Agenda - 09-06-2016-13-6 - Information Item - Safe Routes to School Plan Update

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2 the 21st Century Bill (MAP-21) SRTS program direct allocation funds were removed. In lieu of these funds, MAP-21 authorized the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to provide funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including safe routes to school projects. The TAP program replaced the funding from pre-MAP-21 programs, including the SRTS program. Under the TAP program the federal share is the same as for the general federal-aid highway program: 80 percent Federal/20 percent State or local match. Also, to address the shift in funding programs, prioritized SRTS projects are included on the list of future year projects submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Strategic Planning Office of Transportation (SPOT) scoring process. The metrics used to generate SPOT scores also evolved during this time frame and prioritized highway projects to a greater degree than other modes (such as bicycle, pedestrian and transit). Besides TAP funds there are other major program funds that may be used on bicycle and pedestrian improvements. However, the process is highly competitive and the metrics used to generate project scores prioritize urban settings and also favors highway projects to a greater degree than other modes: • Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds - Although bicycle and pedestrian projects are eligible for STP funding, it is rare for these funds to be used for bicycle/pedestrian projects outside of major urban areas (where MPOs have direct control over STP funding, rather than NCDOT for RPOs). Therefore, in RPOs STP funds are typically used primarily for highway and bridge projects. Every two years NCDOT selects funded projects based on project scores through the SPOT process and other funding eligibility rules. • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds — Funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and administered by NCDOT, CMAQ funds must be obligated in designated air quality nonattainment and maintenance areas (Orange County is a maintenance area). NCDOT issues calls for CMAQ projects through the MPOs and RPOs on a semi-regular basis. Projects must be included in a MPO transportation plan and transportation improvement program (TIP), or the current Statewide TIP in areas that are in an RPO. These funds can be used for engineering/design, right-of-way, utility, and construction costs of bicycle and pedestrian projects. CMAQ-funded projects are locally administered. Length of SRTS Plan Preparation Process/Consultant Scope/Hillsborough Community Connectivity Plan — The development of the Orange County SRTS Plan began in January 2010. Although the County Transportation staff, OUTBoard, and local SRTS committee were heavily engaged in plan development, the process and product were managed by a NCDOT consultant. Unfortunately, the consultant experienced significant delays, which resulted in a delay of the adoption of the Plan. During this period of delay, at almost the same time the Town of Hillsborough adopted the SRTS Plan in March 2014, they also adopted revisions to its Connectivity Plan that were not consistent with the SRTS Plan recommendations. The purpose of the Connectivity Plan is to provide specific recommendations to improve the pedestrian and bicycle environment in Hillsborough. While the sidewalk and bike lane recommendations contained in the SRTS Plan were acknowledged in the Connectivity Plan, they were not ultimately recommended as part of the Town's infrastructure network. From an implementation standpoint, the Connectivity Plan has replaced the SRTS Plan as the guiding document as it relates to Cameron Park Elementary School and C.W. Stanford Middle School.