Title
FY2017 STP-DA and TAP Funding for DCHC MPO Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects (20 minutes)
Lindsay Smart, LPA staff
Meg Scully, LPA staff
Felix Nwoko, LPA staff
Narrative
On October 14, 2015, the DCHC MPO Board approved an updated STP-DA and TAP distribution policy. The policy is guided by a formula that is based on an annual estimated allocation of STP-DA and TAP to the DCHC MPO. The annual estimated allocation is used to project annual funding levels to 2025 to be consistent with the TIP/STIP. Each year, the DCHC MPO receives approximately $4,469,000 in STP-DA funding and $350,000 in TAP funding. In 2017, there will be approximately $853,000 of combined STP-DA and TAP funding available for regional bicycle and pedestrian projects.
There are currently 24 bicycle and pedestrian projects programmed in the FY2016-2025 TIP. Many of these projects have been underway for several years and each of these projects require local staff resources and local matching funds. For these reasons, the MPO LPA staff recommended that any of these existing projects that meet the MPO's policy for regional bicycle and pedstrian projects be considered by the DCHC MPO for the 2017 STP-DA and TAP funding, before new projects are considered for programming and funding.
On November 18, 2015 the DCHC MPO Technical Committee (TC) discussed and supported the recommendation from MPO LPA staff to allocate 2017 STP-DA and TAP funding to existing projects before new projects are considered. The DCHC MPO TC discussed the MPO's current policy, screening criteria, and scoring methodology for regional bicycle and pedestrian projects. Based on this discussion, three projects were identified as priority projects eligible for the 2017 STP-DA and TAP funding. The three projects, listed in no particular, order are:
1. Morgan Creek Greenway (west) (EL-4828)
2. Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road (EB-4707)
3. Bolin Creek Greenway (U-4726 DE)
Both the Bolin Creek Greenway and the Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road projects are well underway and are currently "paused" until additional funding can be made available. The construction for the Bolin Creek Greenway project was put out for bids in the sping 2015 and the lowest bid was greater than the funding that is currently available for the project. The right-of-way acquisition phase for the Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road project is currently underway and additional funding is needed to keep the Chapel Hilll portion of the project on schedule with the City of Durham portion of the project. For these reasons, the DCHC MPO TC prioritized the Bolin Creek Greenway and the Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road projects before the Morgan Creek Greenway (west) project because allocating 2017 STP-DA and TAP funding to the Bolin Creek Greenway and the Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road projects will assist with the completion of these projects.
Recommendation
TC Action: Recommended that $212,000 of the 2017 STP-DA and TAP funding be allocated to the Bolin Creek Greenway project and the remaining balance ($641,000) be allocated to the Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road project.
Board Action
Board Action: Review and discuss the recommendation from the DCHC MPO TC and approve $212,000 of the 2017 STP-DA and TAP funding be allocated to the Bolin Creek Greenway project and the remaining balance ($641,000) be allocated to the Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road project.