memorandum
to: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM: J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director
Kenneth C. Pennoyer, Director, Business Management
David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Manager
subject: Allocation of Funds to Complete the Transit Payment-in-Lieu Implementation Study
date: October 15, 2008
The purpose of this report is to provide the Council with an update on the development of a program to allow payment in lieu for transit improvements.
Adoption of the ordinance amendment would direct the use of budgeted funds designated for consulting services to provide the local match to complete the project. Adoption of the attached budget ordinance would establish a budget of $50,000 for the Transit Payment-in Lieu Implementation Study and would use $10,000 of General Fund money designated for consultants in the FY2008-09 budget.
BACKGROUND
In the 2006 “Short Session” of the North Carolina General Assembly the Town was granted authority to develop a program to accept payments from development applicants for enhancement of public transportation in lieu of construction of roadway improvements. (Attachment 1)
On January 14, 2008 staff proposed a process for implementing the payment in lieu program and asked that the Manager be authorized to hire a consultant to develop a process for assessing anticipated transit impacts. (Attachment 2)
In the spring of 2008 staff released a request for qualifications but due to limited budget and time constraints did not receive any proposals. The Town was able to secure additional transportation planning funds from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization to undertake this study. Those funds became available on July 1, 2008.
DISCUSSION
In August, 2008 the Town re-advertised a request for qualifications and received several proposals. After reviewing the proposals we believe the firm of the Renaissance Planning Group is qualified and we are currently negotiating a final scope of work and contact with them.
The Town has been allocated $40,000 in federal transportation planning funds from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization for this project. The federal funds can be used for up to 80% of the total project cost. The proposed budget for this project is $50,000 and will require a local match of $10,000.
If the Council agrees we recommend that the local match of $10,000 be provided from budgeted funds designated for consulting services. The balance in this fund is approximately $80,000.
We anticipate the project to be initiated in October, 2008 and a final report prepared in January, 2009.
That the Council approve the ordinance amendment allocating $10,000 of budgeted funds designated for consulting services to complete the Transit Payment-in-Lieu Implementation Study.