 3,765,411 4. Is this project Operating,Capital or Both? Operating 7 Capital 11 Both O 8 S. What is the timeframe for the request?Are you requesting a full year of funds or a partial year to be annualized in future fiscal years? Funds are requested for fiscal years 2026-2029 6.What is the expected outcome(s)if this request is funded?What is the alternative if the request is not funded? CHT plans on submitting an FTA grant request before the end of calendar year 2025.Failure to secure all required local funding will delay this request and impact NSBRT's construction schedule. 7. List any other relevant information not addressed. This amendment request reallocates funds committee to CHT and has no fiscal impact on the adopted transit plan. 8. Please enter estimated appropriations to support expenses. Enter FY 2026 and the estimated annualized cost in FY 2027 using the 2.5%growth factor,if applicable.The spreadsheet will calculate 2028 and beyond by 2.5%. If your project is not expected to have recurring costs in FY 2028 and/or beyond,delete the calculation(s)in columns E-H. Cost Break Down of Project Request OPERATING COSTS FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 FY30 FY31 FY32 Growth Factors 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% 2.50% Salary&Fringes - - - Contracts - - - - Bus Operations: Estimated Hours - - - - - Cost per Hour Estimated Operating Cost $ (188,900.00) $ (1,162,875.00) $ (1,191,914.00) $ (1,221,722.00) - - - Bus Leases - - - - - Park&Ride Lease - - - - - Other - - - - - Other - - - - - Subtotal:BusOperations (188,900) (1,162,875) (1,191,914) (1,221,722) - - - Other(Describe) - - - - - Other(Describe) - - - - - TOTALOPERATING COSTS (188,900) (1,162,875) (1,191,914) (1,221,722) - - - 9. Please enter estimated appropriations to support contractual commitments and other expenses related to proposed capital projects. CAPITAL COSTS FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 FY30 FY31 FY32 Planning Design Construction $ 188,900.00 $ 1,162,875.00 $ 1,191,914.00 $ 1,221,722.00 Vehicles Land-Right of Way Other TOTAL CAPITAL COSTS $ 188,900.00 $ 1,162,875.00 $ 1,191,914.00 1$ 1,221,722.00 - - - Assumptions for Costs and Revenues Above: 10.Please state any assumption(s)used to calculate the capital and operating dollars and revenues shown above.(include details) N/A 9 Chel Hill 1110sit DATE: September 3, 2025 TO: Orange County Staff Working Group FROM: Caroline Dwyer, Chapel Hill Transit RE: Requested Amendments to FY26 Orange County Annual Transit Workplan REQUEST SUMMARY Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) is requesting the following amendments to projects included in the FY 2026 Orange County Annual Transit Workplan, as further described in this memo. This amendment reallocates operating funds to capital funds with net zero fiscal impact on current and future AWPs. DESCRIPTION ID AMENDMENT NOTES REQUEST AMOUNT Route CW: Improve 23CHTTS01 ($749,993) Reflects allocations in FY26-29 Midday Service Route HS:Weekend 24CHTTS01 ($629,250) Reflects allocations in FY26-29 Service Route NS: Eubanks- 26CHTTS13 ($992,439) Reflects allocations in FY26-29 Southern Village Route D: UNC-Patterson 26CHTTS14 ($1,393,729) Reflects allocations in FY26-29 Place BRT- North-South 20CHTCD03 $3,765,411 Reflects allocations in FY26-29 NET AMENDMENT $0.00 NEED Amend Existing Projects to Reallocate Funding to NSBRT We are requesting to amend the FY26 Annual Transit Workplan to reallocate committed operating funding to CRT's NSBRT capital project. Prior to