Agenda - 10-20-2015 - 8a - Report on the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Assessment of Orange Public Transit (OPT)

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45 Chapter 2: Costs and Funding It should be assumed that the difference between the revenues and expenses is county general revenue funding. Funding Sources Federal/State Programs Community Transportation Program-Section 5311 for Non-urbanized Areas OPT receives funding under the FTA Section 5311 Program. This program is used to support public transportation services in rural areas with a population less than 50,000. Though the federal regulations allow these funds to be used for administrative, capital or operating expenses, the program as administered by NCDOT (called the Community Transportation Program or CTP) allows the use of Section 5311 funding only for Administrative and Capital Expenses unless the sub-recipient is a small urban fixed-route system or a regional community system. In this case, operating deficits (up to 50% of the net operating costs of general public routes) can be funded with CTP funds. Operating costs must be paid out of state program funds, local funds or contract revenues. The match ratio for S.5311 funds for Administration under the CTP program (for FY 16) allows for up to a 63% federal share,with NCDOT providing 22%, and a required local cash match of 15%. For capital expenses, under the NCDOT program the federal share is 8o% of the capital cost and up to 83%participation for a vehicle related purchase to be in compliance with ADA. Under MAP-21, the federal share for vehicles acquired to comply with ADA or the Clean Air Act (CAA) is 85%. The federal share is go% for vehicle- related equipment and facilities acquired either to comply with CAA or required by ADA (vehicle-related equipment is equipment on or attached to the vehicle). State funds, subject to appropriations, may be used to provide one-half of the non-federal match, up to 10%. Local funding and contractual revenue can be used for the remaining required local match. For FY 2014, OPT's administrative grant included state and federal funds for$157,764, to be matched by$27,841 in local funds. There was no capital application under this program. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program In non-attainment areas, the FTA provides funding under the CMAQ program for projects that address air quality and congestion issues. This includes capital funding for vehicles and facilities and operating funding for up to three years of operation (five if originally funded under MAP-21). The Hillsborough Circulator operations have been funded under this program. The original grant of$1go,000 did not require local match but the town made contributions toward local match which have been deferred for use as the service is transitioned to different funding sources. In FY 2014, $6o,000 in CMAQ operating funds were budgeted for this service KFH NCDOT Orange County 29 Transit Assessment Study