TITLE: Title
Request for Approval to Submit Applications for CMAQ Funding
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is request approval from the Board of Aldermen to submit applications for CMAQ funding and provide an update on current transportation projects.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Bergen Watterson, 919-918-7329, bwatterson@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:bwatterson@townofcarrboro.org>; Tina Moon, 919-918-7329, cmoon@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:cmoon@townofcarrboro.org>
INFORMATION: The DCHC-MPO issued a call for proposals for CMAQ funding in FY18 and FY19; applications are due on December 16th. A subcommittee of the MPO Technical Committee will select and prioritize the applications in January and send to the MPO Board for approval in February. The final applications are due to NCDOT on March 15th, 2017.
Town staff would like to submit a joint application with the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County for a bike share program. If selected, Chapel Hill would be the official recipient of the funds and subcontract with Carrboro and Orange County. The CMAQ funds would cover 80% of the installation and first year of operations for a 100 bike program - 35 bikes in Carrboro, 50 in Chapel Hill, and 15 in Hillsborough. The anticipated total amount needed to implement the first year of the bike share is $199,500, of which $159,600 would be funded through CMAQ and the remainder would be split by the three jurisdictions based on the number of bikes and stations. Carrboro’s share of the $39,500 local match would be approximately $14,000 (35%). The bike share will be a one year pilot program; staff will establish performance measures to evaluate its efficiency and effectiveness during the first year and decide whether or not to continue the program accordingly.
It is also important to note that the Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County project team is currently communicating with FHWA regarding the eligibility of particular aspects of the bike share program for CMAQ funding. This information may ultimately affect whether or not the application is submitted.
Town staff would also like to submit an application for CMAQ funding for the S. Greensboro St. sidewalk. This project is currently programmed in the State Transportation Improvement Project (STIP) for FY17 with $546,550 (including the 20% local match). Staff had originally anticipated $558,884 in funding from the Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan (BRIP), but this funding is uncertain at this point as the BRIP is in the process of being updated. This CMAQ application for $440,000 would require a local match of $110,000 and provide the funding necessary to complete the project. If funding ends up being available from the BRIP then it could potentially be used to cover the local match for the CMAQ funds.
There are a number of other transportation projects that are either in progress or will be underway in the next few years. Below is a table showing the status and funding sources for each of these projects.
|
Project |
Status |
Funding |
|
|
|
Federal |
Local |
|
Homestead-CHHS Multiuse Path |
In progress |
$994,184 - STP-DA |
$258,946 |
|
Rogers Road Sidewalk |
Design complete |
$542,600 - STP-DA |
$829,058 |
|
Bike Loop Detectors |
Working on bid docs |
$30,000 - STP-DA |
$27,500 |
|
Jones Creek Greenway |
Working on RFQ for design |
$336,400 - CMAQ |
$83,600 |
|
Downtown Connector |
Not yet started |
$128,410 - CMAQ |
$86,844 |
|
S. Greensboro Sidewalk (programmed) |
Working on municipal agreement |
$437,240 - STP-DA |
$109,310 |
|
S. Greensboro Sidewalk (proposed) |
Funding needed |
$440,000 - CMAQ |
$110,000* |
|
Bike Share Program (proposed) |
Funding needed |
$160,000 - CMAQ |
$14,000 |
*May be eligible for BRIP funding
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: If the Board approves the submission of the CMAQ applications and they are funded, a local match of $14,000 would be required for the bike share program, and $110,000 for the S. Greensboro St. sidewalk.
RECOMMENDATION:r Town staff recommends that the Board of Aldermen consider authorizing staff to proceed with and submit CMAQ applications.