Lancaster County Smart Growth Transportation Program (Updated March 2017)

Transcription

1 Lancaster County Smart Growth Transportation Program (Updated March 2017) Program Description The Smart Growth Transportation (SGT) program was established offered by the Lancaster County Transportation Coordinating Committee (LCTCC; also referred to as the Lancaster MPO) in The SGT program helps to achieve the goals of the Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan and the county s commitment to smart growth. The program funds transportation projects and studies located in the county s designated Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) and Village Growth Areas (VGAs) that support smart growth, encourage economic development and help build the infrastructure for safer, more walkable, bikeable and transitfriendly communities. The program funds transportation and land use corridor studies as well as construction projects that meet the program s smart growth transportation criteria. Since it is the intent of the program to fund projects that provide tangible benefits in the near future, at least 80% of the funding will be directed each funding cycle to smart growth construction projects and no more than 20% to studies. Projects funded through the program must be open to the general public and ADA accessible. The goals of the program are: (1) Fund transportation studies and construction projects that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the County Comprehensive Plan (and its Long Range Transportation Plan element) and with multi-municipal and local comprehensive plans of the jurisdictions in which the projects are located. (2) Fund transportation projects that link smart transportation principles with smart growth land use to create more livable communities that will improve the quality of life for Lancaster County residents and visitors. (3) Fund public projects that have the ability to leverage private dollars and expand the total dollars available for transportation investment. (4) Implement transportation solutions that reduce single-occupant vehicle usage and improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users. (5) Implement transportation solutions that create more complete streets that are designed for all roadway users. (6) Fund transportation projects that are designed to be context-sensitive and right-sized to the needs of the particular situation (financial, land use, environmental needs). (7) Fund transportation projects that have been planned in collaboration with the community. (8) Support transportation projects that result in a desire to go to a place rather than through it. Lancaster County recognizes three degrees of smart transportation projects: (1) Smart transportation projects where funds are invested to preserve the existing transportation infrastructure and address critical safety problems; (2) Smarter transportation projects where funds are invested in operations and management projects and in strategic capacity improvements such as intersection improvements, improved signalization and other improvements with the potential to incentivize growth in designated growth areas; and 1

2 (3) Smartest transportation projects where funds are targeted to catalytic high-leverage projects with the potential for stimulating appropriate development in designated growth areas, and particularly in concentrated building areas. These projects deliver high returns in economic development and improved quality of life and have the potential to leverage other sources of funding to create a larger public benefit than would otherwise be possible. Smartest transportation projects are those that combine all of the five Weighted Criteria in these guidelines and score well on all of them. The SGT program only funds projects that exemplify the Smartest transportation projects. Who Can Apply? (1) The applicant must be a Lancaster County municipality, transportation service provider or organization located in Lancaster County and that serves Lancaster County citizens. (2) If the applicant is a municipality, it must have a Comprehensive Plan or be part of a Regional Comprehensive Plan that has been adopted by the governing body within the past ten years or be in the process of updating their plan. (3) The Municipal or Regional Comprehensive Plan must have a land use component that is generally consistent with the County s Growth Management Plan. (4) The Municipal or Regional Comprehensive Plan must have a transportation element. (5) The applicant must be familiar with the concept of smart growth transportation and be committed to the successful implementation and ongoing maintenance of the smart growth transportation project proposed for funding. (6) The applicant must have as part of its responsibilities the provision of transportation facilities and/or services. Eligible Types of Projects Eligible projects include transportation and land use corridor studies, feasibility studies and construction projects (in which all phases of preconstruction--preliminary engineering, final design, utilities, right-of-way are paid by the project sponsor), as exemplified by the following types of transportation projects: (1) Investments that assist local jurisdictions with preparation and implementation of master transportation and land use plans for priority corridors within designated growth areas. (2) Non-motorized transportation facilities that provide a transportation benefit and could also provide a recreational benefit (trails, bike networks). Projects of just recreational value will not be funded under this program. Projects that involve sidewalk installation require the municipality to have a sidewalk ordinance (see Application Elements). (3) Investments that make transit service more viable and convenient to project sites and countywide and provide safe connections to access transit (sidewalks, interconnected streets that reduce walking distances). (4) Urban streetscape projects that incorporate traffic calming. (5) Projects that provide non-motorized connections between neighborhoods and nearby commercial and retail districts, regional parks, transit centers, libraries or schools. (6) Improved roadway connections that provide a more interconnected transportation net- work and reduce travel distances for motorists, transit users, bicyclists and pedestrians. (7) Redevelopment of existing streets into neighborhood streets that enhance a community s quality of life, utilizing traffic calming and other techniques. 2

