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FY09 STATE RURAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM North Carolina Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division Introduction The Rural Operating Assistance Program (ROAP) is a state funded public transportation grant progam administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division (NCDOT- PTD). ROAP includes the following progams: • Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Progam (EDTAP) • Employment Transportation Assistance Program (EMP) • Rural General Public (RGP) Progam A county has the option of requesting ROAP funds for a single progam or all progams. Counties also have the option of requesting an amount less than the total funds allocated in any program. A county should only apply for an amount of ROAP furfds that can be expended by June 30, 2009, as the funds cannot be carried over into the next fiscal year. Total allocations of the funds should be managed so that services can be continued for the twelve-month period of July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. We anticipate receiving similar authorization as we did this fiscal year to move funds from the Public Transportation Division's consolidated rural capital progam to the operating assistance progams upon General Assembly adoption of the FY09 budget. These funds will be allocated using the same formulas used to allocate the formula ROAP funds. These Supplemental ROAP funds shall be used to initiate new or expanded service or continue a service that began operating after July I, 2006 with Supplemental ROAP funds as the funding source. Requesting some or all of these supplemental funds is optional. Increased fuel prices have made it difficult to maintain current service levels. The impact of the increase in operating costs on the county's ability to provide increased service levels will be taken into consideration when evaluating the funding application. ROAP funds are to be used for operating cost of trips or for other services, but not for administrative or capital costs. Refer to the Matrix of Eligible Transportation Expenses for examples of allowable operational assistance that can be provided under these progams. Eligibility/Responsibilities County governments (Board of County Commissioners) are the only eligible applicants for ROAP funds. All counties must submit an annual application to receive ROAP funds. Each county is eligible to receive an allocation for each progam, with the exception that those counties not providing transportation services to the general public are not provided a RGP allocation. It will be the responsibility of county governments to sub-allocate and distribute the funds to local agencies as allowed within the progam guidelines. While fuel prices have substantially increased the cost of service, it is the intent of the progam that these funds provide additional transportation and not replace current funding sources and levels of service. The General Assembly must have an approved and certified state budget before funds can be disbursed. One-half of the formula and supplemental funds will be disbursed between August and September and the remainder of the formula and supplemental funds will be disbursed in January 2009. The period of performance will remain July 1, 2008 -June 30, 2009 regardless of the date the ROAP funds are disbursed to the county. G-~