AGENDA #6a
BUDGET WORKING PAPER
TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Roger Waldon, Planning Director
SUBJECT: Funding for Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization Planning Projects
DATE: April 28, 2004
This working paper reviews a request from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization that Chapel Hill provide a portion of the local match required for several regional transportation planning projects for the FY 2004-2005 fiscal year, totaling $34,376. The request from Durham was received only recently, and was not reviewed in time to be included in the Recommended Budget materials. The funds would have to be added to the proposed budget.
BACKGROUND
The City of Durham, lead planning agency for the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, has identified several regional planning projects to be undertaken in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. In past years the City of Durham has assumed responsibility for providing the 20% local match for regional planning projects. Durham has now proposed a cost sharing of the local match between Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, based on population.
Attachment 1 is a summary of special projects proposed by the lead planning agency and proposed local match funding formula. Durham is proposing to fund 80% of the projects using Surface Transportation Program Direct Allocation monies as identified in the recently adopted 2004-2005 Planning Work Program. The Planning Work Program was reviewed and approved by the Transportation Advisory Committee on April 14, 2004.
DISCUSSION
We have summarized below the special projects proposed, followed by a table of the various projects and their anticipated costs. We have also included the Old Durham-Chapel Hill bike lanes feasibility and engineering study, which is not included in Attachment 1.
The proposed allocation of costs among jurisdictions is based on population. In the case of the Data Automation project, the Triangle J Council of Governments is proposed to be assessed an amount relative to the work it is anticipated they would undertake. The Collector Street project is anticipated to focus on the area between Chapel Hill and Durham and would not include Carrboro. The project cost has been split between Chapel Hill and Durham. It is anticipated that all work would be undertaken by consultants.
In addition to the special projects proposed for FY 2004-2005, the FY 2003-2004 Direct Allocation budget includes $62,500 to prepare a feasibility study and preliminary engineering assessment for installing bike lanes along Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road between US 15-501 in Chapel Hill and Garrett Road in Durham. Durham staff has proposed to split the $12,500 local match based on the relative length of the corridor within each jurisdiction. They estimate that approximately 25% of the corridor is within Chapel Hill’s jurisdiction and have requested $3,125 from the Town for the local match.
Summary of Proposed Funding for Special Projects
|
Special Project |
Jurisdiction |
Local |
Federal |
Total |
|
Bicycle and Pedestrian Model Enhancement |
Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro |
$11,586 $2,539 $875 |
$46,346 $10,156 $3,499 |
$57,932 $12,695 $4,373 |
|
Travel Behavior Survey |
Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro |
$42,256 $9,479 $3,265 |
$173,024 $37,914 $13,061 |
$216,281 $47,393 $16,327 |
|
MPO Transportation Plan Data Automation |
Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro TJCOG |
$30,897 $6,770 $2,332 $10,000 |
$123,589 $27,082 $9,329 $40,000 |
$154,486 $33,852 $11,662 $50,000 |
|
Land Use/Transportation Air Quality Model |
Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro |
$38,622 $8,463 $2,915 |
$154,486 $33,852 $11,662 |
$193,108 $42,315 $14,577 |
|
Collector Street Plan |
Durham Chapel Hill
|
$16,000 $4,000 |
$64,000 $16,000 |
$80,000 $20,000 |
|
Totals |
Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro |
$140,361 $31,251 $9,388 |
$561,445 $125,004 $37,551 |
$701,807 $156,255 $46,939 |
|
Additional Projects |
|
|
|
|
|
Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road Bike Lanes |
Durham Chapel Hill
|
$9,375 $3,125 |
$37,500 $12,500 |
$46,875 $15,625 |
The total amount of funding requested from Chapel Hill for the FY 2004-2005 Planning Work Program special studies and Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road project totals $34,376.
CONCLUSION
We believe that the proposed improvements to the Triangle Regional Transportation Model are necessary to develop future regional transportation plans that accurately reflect the potential impact of greater investment in alternative modes of transportation. The collection of base data on travel behavior and integration of that data into the model will support Chapel Hill’s efforts to minimize roadway widenings and promote more funding for public transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
The automation of land use data for use in the transportation planning process will allow the region to monitor changes in land use on a continuing basis and evaluate changes to land use patterns. An automated land use data system will also help ensure the accuracy of the data used in the Regional Transportation Model and supports the expansion of the model to more accurately reflect alternative modes of transportation.
The proposed collector street plan, focusing on the area between Chapel Hill and Durham, will help fulfill the recommendations of the Durham-Chapel Hill Work Group for a more coordinated approach to planning in this area.
The Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road Bike Lanes feasibility project is necessary to determine a realistic cost estimate for providing the bike lanes along this corridor.
We believe that participation in the funding of the local match will allow Chapel Hill to more fully participate in the development and administration of these special projects, providing greater opportunities to address those issues important to the Town.
At this time, the funding sought from Chapel Hill to support these projects is not included in the proposed Town Budget for 2004-2005. If the Council chooses to support these projects, a total of $34,376 would be necessary.
ATTACHMENT