3 (8) Curb extensions for pedestrian safety, green infrastructure and ADA accessibility. (9) Low-cost investments such as retiming and coordination of traffic signals. (10) Turning lanes that provide crosswalks and median strips to keep pedestrians safe. (11) Studies that would result in any of the project types listed above. Applicants may submit more than one application for SGT funding in any funding cycle. How Much Funding is Available? The SGT program is funded through federal Surface Transportation Urban (STU) funds. Applications are accepted every two years, with the goal of a total program level of $3 million each funding cycle. The SGT Task Force is not obligated to expend all of the funds available in a funding cycle. Unexpended funds are returned to the SGT Reserve on the TIP for use in the next round of funding. There are two possible options for municipalities or transportation service providers to pursue in providing matching funds for the SGT applications, depending on the type of project they submit: (1) For Construction Projects: The applicant shall pay all of the preconstruction costs for a Project, with the federal funds used to pay all of the construction costs for the project; (2) For Studies: The applicant shall provide at least a 20% municipal match for the federal funds which will pay up to 80% of the study cost. Studies will need to comply with PennDOT and federal requirements for process and procedures. Project sponsors are encouraged to think about how their project might be phased if the SGT Task Force finds that there isn t sufficient funding available for the entire project at one time and to be prepared to discuss this at their interview with the SGT Task Force. TIP Placement Projects that are selected for funding under the SGT program will be placed on the Lancaster County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) by the LCTCC. The SGT Program will be updated every two years in coordination with the TIP update. Application Elements Applications should include all the information requested on the Application Form. At a minimum, applications should include: (1) Description of the project or study and how it meets the smart growth transportation criteria (2) How the project or study is consistent with the County Comprehensive Plan and its Long Range Transportation Plan and Growth Management element and with the comprehensive plan and transportation element of the jurisdiction(s) in which the project is located (3) Public involvement in planning of and support for the project or study. (4) Implementation strategy: This is important for construction projects as well as corridor studies as the intent of the SGT program is to fund projects that will be successfully implemented. (5) Studies funded under the SGT Program must include a NEPA Purpose and Need Statement since the purpose of the study is to prepare for and lead to a construction project. A link to the federal NEPA Purpose and Need Statement is found under Frequently Asked Questions. (6) Local Preconstruction Funds or 20% Study Match: A description of the sources of 3

4 state and local funding that will be used to match the federal funds. (7) Costs for All Project Phases: A reliable estimate, prepared and signed by a licensed Engineer, of the expected costs for each phase of the SGT project (preliminary engineering, final design, utilities, right-of-way, construction) must be part of the application. In arriving at a reliable estimate, the applicant is encouraged to recognize that compliance with federal requirements generally adds costs beyond the costs of locally-funded projects. The applicant should factor in a 30% contingency cost for construction projects. See also, Other Program Information, Budget. (8) Projects sponsored by more than one municipality shall include a Resolution of Project Support approved by the Board of Supervisors or Borough Council of each municipality participating in the project that affirms the municipality s support of the project and commitment to its local share of the funding. (9) If the application includes construction of sidewalks, all municipalities in which they will be located shall have adopted a sidewalk ordinance covering at least the Urban/Village Growth Areas in the municipality, that requires the installation and maintenance (including snow removal) of sidewalk at the municipality s direction. Further budget preparation information is found under Other Information of these Guidelines. Planning Timeframe The following time frame is expected to be attainable by applicants for funding under the SGT program: (1) Transportation and land use corridor studies and feasibility studies: completion within 24 (twenty-four) months. (2) Pre-construction phases of a construction project: completion within 1-2 (one to two) years, depending on the complexity of the project; and (3) Construction work: completion within 3 years of preliminary engineering. Project Lead: The municipality that is the lead sponsor of a project shall be the lead on the project. Consultant selection must be done in compliance with PennDOT requirements for all projects. Some upfront costs may accrue to the sponsor prior to selecting consultants for studies or design work. Reporting Requirement: All projects that are funded under the SGT program are expected to demonstrate that they are making continuous progress. The lead sponsor of each project will submit quarterly progress reports to the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) to demonstrate the progress that was made during the quarter and confirm that the project is adhering to the schedule submitted in the approved application. If the project is not adhering to the schedule in the application, the applicant will furnish an explanation of the reasons for the delay and actions being taken to address the situation. Project Evaluation Criteria All studies and projects that are submitted for funding under the SGT program must meet four Core Criteria. Projects that fail to meet these core criteria will not advance further in the process. Projects that meet the core criteria are then further evaluated by five weighted criteria. 4

