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11 <br /> There were some revisions to federal and state funding sources in December 2012 that <br /> will impact the funding sources for the Safe Routes to School program. Specifically, the <br /> federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21St Century Bill (MAP-21) SRTS program <br /> direct allocation funds were removed. However, NCDOT staff has advised the Planning <br /> staff that there will continue to be SAFETEA-LU funds available for the program under <br /> its non-competitive rolling grant cycle. It is anticipated that these funds will be continued <br /> on an annual basis. The SRTS program is a reimbursement program that does not <br /> require a local match (100% federally funded). When applying for federal <br /> reimbursement grants, the County and the Town should budget funds for projects within <br /> their respective jurisdictional limits, and set up accounts for expending those funds until <br /> NCDOT has reimbursed project costs. Although no local match is permitted, local <br /> governments are allowed to contribute to a project. <br /> After identifying projects from the Plan to implement, the County would apply through <br /> the NCDOT Division 7 office. Project funding is based on project priority with as much <br /> local support as possible (Schools, PTA, Superintendent, municipalities, BOCC, <br /> supporting plans, etc.), and projects from the Plan with multiple purposes/greater impact <br /> are favored. If, for example, a proposed project for CW Stanford Middle School met the <br /> objectives of the SRTS program, but also happened to provide a benefit to the Orange <br /> High School, that is acceptable and even encouraged. <br /> IMPLEMENTATION <br /> The SRTS Action Plan emphasizes that successful implementation will require the <br /> dedication of local government staff, commitment of the school system and local <br /> schools, the creation of a SRTS Advisory Committee, and the continued support of local <br /> advocates and parents. The recommended first step is the adoption of the Plan by <br /> Orange County, Orange County Schools, and the Town of Hillsborough. Adoption of <br /> the SRTS Action Plan demonstrates local commitment and incentivizes NCDOT to fund <br /> local projects. The second recommended step is to establish a SRTS Action Plan <br /> Advisory Committee (SRTS APAC). Planning staff's initial thought is that the SRTS <br /> Advisory Committee be a sub-committee of the OUTBoard, supplemented by additional <br /> staff from other agencies/jurisdictions as needed. The Advisory Committee would be <br /> responsible for advocating plan implementation and assist with programming and grant <br /> writing, evaluating plan progress, and assessing plan priorities. Multiple subsequent <br /> implementation action steps are outlined and prioritized in the Plan, the fruition of which <br /> would be subject to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and the approval <br /> of the BOCC, School Board, and Town of Hillsborough. <br /> Lead Planning Agency Role <br /> NCDOT recommends that the County serve as the Lead Planning Agency, but the <br /> details of this responsibility will need to be worked out between Orange County, Orange <br /> County Schools, and the Town of Hillsborough as an initial step in advancing <br /> implementation of the SRTS Action Plan. <br /> 6 <br />