AGENDA #4h
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TO: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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FROM: |
K. Stephen Spade, Transportation Director |
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SUBJECT: |
Project Ordinance for a Transportation Capital and Planning Grant Including Two Grant Funded Positions |
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DATE: |
June 11, 2007 |
The attached ordinance would establish a project budget for a 2006-2007 transit capital and planning grant in the amount of $844,140 and would provide the local match of $128,828 from the Transportation Capital Reserve Fund.
On April 24, 2006, the Council authorized the filing of applications for federal and State transit grants for capital and planning funds as part of the 2006-2007 budget.
Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) funds, appropriated by the Federal Transit Administration, are distributed by formula to urbanized areas. These funds are provided to pay for operating, capital and planning needs.
The distribution of these funds was agreed upon by the recipients in the urbanized area, and the distribution letter was received by the Federal Transit Administration in April 2007. An application was submitted on May 1, 2007, and funds were awarded by the Federal Transit Administration on May 30, 2007.
The grant includes $675,312 in federal funds. We will request $40,000 in State matching funds from the N.C. Public Transportation Division for eligible capital and planning project costs.
The Town of Chapel Hill will provide a local match of $128,828 that is available in the Transportation Department’s Capital Reserve Fund.
The Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 capital funds will be used to:
Federal guidelines allow recipients of Section 5307 funds to spend a minimum of 1 percent annually for transit projects that would enhance mass transit service or use and also 1 percent annually for safety and security. Transit enhancement funds will be used to rehabilitate and improve bus stops and signage within the Town’s service area and purchase bus shelters where needed. Safety and security funds will be used to provide security at the Transportation Department’s new facility and also for lighting fixture repairs as needed at Town-owned park and ride lots.
Planning funds will be used to offset costs incurred by three transit employees while performing planning activities. These activities include monthly reporting of federally funded projects, re-certification of EZ Rider patrons, evaluation of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, development of schedules and schedule run-cuts, annual reporting to the National Transit Database, development of the Transportation Capital Improvements Program, review of the annual Transportation Improvement Plan and Unified Planning Work Program.
Two staff positions will be funded through a combination of grant funding and existing funds from the operating budget.
Scheduling Coordinator - One position is requested, at pay grade 39 with a 40-hour work schedule. This position will perform the complex and time-sensitive work of scheduling and updating the routes which carry the nearly six million annual passengers currently using the Town’s transportation system. This position is also important in the collection and analysis of the detailed data which is an important part of grant requests and reporting requirements.
Funding to cover the cost of this position will be provided by restructuring other positions and use of grant funding. These funding sources will be in place in the upcoming budget for 2007-08, with no additional funding requested if this request is approved.
System Development and Planning Coordinator - One position is requested, at pay grade 42 with a 40-hour work schedule. The size and complexity of the Chapel Hill Transportation system has reached a point that additional staffing is needed for the analysis and evaluation of system performance, short range transit planning, Capital Improvement Program planning and coordination at federal and state levels. The volume and intricacy of this work requires specialized knowledge and training, and the addition of this position is critical to the continued health and growth of the system. The funding for this position will be grants-based, and no additional funding is requested, either in this or the upcoming budget year, to cover the cost of this new position.
That the Council enact the attached project ordinance.