5 CORE CRITERIA (1) Project is consistent with and implements goals and policies of the County Comprehensive Plan and Long Range Transportation Plan and regional plans. (2) Project is located within a designated growth area. (3) Demonstration of applicant s ability to pay preconstruction costs for construction projects or 20% match for studies. (4) The project has viable implementation strategy that includes long-term funding and maintenance and a design that meets generally accepted federal and state standards (smaller locally funded projects may propose alternative standards if they can demonstrate that they meet or surpass the state and federal standards). WEIGHTED CRITERIA (1) Supports development and/or redevelopment in designated growth areas throughout the county that implement aspects of the County Comprehensive Plan, Envision, and the Long Range Transportation Plan, Connections 2040: 2016 Update, and regional plans like the Lancaster Inter-municipal Comprehensive Plan, Growing Together. Examples of project types: Preparation and implementation of regional master transportation plans for corridors within the designated growth areas Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) Redevelopment of existing streets into neighborhood streets Urban streetscape projects (2) Increases mobility options by providing alternatives to single-occupant driving, focusing on multi-modal service, facilities and/or infrastructure, particularly for environmental justice populations (low-income, elderly, disabled and minority). Examples of project types: New services and/or facilities that make transit more viable and convenient Non-motorized transportation facilities such as trails, bike networks, sidewalks that provide connections to other transportation facilities and utilize context-sensitive design and lighting Park and ride lots Link affordable housing with job centers and services Link neighborhoods with local retail/commercial centers, schools or libraries with improved transit service or pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. (3) Preserves or enhances the environmental, natural, historic and cultural integrity of Lancaster County through context-sensitive design. Examples of projects: Transit shelters and benches with historical, cultural design Bridge restoration projects with context-sensitive design Storm water management projects to protect the environment from excessive run-off (4) Implements or furthers a goal, objective or strategy of a current (within last 5-10 years) 5

6 and approved transportation study within a priority transportation corridor. Examples of projects: Intersection improvements and added turning lanes on Harrisburg Pike (5) Encourages public-private partnerships to extend the reach of public dollars and leverage private development in designated growth areas Project that has a financial commitment by local businesses or institutions such as the school district, water authority, health institutions, others. BONUS POINTS Projects in municipalities that have adopted one or more of the following planning regulations or management procedures will receive bonus points for each policy or procedure, as indicated below, except that municipalities that have adopted all four of the following regulations or procedures will receive 12 bonus points. 4 points: Complete Streets Policy and regulation 3 points: Smart Growth, Mixed Use or Density Bonus Option in the Municipality s zoning ordinance. 2 points: Adopted official map (in accordance with the MPO) with a transportation element. 1 point: Access Management Ordinance. Notice of Funding Availability/Informational Forum In order to inform municipalities and other interested parties about the availability of the SGT Program, the county will hold a workshop to present the SGT program s purpose, eligible projects and application process. The workshop will be held on April 12, Notice of the program application will be further disseminated by s sent to officials in all 60 municipalities in the county alerting them to the availability of the program. Application Review Process The MPO s Smart Growth Transportation Task Force (SGTTF) serves as the review panel for applications for funding under the program. It consists of municipal officials and planners, representatives of the South Central Transit Authority, non-profit organizations and Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC) staff. Transparency and Conflict of Interest: Any task force member that has a direct interest in a project application submitted for funding (for example, they work for the municipality or for a major employer that will benefit from the project in the municipality that has submitted the application or have some other financial or other major involvement in the project) will inform the other task force members of this conflict and recuse himself/herself from any discussions by the task force of that project and will not rank the project in which they have an interest on the project evaluation form. They may, however, participate in the presentation of the project to the task force. Rankings of all task force members will be reviewed by all other task force members to ensure that there isn t a bias in the ratings for any of the other projects by those who have an interest in one (or more) of them. The summary scores of the task force rankings for all eligible projects that were submitted for funding under the SGT Program are provided to TTAC and the MPO for their review. 6

