Transportation Alternatives (TA) Northeast Minnesota Workshop October 4 th, 2016 1
What are TA Projects? Federally funded community based projects o Expand travel choices o Integrate modes o Improve cultural, historic, and environmental aspects of our transportation infrastructure o Enhance transportation experience 2
Background Previously known as the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) under former transportation bill MAP-21 MAP-21 expired and new transportation bill FAST Act (Fixing America s Surface Transportation Act) o Signed December 2015 o Provides five years of funding VS. No changes in project eligibility from TAP to TA, just the name 3
Project Categories Eligible for TA Funding Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Safe Routes for Non-Drivers Scenic Turnouts and Overlooks Rails-to-Trails Outdoor Advertising Management Preservation and Rehab of Historic Transportation Facilities Vegetation Management Stormwater Mitigation Archaeological Activities Wildlife Management 4
Pedestrian and Bicycle facilities Eligible projects include: o Sidewalks o Walkways or curb ramps o Bike lane striping o Wide paved shoulders o Bike parking and bus racks o Traffic calming o Off-road trails o Bike/ped overpasses and underpasses Must be ADA compliant 5
Safe Routes for Non-Drivers Access accommodation for children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. This can include: o Sidewalk improvements o Traffic calming and speed reduction o On-street or off-street bike/ped facilities 6
Rails-to-Trails Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors to trails for non-motorized users o Developing rail-with-trail projects o Constructing multi-use trails along railroad ROW o Major reconstructions of multi-use trails along a railroad ROW 7
Scenic Turnouts and Overlooks Funds may be used for construction of o Scenic turnouts o Overlooks o Viewing areas Important: TA funds may NOT be used for o Construction of visitor centers o Marketing or promotion o Staffing, operating, maintenance costs of facilities 8
Outdoor Advertising Management Inventory control or removal outdoor advertising o Billboard inventories (including those done with GIS/GPS) o Removal of illegal and non-conforming billboards 9
Historic Transportation Facilities Restoration and reuse of historic buildings for transportation-related purposes Access improvements to historic sites and buildings Interpretive displays at historic sites Restoration o Railroad depots o Bus stations o Lighthouses Rehabilitation o Rail trestles o Tunnels o Bridges o Canals 10
Vegetation Management Improvement of roadway safety; prevention of invasive species; providing erosion control o Clearing of low-hanging branches or other vegetation encroaching on a travel corridor o Landscaping to improve sightlines or other safety considerations o Removal of invasive species o Planting grasses or wildflowers to manage erosion along the transportation corridors 11
Archaeological Activities Projects related to impacts from implementation of highway construction projects o Research, preservation planning, and interpretation o Developing interpretive signs, exhibits, and guides o Inventories and surveys 12
Stormwater Mitigation Pollution prevention and abatement activities to address stormwater management and water pollution prevention related to highway construction or due to highway runoff o Detention and sediment basins o Stream channel stabilization o Storm drain stenciling and river clean-ups o Water pollution studies 13
Wildlife Management Reduction of vehicle-caused wildlife mortality; restoration and maintenance of connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats o Wetlands acquisitions and restoration o Stream channel stabilization o Wildlife underpasses or overpasses Provide or improve wildlife passage and connectivity o Monitoring and data collection on habitat fragmentation and vehicle-caused wildlife mortality 14
Non-Eligible Projects Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic/historic sites Establishment of transportation museums Establishment of visiting centers Marketing and promotion plans Interpretive Plans Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plans Bike/ped safety and education programs for adults o Activities targeting children in Kindergarten through 8th grade are eligible under SRTS 15
Activities Not Eligible for Funding Administrative costs (preliminary and construction engineering and contingencies) Right-of-way acquisition (appraisal fees, legal fees, etc ) Promotional activities, except as permitted under Safe Routes to School General recreation and park facilities, playground equipment, sports fields, campgrounds, picnic areas and pavilions, etc Routine maintenance and operations 16
Area Transportation Partnership Involvement Projects selected at a regional level through the Area Transportation Partnership (ATP) o TA Taskforce responsible for development of the TA program and ranking projects in NE MN ATP 1 Prioritized projects will be in the Area Transportation Improvement Program (ATIP) o 4 year list of prioritized projects ATIP gets submitted to MnDOT and will become part of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) 17
