Transportation Alternatives Solicitation Kick-off Workshop October - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Northeast Minnesota Transportation Alternatives Solicitation Kick-off Workshop

October 11, 2019

Contents

• About the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program
• How to Apply
• Transportation Alternatives Project Management

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program

What is the TA Program?

• The TA Program is a competitive grant opportunity for local

communities and regional agencies to fund transportation projects.

• Minnesota is soliciting projects for $6.2 million in available

grant funding across the state.

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program

Qualifying Projects

• Active Transportation
• Wayside Rests
• Community Improvement
• Environmental Mitigation
• Safe Routes to School
• Boulevard Development

Example Project: Multi-use Trail

Example Project: Bike Lane

Example Project: Wayside Rest/Trailhead

Example Project: SRTS Pedestrian Crossing Median

Example Project: Sidewalks near Campus

Example Project: Boulevard Development

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program

Non-Qualifying Activities

• 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 parks facilities
• Engineering activities
• Purchase of right-of-way

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program

Eligible Applicants

• Local governments
• Regional transportation authorities
• Transit agencies
• Natural resource or public land agencies
• School districts, local education agencies, or schools (public or private)
• Tribal governments (federally-recognized)
• Nonprofit entities responsible for the administration of local

transportation safety programs

• Any other local or regional governmental entities with responsibility for,
• r oversight of, transportation or recreational trails
• Note: To receive federal funds, an applicant must be a state aid city or

county or have a state aid city or county sponsor the project.

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program

Funds Available

• $900,000 for Northeast Minnesota (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook,

Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Pine, and St. Louis)

• Applicants may request between $100K and $600K per project

Local Match Requirement

• 80% federal, 20% state or local

Payment Information

• Qualifying project expenses will be reimbursed after project

completion in 2024

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 so far?

How to Apply

Application

• General Information
• Project Budget
• ATP Project Evaluation
• Sponsoring Agency Resolution
• Resolution Agreeing to Maintain Facility
• Application Checklist
• Signatures
• Appendix A: Scoring Criteria

How to Apply

Scoring Elements

• 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%]

How to Apply

Project Selection Process

• Projects scored, ranked, and recommended by a 13-

member Task Force appointed by the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership (NEMNATP)

• Projects selected based on Task Force

recommendations by the NEMNATP

How to Apply

Timeline

• October 1, 2019 – Solicitation opens
• October 31, 2019 – Letters of intent due
• November 18, 2019 – Full applications available
• January 3, 2020 – Full applications due
• April 15, 2020 – Award notifications

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

• ------ OH MY GOD -------

MY PROJECT WAS SELECTED

Federal DCP Checklist – State Aid website Federal process requirements

• Agreements
• Project Memorandum
• Right of Way Process

Submittal milestones

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.

• This is a REIMBURSABLE program – not a

grant!

WHERE IS MY PROJECT MANAGER?

• Every project needs a manager
• Must perform minor miracles
• Will not be paid with TA funds; TA funds

are for construction only

STARTING THE PROCESS

• PROJECT SCOPING
• ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS,

PROJECT MEMORANDUM

• 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 AFFECTED 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 (Northern Long Eared Bat and tree removal) – Right of Way – Farmland Protection Policy Act – Air Quality

• Noise
• Section 404 Clean Water Act (Corps of

Engineers Permits)

• Floodplain issues
• Wetland impacts
• 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 statement
• 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 –

typically can drive project timeline – needs to be done prior to authorization

• Deadlines: December 1 –

for PM and April 1 for plans

• Plan Submittal
• 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 AHEAD

WHEN SHOULD I START?

• You may already be behind schedule
• Early contact with public, state and

federal agencies important

• Right of way issues – condemnation

can skew timeline

• The DCP checklist outlines major

steps in the process.

HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE?

• Project Memorandum and Documents- 6

months

• Plans and Specifications and Approvals -

6 months

• Right of Way – condemnation up to 8

months

• 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

But it’ll be worth it…..

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 website
• State Aid Special Projects Coordinator,

Lynnette Roshell, 651-366-3822

THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK!!!