7 Notice of Intent: As stated under Notice of Funding Availability, Notice of Intent (NOI) will be issued for the SGT Program to Lancaster County municipalities and transportation service providers on April 12, LCPC staff will review the NOIs that are received by the due date to determine if the proposed project meets the SGT Program Core criteria. If the NOI indicates a project does not meet the SGT core criteria, the applicant will be notified that the proposed project is ineligible. Projects that meet the Core criteria will be sent an FY SGT Program Application. Applications: LCPC staff will review all applications received by the due date to determine if projects submitted by more than one municipality include a Resolution of Project Support from each involved municipality and that municipalities that submit projects for construction or restoration of sidewalks have an approved Sidewalk Ordinance, as required by these Guidelines (see Application Elements). Applications that pass this initial review, will then be evaluated by the SGT Task Force by the Weighted Criteria. The task force will score each project on the criteria, with a maximum number of points for each criteria as follows: Scoring of Weighted Criteria Criteria Maximum Points Criteria 1 30 points Criteria 2 25 points Criteria 3 25 points Criteria 4 5 points Criteria 5 10 points Bonus Points points Applicant Interviews: Prior to ranking the SGT projects, the SGT Task Force will hold interviews with each applicant to provide an opportunity for the applicant to provide further details about their project. All applicants will be required to include at least the following in their presentation: a visual presentation, maps of the project site and surrounding area, photos of the project site, description of the project, names of the project sponsors and a discussion of how the project is consistent with the Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan and comprehensive plan of the municipality (ies) in which it is located. No later than five days before the interview, the task force will provide each applicant with a specific outline they are to follow and questions they should be prepared to answer during the interview. After all of the interviews have been completed, task force members will meet to discuss any remaining questions they might have about any of the projects. Then, individually, each task force member will rank each project on the weighted evaluation criteria. LCPC staff will compile the results of the project scores by all of the task force members into a summary chart. Projects that receive the highest total scores will be recommended to the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) and to the MPO for funding. 7

8 Application Process April 12, 2017 May 24, 2017 June 5, 2017 July 17, 2017 August 7-18, 2017 September 6-15, 2017 Week of Sept. 18 th October2017 November 2017 December 2017 June 2018 SGT Workshop is held for municipalities. Program Guidelines and Notices of Intent are issued. Notice of Intent forms are due at the LCPC by 5:00 pm. Applications are issued. Applications are due at the LCPC by 5:00 pm. All attachments, maps and appendices must be submitted as part of the application packet. Applications received after this date will not be reviewed. Application review: LCPC staff will coordinate with applicants on any adjustments that are needed. SGT Task Force interviews with applicants. Meeting of SGT Task Force to discuss any remaining questions. Applications are evaluated and scored. Recommendations are made. Funding recommendations are presented to TTAC and MPO. Funding recommendations are made part of the TIP. TIP is adopted by the MPO. MPO Approval of SGT Task Force Recommendations After the SGT Task Force has completed its scoring and arrived at a recommendation, it will present the recommendation to the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC). The TTAC will then make a recommendation to the Lancaster MPO. The Lancaster MPO is the decision-making body that will act on the SGT project funding recommendation at its November 2017 meeting. After the Lancaster MPO has taken action, the projects approved for funding will be added to the FY TIP adopted by the Lancaster MPO at its June 2018 meeting. Applicants whose projects are selected will be provided with additional guidance from the Lancaster County MPO and PennDOT and can then proceed with work on their projects. PennDOT will assign a Project Manager to each project. All SGT corridor studies and preliminary engineering studies must be completed within 24 months; construction projects must be completed within 36 months from the date of the start of preliminary engineering. Applications for funding under the SGT program will be accepted in electronic form or hard copy format. Applications submitted by electronic form should be ed to: hparcells@co.lancaster.pa.us ; Applications submitted by hard copy, should be mailed to: Harriet Parcells, Senior Transportation Planner Lancaster County Planning Commission 150 N. Queen Street, Suite 320, Lancaster, PA Other Program Information (1) Reimbursement Agreement The project sponsor must execute a standard legal agreement with PennDOT prior to proceeding with any work on the project. Any project costs incurred prior to the execution of a reimbursement agreement for which federal dollars are requested will not be eligible for 8