How Much Money is Available Approximately $900,000 available for TA projects in FY 2021 Minimum request: $100,000 Maximum request: $600,000 18
Local Match Requirements TA projects (including Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects with TA funds) o 80% Federal o 20% Local match 19
Eligibility and Sponsorship Any applicant with a project sponsor can apply for funding o Includes: Schools, School Districts, Scenic Byway Committees/Councils, Small Cities, and Townships, and Transit Agencies Projects Sponsors: o Eligible to sponsor their own projects or other entities projects o State Agencies, Counties, Cities> 5,000, Tribal Governments, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) 20
Sponsorship Sponsoring Agency must pass a resolution that: o Guarantees project delivery o Agrees to maintain the facility o Not change the use of ROW or property ownership that is part of the project without prior approval Give your sponsor time to pass a resolution and review material prior to submitting the application Contact your sponsoring agency before submitting the Letter of Intent o Project awareness o Ensure support 21
How to Apply Letter of Intent (LOI) Letter of Intent (LOI/Pre-application) o Interested applicants must complete the LOI first to be eligible to submit a full TA application o Form that asks 11 questions to get the basics of the project o Submission deadline: October 31, 2016 o Reviewed by ARDC, MPO, or MnDOT District 1 Either recommend or not that applicant proceed to the full TAP application Review Deadline: November 18, 2016 22
How to Apply Final Application Final Application o Full applications will be made available to eligible project applicants o Final application submission deadline: January 13, 2017 23
Final Application Review TA Task Force Members will o Meet, discuss, and score the projects o Highest ranked projects will be selected for funding o Task Force membership represents Local government, Active Living, Bicycles and Pedestrians, Safe Routes to School, Scenic Byways, and Paved Trails 24
Final Application Review Regional Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) o Meets quarterly and will meet in February to review prioritized TA projects Area Transportation Partnership (ATP) o Meets in April to review and approve prioritized TA projects to be included in the ATIP and STIP 25
Final Application Review Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by April 17, 2017 26
Important Resources Northeast Minnesota ATP Website: http://www.nemnatp.org/ MnDOT s TA Website: www.dot.state.mn.us/ta/ 27
Questions 28
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROJECT MANAGEMENT CAUTION ROUGH ROAD AHEAD 29
-------OH MY GOD ------- MY PROJECT WAS SELECTED Don t Panic, I m from the government 30
A Word About Eligibility FHWA is getting more stringent about how the proposed project enhances the transportation corridor. Transportation alternative funds are not for recreational projects The local FHWA now reviews our final selection of projects for eligibility 31
More words 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. 32
WHERE IS MY PROJECT MANAGER? Every project needs a manager Must perform miracles Will not be paid with TA funds. 33
STARTING THE PROCESS PROJECT SCOPING ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS, PROJECT MEMORANDUM PRELIMINARY PLANS, FINAL MEMO FINAL PLANS, R/W, PROJECT LETTING CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT FINALS 34
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. 35
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 (Northern Long Eared Bat) Right of Way Farmland Protection Policy Act Air Quality 36
-Noise -Section 404 Clean Water Act (Corps of Engineers Permits) -Floodplain -Wetlands -Water Pollution (MPCA storm water permits) -Public waters (DNR permits) -Hazardous Waste Sites -Mitigation of Damages 37
-Controversial Issues -Aesthetic Values -Traffic during construction -State Environmental Review (MEQB) -Environmental Justice -Federal Action Determination Statement 38
BUT WAIT, THERE S MORE! PROJECT FINAL DESIGN Design Standards Opportunity for Public Hearing Plans and Specifications, what s eligible for federal participation? Getting Right of Way 39
-Plan Approvals -R/W certificate -Utility Certificate -Estimates -Bid Letting -Award -Construction (Supervised by Professional Engineer or Certified Inspector) 40
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 41 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 and plans may advance your project 42
HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE? Project Memorandum and Documents- 6 months Opportunity for Public Hearing - 1 month Plans and Specifications and Approvals - 6 months Right of Way -? Certificates, Permits, Authorization, Letting and Award - 3 months Construction begins 43
WILL THIS EVER END? Maybe Final Project Inspection Certification of Materials Final Payment to Contractor Annual Maintenance Certification 44
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 45
-State Aid Project Documentation Manuals -State Aid Special Projects Coordinator, Lynnette Roshell, 651-366-3822 46
THANK YOU 47