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Attachment 1 <br /> PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT <br />Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director <br />Administration <br />(919) 245-2575 <br />(919) 644-3002 (FAX) <br />www.orangecountync.gov <br />131 W. Margaret Lane <br />Suite 201 <br />P. O. Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> TO:Board of County Commissioners <br /> FROM:Craig Benedict, Planning & Inspections Director <br /> DATE:August 16, 2016 <br /> SUBJECT: INFORMATION ITEM – Safe Routes to School Plan Update <br />The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan was adopted by Orange County Board of <br />County Commissioners (BOCC), Orange County Schools, and the Town of Hillsborough in <br />2014. This update includes a review of the Town’s adoption of its Community Connectivity <br />Plan, and the shift in funding program criteria over the past several years, resulting in the <br />prioritization of urban settings and highway projects over bicycle and pedestrian projects. <br />However, limited implementation of non-infrastructure projects may be possible with the <br />participation and support of our Plan partners. <br />The SRTS Plan was developed under the NC SRTS Program, with the goal of identifying <br />improvements that make bicycling and walking to and from school a safe and healthy <br />transportation alternative. <br />The three schools included in the SRTS Plan are part of the Orange County school system, <br />and all are located inside or adjacent to the Town of Hillsborough: <br />x Grady A. Brown Elementary School (in the County’s jurisdiction) <br />x Cameron Park Elementary School (in the Town’s jurisdiction) <br />x C.W. Stanford Middle School (in the Town’s jurisdiction) <br />Eligible SRTS projects can be bundled as infrastructure and non-infrastructure. Funding <br />can include training volunteers, building sidewalks, creating cross walks, making safety <br />improvements, constructing bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths, etc. All projects must be <br />within two (2) miles of a K-8 school. <br />Obstacles to Plan Implementation <br />Project Funding: Following adoption, and as recommended by the adopted Plan, a SRTS <br />Action Plan Advisory Committee (APAC) was established that would be responsible for <br />managing plan implementation. However, during this same time period there were some <br />revisions to federal and state funding sources that impacted future funding resources for <br />the Safe Routes to School program. Specifically, the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in <br />10