9 reimbursement. Interest payments made by municipalities or other project sponsors to finance any portion of the project costs are not reimbursable. (2) Budget It must be demonstrated that there is an acceptable implementation strategy for the project. The budget shall contain itemized activities with an estimated cost of each of these. Estimates shall include labor costs, supplies and materials and other anticipated costs. An accurate and up-todate budget will help define the scope of work proposed in your project. The budget must be prepared and signed by a licensed engineer and demonstrate the most accurate estimated costs. The budget should be divided into project development phases that include: preliminary design, final design, environmental clearance, right-of-way, and construction phases. The budget should identify all sources of funding and how each itemized activity will be funded. Budgets for construction projects should include a 30% contingency factor. Estimated funding for the project that may be from other sources should be identified as other federal funds (not from the USDOT), state, local, donated services, in-kind services, volunteer and Youth Service and Conservation Corps. Even though the preliminary engineering and rightof- way costs are not funded by SGT funds, a complete budget is needed to ensure that the applicant has the money to fund these phases, or document what was already spent as the local contribution. (3) Environmental Clearance All projects will require an environmental clearance document as part of the preliminary engineering phase of work. The level of effort varies by the type of project, the amount of impacts and the degree of public controversy. Except in unusual circumstances, a SGT project should be processed as a Categorical Exclusion (CE) under the NEPA process. (4) Project Engineering and Inspection Projects must follow standard federal/state procedures for all phases of work. Project sponsors should acquire the services of a qualified project manager to oversee the development and implementation of the project (including project inspection) and ensure compliance with all state and federal requirements. This professional may be an architect, landscape architect, or engineer depending upon the nature and scope of the project. The acquisition of consultant services must be in accordance with an acceptable process. In the case of municipally sponsored projects, municipalities may choose to use their municipal engineers with PennDOT approval, or follow an approved consultant selection process. It is important to recognize that the project sponsor, not PennDOT, employs the design and/or construction professionals. (5) Right-of-Way Clearance All right-of-way acquisition must follow federal regulations, including the Uniform Act (Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies of 1970). Right-of-way certification will be required for all projects prior to advertising for construction bids. (6) Utility Clearance 9

10 All projects must have a utility clearance form processed prior to the advertisement for bids. This procedure requires that the sponsor certify that all necessary arrangements have been completed for the relocation of any affected utility. (7) Permits It will be the responsibility of the project sponsor to secure all necessary permits to design or implement the project. These may involve permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as local municipal permits, PennDOT highway occupancy agreements (HOA), highway occupancy permits (HOP) etc. (8) Public Utility Commission (PUC) Involvement Certain projects may require the involvement of the Public Utility Commission. It will be the responsibility of the project sponsor to contact the Public Utility Commission to secure the necessary actions by that agency. (9) Construction Project sponsors may proceed with the construction phase of the project only upon receipt of PennDOT's written authorization (notice to proceed). This will ensure that all necessary approvals have been secured. An approved contractor must perform construction. All material used in conjunction with the project must meet project specifications and special provisions included in the Plans, Specifications, and Estimate package. 15% of the estimated construction cost is used for project inspection and must be included in the total construction costs. (10) Cost Increases/Changes in Scope of Work Each programmed project has been approved for a specific scope of work and funding level based on the information submitted by the project sponsor. All changes in the scope of work for increases in federal funding are the responsibility of the applicant. (11) Maintenance The project sponsor will be responsible for the maintenance of the project after completion of construction. The project sponsor should develop a plan for maintenance, upkeep and operation of a project constructed with federal funding. For projects that involve sidewalk construction, an adopted municipal sidewalk ordinance is required. Program funds are not to be used for the operation and/or maintenance of projects. (12) Project Cancellation A project sponsor may, at any time in the project development process, decide to cancel the project and drop out of the Program. The project sponsor will be responsible for the reimbursement of all federal funds received as of that date. The sponsor will also be responsible for payment of all outstanding invoices to all project contractors. Frequently Asked Questions (1) How much funding is available during this SGT project solicitation round? During this SGT funding round, approximately $3.0 million in FFY is available. 10