requesting a Small Starts Grant Agreement from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), CHT must clearly demonstrate that all local NSBRT funding is committed. This request reallocates funding from projects that CHT has been unable to implement due to ongoing operator shortages to the NSBRT project, filling a funding availability gap that must be closed before the project will be considered for federal funding. This request has a net zero fiscal impact on the transit plan, and we are not requesting changes to the timing of fund allocation. ID EXISTING FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 TOTAL PROJECT 23CHTTS01 Route CW: ($102,750) ($210,443) ($215,700) ($221,100) ($749,993) Improve Midday Service 24CHTTS01 Route HS: ($86,150) ($176,600) ($181,000) ($185,500) ($629,250) Weekend Service 26CHTTS13 Route NS: ($322,679) ($330,740) ($339,020) ($992,439) Eubanks-Southern Villa e 26CHTTS14 Route D: UNC- ($453,153) ($464,474) ($476,102) ($1,393,729) Patterson Place 405 Martin Luther King Junior Blvd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 1 www.chtransit.org 10 Chginel Hill rsi 20CHTCD03 BRT—North- $188,900 $1,162,875 $1,191,914 1 $1,221,722 $3,765,411 South Fiscal impact on Orange County Annual Transit Work Plan budget: $0 405 Martin Luther King Junior Blvd. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 1 www.chtransit.org Staff Working Group FY26 Q2 Annual Work Plan Amendments HSBIt�RtFnrMl�9wav and 5tatlona Euhanks P8R NorFhYrouml tH,Kween + P4fY1 dllr xnd F�9+aki :� Rd.eR� m6aMYr nit Tpr•p� mrttpYY 2bp hes io YI wleh to nan EubanMs Rd.Sputh6ound --.� bnduslrc. r qQ Wearer Dairy� � ' L� r �' + Nrw SFate:sldr Edi c �: Homt,tcad � 4 l NurFlrfield �� w S C _ n � Piney Mountain , - 1- I Nills6orvugh ~� Franklin r' a 12 Legend PittSbvM'Credit Union • Carrington Hall �.. ' Manning/East) + Chapel Hill Transit cine Nc sa `_� Culhreth • Rapid (BRT) Southern Vilf.age sutl u PBrR ��\ 13 Funding • Total Project Costs: $188 million • Non-Federal Funding: $38.1 million SOURCE AMOUNT Prior Transit Tax Annual Work Plans $29,125,000 CHT Partners $2,000,000 Town of Chapel Hill $1 ,144,322 TOTAL $32,269,322 AWP FY26 Q2 AMENDMENTS Route NS Vehicles $2,065,267 Converting from Operating to Capital $3,765,411 TOTAL $5,830,678 GRAND TOTAL $38,100,000 3 14 Request #1 : Amendment to Existing Project Current: $2,065,267 • 2 vehicles for North-South Route Requested: $2,065,267 • 2 vehicles for North-South BRT • 60 ft diesel vehicles, unique branding and custom fabrication • Vehicles could only be used for BRT service 4 15 Request #2 : Converting Operating to Capital Current: $3,765,411 FY26-FY 29 operating funds, designated for staffing and route improvements • Route CW: Improve weekday midday service • Route HS: Add weekend service • Route NS: Reduce peak headways to six (6) minutes • Route D: Extend route's eastern terminus to Patterson Place Requested: $3,765,411 • Capital funds to be used as part of a local match • Fills a funding gap for federal funding 5 16 Request #2 : Converting Operating to Capital ID PR XI8JECT FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 TOTAL 23CHTTS01 W'ay Imrove e ($102,750) ($210,443) ($215,700) ($221,100) ($749,993) idcl ervic 24CHTTS01 HS: rvice end ($86,150) ($176,600) ($181,000) ($185,500) ($629,250) Servick 26CHTTS13 Sou hernhNi Nage ($322,679) ($330,740) ($339,020) ($992,439) 26CHTTS14 D: UN Patterson lace ($453,153) ($464,474) ($476,102) ($1,393,729) 20CHTCD03 B outh orth- $188,900 $1,162,875 $1,191,914 $1,221,722 $3,765,411 6