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Approved October 18, 2006 <br /> <br />3 <br />T:\Advisory Boards\Orange Unified Transportation Board\Minutes\2006\OUTBoardMinutes 9-20-06.doc <br />3 <br />The Moving Ahead initiative (NCMA) is short term funding program established to <br />provide the state's most critical transportation needs - maintenance, modernization <br />and public transportation. Projects are in the $500,000 - $2.5 million range, and <br />require no more than small amounts of ROW and the simplest and quickest types of <br />permitting. NCMA projects in Orange County include improvements, including 2-ft. <br />paved shoulders on US 70 from Palmers Grove Church Road to Alamance County, <br />and Homestead Road improvements. This program will sunset when funds are <br />gone. <br /> <br />Senate Bill 1005 is another program that will sunset. It is designed for rural safety <br />improvements, and projects are based on the discretion of the Transportation Board <br />member. These funds can also be used to incite businesses to relocate. <br /> <br />Spot Safety funds are more closely scrutinized, and are intended for safety <br />improvements. The Traffic Engineering Branch conducts a benefit/cost analysis and <br />the prioritizes the project. Requests are then forwarded to the Safety Oversight <br />Committee (SOC) to study possible funding appropriation. Finally the SOC <br />recommends or denys the request. Recommended projects are sent to the Board of <br />Transportation for consideration. The average cost for Spot Safety projects is <br />approximately $200,000. <br /> <br />Access and Public Service Funds are available to schools and fire districts. The <br />average cost for Access and Public Service projects is approximately $200,000. <br /> <br />Lasris asked if, for larger projects, funds could be combined between the different <br />funding sources, and who is responsible for the checkbooks. Edwards responded <br />that yes, projects can be funded with different sources, and Doug Galyon is our <br />Transportation Board member (who is appointed by the Governor and represents 5 <br />counties), who is responsible for the discretionary funds. Lasris asked if Mr. Galyon <br />looks at a fixed set of criteria for project funding, and Edwards replied that Mr. <br />Galyon does consider criteria the NCDOT has established for projects. He added <br />that some projects are more open-ended and not criteria based. <br /> <br />Marshall asked how much of the determination for funding projects is based on <br />political relationships vs. need, and Edwards replied that this is primarily focused on <br />safety needs. Baker asked how projects could be initiated, and Edwards replied that <br />local governments play a large role in identification but NCDOT will also investigate <br />requests from individual citizens. Lincoln mentioned that BOCC representatives <br />meets with NCDOT staff two to four times a year to discuss the County’s needs. <br />Staff can take recommendations for improvements at any time. <br /> <br />Peterson asked if a pre-application is necessary, and if traffic studies are needed. <br />Edwards replied that needs just need to be expressed to County staff. <br />