AGENDA #4c
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Project Ordinance for a Transportation Capital and Planning Grant
DATE: September 13, 2004
The attached ordinance would establish a project budget for a 2003-2004 transit capital and planning grant in the amount of $690,719.
On June 23, 2003, the Council authorized the filing of applications for federal and State transit grants for capital and planning funds as part of the 2003-2004 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 federal funds for the Section 5307 program were announced on June 3, 2004. Available funds included only 9/12ths of the total allocation. In early August 2004, the remaining 3/12ths of the allocation were appropriated by Congress.
In late August 2004, an application was approved by the Federal Transit Administration for $552,575 in federal funds. With federal approval the State application for matching funds will be submitted to the N.C. Public Transportation Division in the amount of $43,003, representing eligible capital and planning project costs.
The Town of Chapel Hill will provide a local match of $95,141 that is available in the capital reserve fund.
DISCUSSION
Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) - Capital
The Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 capital funds ($464,551) will be used to:
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 and signage within the Town’s service area and to purchase bus shelters where needed. There is also a 1% requirement for improvements to safety and security at transit facilities. The Federal Transit Administration will provide 80% ($464,551) of the total capital funds requested. The State will provide $32,000 in matching funds for capital purchases and the Town’s local matching share will be $95,141.
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.
That the Council enact the following project ordinance.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET FOR A TRANSPORTATION GRANT (2004-09-13/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:
The Urban Area Formula Program (Section 5307) funds are from 2003 federal funds from an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration.
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.
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 |
$552,575 |
|
N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) |
43,003 |
|
Town of Chapel Hill |
95,141 |
|
Total |
$690,719 |
The following amounts are appropriated for the FY2004 Section 5307 project:
|
Salaries - Full Time |
$90,000 |
|
Fringe Benefits |
13,145 |
|
FICA |
6,885 |
|
M & R Vehicles |
48,820 |
|
Building and Equipment Rents |
17,720 |
|
Capital Equipment |
514,149 |
|
Total |
$690,719 |
This the 13th day of September, 2004.