AGENDA #4f
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Project Ordinance for a Transportation Capital and Planning Grant
DATE: June 27, 2005
The attached ordinance would establish a project budget for a 2004-2005 transit capital and planning grant in the amount of $163,475.
On June 14, 2004, the Council authorized the filing of applications for federal and State transit grants for capital and planning funds as part of the 2004-2005 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 between the recipients in the urbanized area and the distribution letter was received by the Federal Transit Administration on April 26, 2005. The application was filed and executed on Tuesday, June 14, 2005. Available funds include only an eight-month authorization at this time. It is unknown when the remaining Section 5307 funds will be available.
The application includes $130,780 in federal funds. A request for State matching funds will be submitted to the N.C. Public Transportation Division in the amount of $11,003, representing eligible planning project costs.
The Town of Chapel Hill will provide a local match of $21,692 that is available in the capital reserve fund.
DISCUSSION
Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) - Capital
The Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 capital funds 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.
Urbanized Area Formula Program (Section 5307) - Planning
Planning funds 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 2040 regional plan, and development of the annual Transportation Improvement Plan and the Unified Planning Work Program.
That the Council enact the following project ordinance.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET FOR A TRANSPORTATION GRANT (2005-06-27/O-2)
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 2005 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 |
$130,780 |
|
N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) |
11,003 |
|
Town of Chapel Hill |
21,692 |
|
Total |
$163,475 |
The following amounts are appropriated for the FY2005 Section 5307 project:
|
Salaries - Full Time |
$90,000 |
|
Fringe Benefits |
13,145 |
|
FICA |
6,885 |
|
M & R Vehicles |
21,283 |
|
Building and Equipment Rents |
32,162 |
|
Total |
$163,475 |
This the 27th day of June, 2005.