Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 7, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-f <br /> SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing Orange County Transportation Services (OCTS) as a <br /> Direct Recipient for Federal Transit Administration 5307 Grants <br /> DEPARTMENT: Orange County Transportation Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Authorizing Resolution Nishith Trivedi, Transportation Director, <br /> 2. Opinion of Legal Counsel 919-245-2007 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a resolution authorizing Orange County Transportation Services (OCTS) <br /> to file applications with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to become a direct recipient of <br /> 5307 Grants. <br /> BACKGROUND: OCTS is currently coordinating with the FTA to become a direct recipient of <br /> 5307 urbanized formula grants within the Burlington and Durham Metropolitan Planning <br /> Organizations (MPOs). OCTS is currently a sub-recipient through the North Carolina Department <br /> of Transportation (NCDOT) who administers and oversees the County's use of the funds. By <br /> becoming a direct recipient, OCTS will be responsible for grant compliance and reporting <br /> requirements attached to the funds. <br /> Each decennial census, a greater portion of OCTS service area is encompassed by both the <br /> MPOs. In order for the County and department to retain its current level of 5307 grant funding and <br /> possibly be eligible for more in the future, OCTS must position itself to become a direct recipient. <br /> OCTS is eligible for projects it plans to undertake within MPOs as approved in the 2022 Transit <br /> Plan and upcoming Short Range Transit Plan. <br /> Authorizing Resolution and Legal Counsel: <br /> FTA requires an authorizing resolution (Attachment 1) approved by the Board of County <br /> Commissioners (BOCC) and Opinion of Legal Counsel (Attachment 2) in order for OCTS to act <br /> on the County's behalf. <br /> Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) Action: <br /> The OUTBoard met on Monday, February 20, 2023 and unanimously recommended approval. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: FTA 5307 grants are formula based and allocated according to MPO Board <br /> approved formulas. Orange County receives 4% (estimated $130,000/annually) of Burlington- <br /> Graham MPO's allocation and 2.8% (estimated $270,000/annually) of Durham-Chapel Hill- <br /> Carrboro MPO's allocation. The County is obligated to provide 20% of the local match in order to <br /> receive the allocation. The County's percentage of MPO allocation increases as its transit service <br /> and population in the urbanized area increases, outside the Chapel Hill Transit service area. <br />