HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-05-2000-7aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 5, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. ~_
SUBJECT: Public Hearing on the North Cazolina Department of Transportation's Rural Operating
Assistance Pro am Grant
DEPARTMENT: Aging/Orange Public
Transportation
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/1~ Yes
ATTACHMENT(S):
Application
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry M. Passmore, Ext. 2009
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Hillsborough 732-$181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 330227-2031
PURPOSE: To receive citizen comments regazding the proposed FY 2000-01 application package
referred to as ROAP (Rural Operating Assistance Program) which includes the Elderly and Disabled
Transportation Assistance Program, Work First Transitional/Employment Transportation Assistance
Program and the Rural General Public Program and to approve submission of the combined ROAP
application.
BACKGROUND: In an effort to streamline its funding procedure the NC Department of
Transportation's Public Transportation Division combined the application process for the three above-
mentioned grant programs into one package. However, there can be no transfer of funds among the
programs for the FY2000-2001. As part of the application package the Boazd of County Commissioners
must hold a public hearixg. County governments aze the only eligible applicants for these funds.
The Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program, first made available by the General
Assembly in 1989, is used in Orange County to pay far medical and personal business trips for residents
who are 60 years and older- or disabled. The Work First/Employmentprngram assists former Work First
clients and other low- income persons certified far Medicaid and Food Stamps with employment-related
transportation. Rural General Public funds aze used to subsidize the Orange Express public route which
makes three round trips daily from Hillsborough/North Orange to the Chapel Hi1UCarrboro area.
The Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAD) funds will provide the following service:
(1) Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Frogram - 4,167 additional medical trips
(2) Rural General Public -Orange Express Public Route -- 5,440 additional general public trips
(3) Work First/Employment Transportation Program - 32 different Work First Clients (' . 30o each)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The funding for the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program
is $51,048 for the current fiscal year with no local match requirement. The Work First allocation is
$9,644 with no local match. The Rural General Public award of $22,743 requires a 10% match and the
OPT program has akeady included the match in its approved budget. For the fiscal year ending June 30,
2001 there will be no transfer of funds among the programs.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board of Commissioners receive
comments as additional information and approve'the submission of the FY 2000-01 application for the
Rural Operating Assistance Program.
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APPLICATION FOR OPERATING ASSISTANCE
RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FY 2000- 2001
General Information
Applicant (County): Orange
County Finance Officer: Ken Chavious
Address: Post Office Box 8181 City: Hillsbarou~h
Zip: 27278
Telephone No.: (9191732-8181 Fax No.: (919) 644-3044
E-mail Address: J assmore@Co.Oran e.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 $51,048 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 passible provider. The new effort funded by EDTAP in 1999-2000 is the "Orange
Voucher" servic~~and will continue but limited to $5,000. Developed with seed money
fram Easter Seals North Carolina and distributed through the Orange County
Transportation Coalition for People with Disabilities, this service will continue to offer
eligible disabled persons under 60+ 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 $2.50 per one-way trip (a $.50
increase from the previous fiscal year). 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 trips.
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Persons sixty years and older can be certified for services by completing a Client
Registration Form which is kept on file at the OPT administrative office in Hillsborough.
Persons under sixty seeking EDTAP service must have a certification completed and
authorized by his/her physician. All EDTAP recipients must be recertified annually.
The Orange County Transportation Development Plan Update that addresses the use of
EDTAP funds was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on December 19,
1995 and is in effect through 1999. The Transportation Plan will be updated in FY2000-
2001.
Work First Transitiona]/Em 1o ment Trans ortation Assistance Program
Orange Public Transportation provides former Wark 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 caz owners the funds can be used
far repairs and/or insurance. Far non-caz owners the funds can assist with the purchase of
bus passes, van or carpool expense, ar possibly the gift of a vehicle donated to the Work
First program The actual service provider with vazy depending upon the need, i.e. aura
repair shop, insurance agent, Chapel Hill Transit or Taz Heel Taxi. The OPT Mobility
Specialist will determine the most appropriate vendor an acase-by-case basis:
Rural General„Public (RGP~
Orange Public Transportation (OPT), managed by the Orange County Department on
Aging, serves human service agencies' clients whose ridership is paid by the 141ocal
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, minivans and cars yr private vendors, 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 transportation service is provided each weekday, with weekend or
evening trips far~pecial leases or life-sustaining medical services.
