Northeast Minnesota Transportation Alternatives & Safe Routes to School Joint Solicitation Workshop October 12, 2018
Contents Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Minnesota Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure How to Apply Transportation Alternatives Project Management
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program What is the TA Program? The Transportation Alternatives Solicitation is a competitive grant opportunity for local communities and regional agencies to fund transportation projects. Minnesota is soliciting projects for approximately $6.5 million in available grant funding across the state.
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Eligible Projects Active Transportation Wayside Rests Community Improvement Environmental Mitigation Safe Routes to School Boulevard Development
Example Project: SRTS Pedestrian Crossing Median
Example Project: Wayside Rest/Trailhead
Example Project: Multi-use Trail
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Ineligible Projects State or metropolitan planning organization administration Promotional activities, except as permitted by SRTS Routine maintenance and operations, except trail maintenance under the Recreational Trails Program General recreation and park facilities Engineering activities Purchase of right-of-way
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Eligible Applicants Local government Regional transportation authority Transit agency Natural resource or public land agency School district, local education agency, or schools (public and private) Tribal government Nonprofit entity responsible for the administration of local transportation safety programs Any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for, or oversight of, transportation or recreational trails Note: If an eligible applicant is not a state aid city or county, then the applicant will need a state aid city or county to be a sponsor on their project.
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Funds Available $900,000 for ATP-1 (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis) Between $100,000 and $600,000 per project Local Match Requirement 20% local match requested (i.e. $60k for a $300k project) Payment Information Projects must be complete in 2023 for reimbursement.
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Federal Requirements Davis-Bacon and Copeland Acts: Payment of pre-determined wage is applicable to all federal-aid construction contracts exceeding $2,000 and to all related subcontracts. ADA Requirements: All Transportation Alternatives projects must comply with the federal and state handicapped accessibility mandates. Anti-Discrimination Laws: Each sponsoring participant must comply with applicable federal and state Anti-discrimination laws and be able to demonstrate compliance. Project Supervision: All projects must be under the direct supervision of a Minnesota Licensed Professional Engineer. Additional Requirements and Specifications: Successful applicants will be provided with additional information as needed by MnDOT.
Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program Questions about TA?
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure What is the MN SRTS Infrastructure Program? In both the 2017 and 2018 sessions, the Minnesota legislature apportioned $1 million in bond funds to the Safe Routes to School Program. This solicitation provides $2 million in state bond funding for the development and implementation of infrastructure projects which will enable students to walk and bicycle to and from schools.
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Eligible Projects Local Match Must be from a SRTS plan Must be listed in an approved Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Construction Must be from a SRTS plan Must be used for one of the following improvements: Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities On-road facilities Traffic control devices
Example Project: Pedestrian-Activated Signal
Example Project: Bike Lane
Example Project: Sidewalks near Campus
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Eligible Applicants Schools, both public and private School Districts Cities Counties Federally Recognized Tribes Townships Note: Municipalities with a population of less than 5,000 or school districts will need a State Aid City or County to sponsor their infrastructure project.
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Funds Available $2M statewide in state bond funding Requests up to $300,000 Local Match Requirement No local match required Payment Information Projects must be complete by June of 2021 for reimbursement
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Multiple Projects Applicants may submit multiple projects, but only one project type for each project location.
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure State Requirements SRTS Subdivision Regulations: Local agency must adopt subdivision regulations that require safe routes to school infrastructure in developments authorized on or after June 1, 2016. ( 174.40 Subd. 4a)
MN Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Questions about MN SRTS Infrastructure?
