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Request for Authorization to Enter into a Comprehensive Participation Agreement for Orange County Transit Funds
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to enter into a comprehensive participation agreement with the Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement (ILA) Parties. Participation is necessary to continue to receive transit funding for town infrastructure projects.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: [Christina Moon, Planning Administrator, 919-918-7325, cmoon@carrboronc.gov <mailto:cmoon@carrboronc.gov>; Patricia McGuire, Planning Director, 918-918-7327, pmcguire@carrboronc.gov <mailto:pmcguire@carrboronc.gov>; Nick Herman, Town Attorney, 919-929-3905, gnherman@broughlawfirm.com <mailto:gnherman@broughlawfirm.com>; Arche McAdoo, Finance Director, 919.918.7439, AMcAdoo@carrboronc.gov <mailto:AMcAdoo@carrboronc.gov>]
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate _X__ Comprehensive Plan __X_Other
Council Direction Statement
[The Transportation and Mobility Chapter of the Carrboro Comprehensive Plan speaks to increasing transit services, and associated bicycle-pedestrian infrastructure capital projects to support access to transit.]
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Information
INFORMATION: In 2021, Durham and Orange counties obtained the services of Atkins consulting to prepare a series of governing documents relating to the implementation and administration of the new county transit plans.
The discontinuation of the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit (DO LRT) project necessitated an update to the interlocal agreements between the counties, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, and GoTriangle. Discussions among the stakeholders lead to an interest in developing a new governance framework to guide the implementation of future transit plans.
Three documents have been prepared: 1) a new comprehensive interlocal agreement (ILA) for the three signatory authorities, which for the Orange County Transit Plan includes Orange County, GoTriangle and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO), 2) a policy and procedure document which codifies the processes that the staff working group has been following since 2017, and 3) a Comprehensive Participation Agreement. The Comprehensive Participation Agreement (CPA) serves as the master agreement that each jurisdiction would sign to receive transit funds. The CPA outlines certain basic responsibilities for the jurisdiction to complete the project for which funding was requested (service operations/capital project), and for GoTriangle to provide the earmarked funds in accordance to the approved budget and annual work program. The Parties will conduct a review of the Agreement at least every four (4) years to consider any desired updates through the Agreement through the Amendment process, or more often as necessary. Agreements may be terminated with a year’s notice. The Town of Carrboro has been asked to enter into a CPA with the three signatory authorities: Orange County, GoTriangle and the DCHC MPO to continue receiving Orange County Transit funds.
(For additional information about the Durham-Orange Transit Governance Study, please see the summary memo in Attachment D; or for more extensive background please see the DCHC MPO meeting materials for May 24, 20233 using the following link: <https://dchcmpo.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=922104&GUID=ED37805C-0195-47E3-A0EA-2C0A8B70A106&Options=info|&Search>=.)
Carrboro was allocated approximately $1,680,665 of Orange County transit funds to be used toward capital projects that improve bike/ped access to transit service in 2017 Orange County Transit Plan. Of that amount, approximately $214,535 has been used toward the Rogers Road bus stop/sidewalk project, the South Greensboro Street sidewalk, and the Morgan Creek Greenway, Phase 1. The remaining $1,465,665 has been earmarked for the Estes Drive bike/ped improvements, South Greensboro Street sidewalk, Morgan Creek Greenway, the three signalized pedestrian crossings on NC 54, and funding toward the missing section of sidewalk along the 500 block of West Main Street.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact with entering into the CPA agreement, however, local jurisdictions have been requested to participate to continue receiving funding.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: The Town Manager recommends that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to enter into the Comprehensive Participation Agreement for the Town to continue receiving Orange County Transit funds for capital projects that support access to transit.
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