FY 2015 Transportation Alternatives Program

FY 2015 Transportation Alternatives Program Background The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) was authorized under Section 1122 of Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP 21) and is codified at 23 U.S.C. sections 213(b), and 101(a)(29). The TAP provides funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on and off road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail program projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right of way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways. The Memphis MPO's 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan identifies the need to advance the region's policy and funding initiatives supporting active transportation and the development of walkable communities. The 2014 2017 Transportation improvement Plan identifies approximately $220 million in federal funds over the next 4 years that will provide improvements to the pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure in the Memphis MPO region. The Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan provides regional priorities to enhancing nonmotorized travel by recommending improvements to more than 1,500 miles of roadways and pathways. Eligible Applicants Under 23 U.S.C. 213(c)(4)(B), the Eligible Entities to receive TAP funds are: Local governments; Regional transportation authorities; Transit agencies; Natural resource or public land agencies; School districts, local education agencies, or schools; Tribal governments; and

Any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation or recreational trails (other than a metropolitan planning organization or a State agency) that the State determines to be eligible, consistent with the goals of subsection (c) of section 213 of title 23. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible as direct grant recipients for TAP funds unless they qualify through one of the eligible entity categories (e.g., where a nonprofit organization is a designated transit agency or a school). Nonprofits are eligible to partner with any eligible entity on a TAP project, if State or local requirements permit. Eligible Projects Projects must meet the federal eligibility requirements associated with the Federal Highway Administration Surface Transportation Program AND advance regional initiatives to improve the availability, safety, and convenience of active forms of transportation. TAP projects are not required to be located along Federal aid highways. Under 23 U.S.C. 133(c)(2), TAP eligible projects funded with STP funds are exempt from the location restriction in 23 U.S.C. 133(c). See Section C of the Surface Transportation Program Implementation Guidance for more information. Under 23 U.S.C. 213(b), eligible activities under the TAP program consist of: 1. Transportation Alternatives as defined in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(29) (MAP 21 1103): a. Construction, planning, and design of on road and off road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non motorized forms of transportation, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety related infrastructure, and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.). b. Construction, planning, and design of infrastructure related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non drivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs. c. Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non motorized transportation users. d. Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas. e. Community improvement activities, which include but are not limited to: i. inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising; ii. historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities; iii. vegetation management practices in transportation rights of way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control; and 2

iv. archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible under title 23. f. Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation toi. address storm water management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff, including activities described in sections 133(b)(11), 328(a), and 329 of title 23; or ii. reduce vehicle caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats. 2. The recreational trails program under section 206 of title 23. (Managed by TDEC in TN and MDWFP in MS) 3. The safe routes to school program eligible projects and activities listed at section 1404(f) of the SAFETEA LU (Managed by TDOT in TN and MDOT in MS): a. Infrastructure related projects. b. Non infrastructure related activities. c. Safe Routes to School coordinator. 4. Planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right of way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways. TAP funds awarded from the local MPO sub allocation may be used for any phase of the project including Preliminary Engineering, Design, Environmental, Right of Way, or Construction. TAP funds cannot be used for: State or MPO administrative purposes, except for SRTS administration, and administrative costs of the State permitted for RTP set aside funds. Promotional activities, except as permitted under the SRTS. General recreation and park facilities, playground equipment, sports fields, campgrounds, picnic areas and pavilions, etc. Routine maintenance and operations. Careful consideration should be given to whether an activity falls within the eligibilities created under TAP. Section 1103 of MAP 21 eliminated the definition of transportation enhancement activities in section 101 of title 23 and inserted in its place a definition of transportation alternatives. The transportation alternatives definition contained in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(29) created different categories of activities than those included under the previous transportation enhancement definition. As a result, some activities that were previously eligible as independent transportation enhancement projects are no longer eligible; some categories of eligibility remain, but for a different range of activities. In some cases, activities that are no longer eligible for funding as independent TAP projects may be eligible for FHWA participation under other title 23 provisions, such as project mitigation measures 3