11 (2) Design for my project is nearly complete. May I include these costs in my application total? Yes - Design costs incurred in advance of project approval can be used to meet the share for funding (if the value of these expenses is determined to be reasonable). Federal funds may not, however, be provided to retroactively reimburse a sponsor for design costs incurred. (3) Can the members of our organization, staff or equipment be used to construct the project, and use the value of our labor as our share of the project? Yes - Credit for donations of funds, materials, land or services can be used/given, but no match is required for the construction phase. Projects that are not located in the highway right-of-way and are not directly related to a highway have been given more flexibility, so project sponsors may keep costs to a minimum. (4) Can I use a grant from another federal program as part of the local share (preconstruction phase) or to blend with the federal funds I receive under the SGT Program? Yes - Funds from other federal agencies (not other U.S. Department of Transportation funds) may be used for the non-federal or local share (pre-construction phase) for the project or be blended with the federal SGT funds for the construction phase. (5) My project will obviously have positive benefits to the environment. Why do I have to obtain environmental clearance? All federally funded projects must have an environmental document, which quantifies the impacts of the project (both positive and negative) on the environment. There are three levels of an environmental document: Categorical Exclusion (CE), Environmental Assessment (EA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Most SGT projects will fall under the Categorical Exclusion. (6) Where do I find information about the NEPA Purpose and Need Statement? Information about the NEPA Purpose and Need Statement is found on the following federal and state websites: er/safetyandnepa.pdf. _Guidance.pdf (7) Why do I need a construction inspector for my project? Federal and state regulations require that an individual who is familiar with federal and state construction requirements review the project during the construction phase to assure that it is constructed in accordance with those regulations. 11

12 (8) Do the project design and construction inspection have to be conducted by separate consulting firms? It depends on the project. For projects approved at $1 million or less in construction costs, the final design consultant may be considered for construction inspection. Sponsors will want to check with the PennDOT District offices for the specific provisions and selection processes to follow in allowing the same consultant to be used for both design and construction inspection services. (9) Can construction inspection be paid for out of the SGT construction funding award? Yes - Sponsors should assume that 15% of their construction cost estimate will be the amount needed for inspection services. Sponsors are able to use SGT funds to pay for inspection costs, and should fill out their application accordingly. (10) Can SGT funds be matched with (use for the pre-construction phase) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding? Yes - If CDBG funds are used to pay for the sponsor's pre-construction costs, there is no issue. However, sponsors will want to closely coordinate with their PennDOT District office contact on the process and forms necessary to enable blending SGT funds with CDBG funds for construction contract activities. An exception needs to be sought when jointly funding construction with SGT and CDBG funds due to different bidding guidelines used for these funding sources. (11) Will local letting be allowed for SGT projects? No - All projects of all types will be advertised and let through PennDOT s ECMS (Engineering and Construction Management System). This will require the project sponsors for all project types to become registered as business partners in ECMS to administer payments, and for the sponsor's engineer to prepare the materials for the ECMS letting. (12) If the sponsor has a completed environmental clearance for another agency, will that expedite the clearance required for the SGT Program? Maybe - It may help the review move forward, but the clearances completed under FHWA procedures by PennDOT may consider separate or additional factors that take considerable time to complete. Adopted by the Lancaster County Transportation Coordinating Committee June 27, 2011 Amended September 24, 2012 Updated: May 1, 2013 Updated: February 2015 Updated: March