OPT had provided general public rides on a seat available basis far 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 name
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 fast general public
deviated fixed route from Prospect Hill Health Center just north of the Orange/Person
County line into Chapel Hi1UCarrboro. Additionally, the Orange Enterprises routes have
been opened to the general public on aseat-available basis for eazly morning and late
afternoon transportation between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Finally, the four routes
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operated to bring seniors to the senior centers and nutrition sites in Chapel Hill and
Carrboro, Hillsborough, Efland, and Cedar Grove have seats available for public
passengers.
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 1/4 mile for disabled persons or subscription riders. Also, public riders can
be picked up at identified stops along the route with no advance notice.
The approved fare structure for public riders on OPT vehicles is as follows:
In Town $ .50
Between Towns $1.00
Youth 6-17 Yeazs 1/2 fare
Children Ride free when accompanied by adult
The fully allocated cost of $4.65 per trip was determined by dividing the personnel
($25,972) and vehicle operations cost ($19,278) by the number of trips provided on the
North/South Orange Express public shuttle last fiscal yeaz (9,740). Of the $4.65 per trip,
90% ($4.1$) is eligible for reimbursement from Rural General Public funds, up to the
Orange County allocation maximum of $22,743.
Improved marketing the rural general public transportation service is the critical element
to its success. The OPT Public Transportation Program is taking the following steps to
accomplish this goal:
1. Continue to label all new vehicles and re-label any old OPT vehicles woth the new
direct telephone line for service (245-2000).
2. Continue to post routes and schedules in public places.
3. Publicize public routes in the News of Orange newspaper and place the OPT public
service placed in the Chapel Hill Transit schedule with a distribution of S0, 000)
4. Continue to replace OPT public bus stop signs.
S. Distribute a new OPT brochure
6. Print new updated Public Shuttle Schedule for FY2001 both in English and Spanish. .
7. Complete the.purchase of uniforms for OPT drivers operating the public routes.
FN.-H~FY2001AP~ROAP2001 ap.doc
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' ~ State of North Carolina
County of Oran e
APPENDIX B
CERTIFIED STATEMENT
FY 2000-2001
RURAL OPERATING A55ISTANCE PROGRAM
Whereas Article 2B of Chapter 136 of the North Carolina General Statutes and the Governor of
North Carolina have designated the North Carolina Deparr<nent 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
Cazolina;
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
FY2000-2001 Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) application.
This is certify that the undersigned is duly elected, qualified and acting chairperson of the Board
of County Commissioners of the County of Oran a ,North
Carolina, and that the following statements are true and accurate:
Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program
1. The funds received from G.S. 136-4427 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 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:
Work First Transitional/Employnaent 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/or other
specified employment transportation needs.
2. The funds are limited to use by the designated local entity(s) specified in the ROAD
application, or any revisions or amendments thereto.
Rural General Public Program
1. The funds will_be used in a manner consistent with the local Rural General Public Service
Plan.
Information regazding use of ROAD funds will be provided at such time and in such a manner as
the department may require.
ROAD funds will be used to provide eligible services during the period July 1, 2000-
June 30, 2001.
Any interest earned on ROAD funds will be expended for eligible program uses as specified in
the ROAP application.
The County will include ROAD 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-
WITNESS my hand and official seal, this nth day of set , 20~.
Attest:
Certifying Official' Board of County Commissioners
Chairperson
State of North Carolina
COUnty _ Oran 2 - ~~, /Adminisdator•
*#*##*#i#*****#*#*#s*s**##*****##**#***********#*****#i*****#**##***##*****#**
Subscribed and sworn to me this day of _ ~ 20
(SEAL)
My commission exph'es
Notary Public''
*Note that the signatures on this statement should be those of four (4) separate individuals.
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