Summary Transportation Alternatives Program Federal funding State SRTS Infrastructure Program State Funding Requests between $100,000 - $600,000 Requests up to $300,000 Reimburses 80% of eligible project costs Reimburses 100% of eligible project costs 20% local match requirement No local match requirement Reimburses eligible costs in 2023 Reimburses eligible costs in June 2021 Regional selection Statewide selection process $900,000 available for NEMN $2M available for MN
How to Apply Application Section 1: General Information Section 2: Transportation Alternatives Project Budget Section 3: Transportation Alternatives Project Evaluation Section 4: SRTS Infrastructure Project Evaluation Section 5: State SRTS Infrastructure Project Evaluation Section 6: Sponsoring Agency Resolution Section 7: Resolution Agreeing to Maintain Facility Section 8: Transportation Alternatives Application Checklist Section 9: State SRTS Infrastructure Funding Application Checklist Section 10: Signatures Appendix A: Transportation Alternatives Project Scoring Criteria Appendix B: State SRTS Infrastructure Scoring Criteria
How to Apply Scoring Elements Transportation Alternatives Project meets TA program goals [15 points possible, 30%] Project has public support [10 points possible, 20%] Project has high chance for deliverability [25 points possible, 50%] State Safe Routes to School Infrastructure For Local Match Projects: Eligibility, School Support, Local SRTS Program For Construction Projects: Eligibility, School Support, Local SRTS Program, Improves Safety, Number of Students Impacted
How to Apply Project Selection Process Transportation Alternatives Projects scored, ranked, and selected by a 13-member Task Force appointed by the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership State Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Projects selected on a state level by a committee including local city/county engineers, district state aid engineers, and other SRTS specialists
How to Apply Timeline October 1st, 2018 Solicitation opens October 31st, 2018 Letters of intent due November 19th, 2018 Full applications available January 4th, 2019 Full applications due April 15th, 2019 Last day to share selected projects
How to Apply Questions about the application or how to apply?
Contact Russell Habermann rhabermann@ardc.org 218-529-7552 Solicitation Materials: www.nemnatp.org/ta
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROJECT MANAGEMENT CAUTION ROUGH ROAD AHEAD
Project solicitation- Letter of interest Full submittal Reviewed by committee Approved by the ATP
A word about the funding source, Title 23 TA funds come from the federal fuel taxes These are called Title 23 federal funds Projects using these funds must follow all the federal environmental, design, construction and inspection rules and laws, as if this project were a major highway.
WHERE IS MY PROJECT MANAGER? Every project needs a manager Must perform miracles Will not be paid with TA funds
STARTING THE PROCESS PROJECT SCOPING ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, PROJECT MEMO PRELIMINARY PLANS, FINAL MEMO FINAL PLANS, R/W, PROJECT LETTING CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT FINALS
PROJECT SCOPING MEET WITH DESIGNERS, PROJECT SPONSORS, ADJACENT LAND OWNERS, AND ANY PERSON OR AGENCY THAT MAY BE EFFECTED BY YOUR PROJECT HAMMER OUT PROJECT DETAILS, ALIGNMENTS, COSTS, ETC.
FEDERAL PROJECT MEMO, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING? Social, Economic and Environmental Impacts 4(f), 6(f) land (Parks, Recreation Areas, etc) National Historic Preservation Act Endangered Species Right of Way Farmland Protection Policy Act Air Quality
-Noise -Corps of Engineers Permits -Floodplain -Wetlands -Water Pollution (MPCA storm water permits) -Public waters (DNR permits) -Hazardous Waste Sites -Mitigation of Damages
-Controversial Issues -Aesthetic Values -Traffic during construction -State Environmental Review (MEQB) -Environmental Justice -Federal Action Determination Statement
BUT WAIT, THERE S MORE PROJECT FINAL DESIGN Design Standards Plans and Specifications, what s eligible for federal participation? Getting Right of Way
-Plan Approvals -R/W certificate, Utility Certificate -Estimates -Bid Letting -Award -Construction (Supervised by Professional Engineer or Certified Inspector)
SHOW ME THE MONEY Who is your Agency? Agency Agreement/Responsibilities Agency may want your share (the 20% match) up front Agency writes the checks SHARP CURVE
WHEN SHOULD I START? You may already be behind schedule Early contact with public, state and federal agencies important Early completion of project development process will help your project avoid potential issues and keep it on schedule
HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE? Project Memorandum and Documents- 6 months Plans and Specifications and Approvals - 6 months Right of Way -? Certificates, Permits, Authorization, Letting and Award - 3 months Construction begins
WILL THIS EVER END? Maybe Final Project Inspection Certification of Materials Final Payment to Contractor
WHERE CAN I GET SOME HELP? Your Agency Sponsor John McDonald District State Aid Engineer MnDOT 1123 Mesaba Ave. Duluth, MN 55811 (218) 725-2705 Project Details, Design Standards, Project Documentation, or just about anything
-State Aid Project Documentation Manuals -State Aid Special Projects Coordinator, Lynnette Roshell, 651-366-3822
THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK!