title
Authorize Town Manager to Apply for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Funding to Support a Free Pilot E-Bikeshare Program.
body
Staff:
Department:
John Richardson, Community Sustainability Manager
Manager's Office
Sarah Poulton, Senior Project Manager
Brennan Bouma, Sustainability Program Analyst
Bergen Watterson, Mobility and Greenways Manager
Office of Mobility and Greenways
Ben Berolzheimer, Mobility and Greenways Planner
Overview: The Town of Chapel Hill is eligible to receive a formula grant of $129,010 from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). To remain eligible for funding, the Town must apply by April 30, 2024, and we need the Council to authorize the Manager to proceed by no later than April 17, 2024. Building off community and Council support for an ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act)-funded e-bikeshare program, staff are proposing to use EECBG funding to develop a more robust and free pilot program for at least 1-2 years. See the attached draft program concept for more information. On March 26, 2024, staff met with the Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board, who gave their support for the proposal. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Board was set to discuss it on April 9, 2024.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council authorize the Town Manager to apply for EECBG funding to support a pilot e-bikeshare program in Chapel Hill.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: A combination of ARPA ($50,000) and EECBG ($129,010) grant funding would fund the proposed pilot program.
Attachments:
* Resolution
* Draft E-Bikeshare Pilot Program Concept
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN MANAGER TO APPLY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT A FREE PILOT E-BIKESHARE PROGRAM (2024-04-17/R-7)
WHEREAS, the Town Council has adopted policy that supports the use of alternative transportation through a variety of measures including the Complete Com...
Click here for full text