AGENDA #4b

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Project Ordinance for a Transportation Capital and Planning Grant

 

DATE:             May 12, 2003

 

 

The attached ordinance would establish a project budget for a 2002-2003 transit capital and planning grant.

 

BACKGROUND

 

This grant will be used to:

 

 

On June 24, 2002, the Council authorized the filing of applications for federal and State transit grants for capital and planning funds as part of the 2002-2003 budget.

 

Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) funds, appropriated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), are distributed by formula to urbanized areas.  These funds are provided to pay for operating, capital and planning needs.

 

A federal application will be submitted totaling $437,537 (80%) for capital and planning activities.  An application for State matching funds will also be submitted to the N.C. Public Transportation Division to request $26,592 of the eligible capital and planning project costs.

 

The Town of Chapel Hill will provide a local match of $82,792 that is available in the capital reserve fund.


DISCUSSION

 

Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) - Capital

 

The Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 capital funds ($437,537) will be used to:

 

·        purchase 2 expansion lift-equipped vans, 3 replacement and 2 expansion support vehicles;

·        cover lease payments for the modular unit being used by the transit operations staff;

·        cover lease payments for the Carrboro Plaza park-ride lot;

·        fund architectural and preliminary engineering services for the new municipal operations facility; and

·        provide for engine and transmission repairs for the bus fleet.

 

Federal guidelines require that recipients of Section 5307 funds establish a minimum annual expenditure of 1% for transit projects that would enhance mass transit service or use.  These funds will be used to rehabilitate and improve bus stops within the Town’s service area and to purchase bus shelters where needed.  There is also a 1% requirement for safety and security.  These funds may be used to improve lighting at bus stops. The Federal Transit Administration will provide 80% ($349,513) of the total capital funds requested.  The State will provide $15,589 in matching funds for capital purchases and the Town’s local matching share will be $71,789.

 

Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) - Planning

 

Planning funds totaling $110,030 will be used to offset costs incurred by three transit employees while performing planning activities.  These activities include evaluation of transit facilities and local land use plans, collection of traffic count data, evaluation of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, development of the 2030 regional plan, and development of the annual Transportation Improvement Plan and the Unified Planning Work Program.  The Federal Transit Administration will provide $88,024 (80%), the State $11,003 (10%) and the Town $11,003 (10%) for the planning projects.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council enact the following project ordinance.


AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET FOR A TRANSPORTATION GRANT (2003-05-12/O-1)

 

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that, pursuant to Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the following grant projects are hereby established:

 

SECTION I

 

The Urban Area Formula Program (Section 5307) funds are from 2003 federal funds from an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration.

 

SECTION II

 

The Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with the implementation of the project within the terms of the grant agreements executed with the Federal Transit Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation within the funds appropriated herein.

 

SECTION III

 

The following revenue is anticipated to be available to the Town to complete activities as outlined in the project application:

 

Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307)

 

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

$437,537

N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT)

26,592

Town of Chapel Hill (local match)

82,792

Total

$546,921

 

SECTION IV

 

The following amounts are appropriated for the FY2003 Section 5307 project:

 

Salaries - Full Time

$90,000

Fringe Benefits

13,145

FICA

6,856

Supplies - Fleet

200,000

Building and Equipment Rents

14,800

Miscellaneous Contracted Services

29,578

Professional Services

Capital Equipment

32,500

160,042

Total

$546,921

 

This the 12th day of May, 2003.