when determined necessary to mitigate project impacts (including the impacts of a TAP project). Transportation enhancement categories that are no longer expressly described as eligible activities under the definition of transportation alternatives are: Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists. Exception: Activities targeting children in Kindergarten through 8th grade are eligible under SRTS (an eligible activity under the TAP funding). Note: Some of these activities may be eligible under HSIP. Non construction projects for bicycle safety remain broadly eligible for STP funds. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites (including historic battlefields), and scenic or historic highway programs (including tourist and welcome center facilities). Exceptions: A few specific activities under this category are eligible for funding as TAP projects, including construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities; and bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Landscaping and other scenic beautification. However, under the "community improvement activities" category, projects such as street scaping and corridor landscaping may be eligible under TAP if selected through the required competitive process. States may use TAP funds to meet junkyard screening and removal requirements under 23 U.S.C. 136 if selected through the competitive process. Landscaping and scenic enhancement features, including junkyard removal and screening, may be eligible as part of the construction of any Federalaid highway project under 23 U.S.C. 319, including TAP funded projects. Historic preservation, and rehabilitation and operation of historic buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals). Historic preservation activities now are limited to historic preservation and rehabilitation activities relating to a historic transportation facility. See section 101(a)(29)(E). Operation of historic transportation facilities is not eligible under TAP. Archaeological planning and research. Under TAP, archaeological activities must relate to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible under title 23. Establishment of transportation museums. There is no eligibility for this activity under TAP. Examples of eligible projects: Projects that improve or expand the physical infrastructure to accommodate or improve access to non motorized modes of transportation including, but not limited to, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, shared lanes, transit stop amenities, bicyclist and pedestrian amenities, pedestrian crossings, intersection upgrades, and greenways. Match Requirements A 20% match is required and must have been provided from some source other than federal grant funds. Each application is required to be accompanied by a letter from the principal 4

elected official or chief executive of the applicant agency indicating that local matching funds will be available during the project's proposed timeline. In TN, the 20% non federal share of the proposed project must now be provided by the Local Agency as a hard cash match. The option of providing these funds as a soft (in kind) match through the use of the value of preliminary engineering services, donated land, or materials and equipment is no longer available. In MS, the 20% non federal share of the proposed project can be provided as a soft (in kind) match through the value of preliminary engineering services, donated land, or materials and equipment. Proposal Evaluation & Selection Process Project evaluation will be completed in three stages and involve participation by MPO staff and members of the Memphis MPO s Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC): Quantitative Scoring by MPO Staff MPO staff will apply modified scoring criteria used during the development of the 2014 2017 Transportation Improvement Plan which includes an analysis of safety/security measures, multimodal accessibility, preservation of the existing transportation system, proximity to compatible land uses, economic opportunity, environmental preservation, environmental justice, network continuity, cost effectiveness, and congestion/air quality. Qualitative Assessment by ATAC The ATAC will perform a qualitative evaluation of each project, scoring applications from 0 (worst) to 5 (best) within each of the following categories: o Provide safe traveling options for pedestrian and bicyclists, o Provide opportunities for physical activity among users throughout the transportation system, o Increase connectivity among a mixture of land uses, and o Provide last mile connectivity for user of public transportation. Qualitative Assessment by MPO Staff MPO staff will develop the final rankings for projects, taking into consideration FY 2015 TAP budget constraints, the performance history of projects sponsors, the long term sustainability of the project, and consistency with the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. Project Selection will occur in three stages and involve participation by Memphis MPO staff, Memphis MPO ATAC, Memphis MPO Engineering and Technical Committee (ETC), and Memphis MPO Transportation Policy Board (TPB): 5

With the Memphis MPO ATAC serving in an advisory role, MPO staff will make recommendations for project awards to the ETC and TPB The ETC will be requested to endorse ATAC recommendations for consideration by the TPB The TPB will be asked to adopt ATAC recommendations. Upon action by the TPB, letters will be mailed to award recipients with instructions on how to move forward with the contracting process. Application Document & Submission Instructions The FY 2015 Transportation Alternatives Program application will be required for all submittals. The application will be made available on June 8, 2015. Memphis MPO ETC and TPB members will receive blank copies of the application and instructions by email. Additionally, the application and instructions will be available for download for the Memphis MPO s website (www.memphismpo.org). The application will be provided in PDF format that will allow applicants to fill in the necessary information, save the document, and email the completed document back to the MPO for consideration. The saved application can also be printed for the applicant s internal use. Viewing and utilizing the application will require the installation of Adobe Reader. A free download of the software can be obtained here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/. Please rename the PDF file using the following format before sending: Project Name_Applicant.pdf (ex. Fletcher Creek Greenway_Bartlett.pdf). In addition to the completed application, applicants should also include with their submission: A color coded map that clearly delineates the project (with road names, a north arrow, and the project location highlighted) Photographs of existing conditions and any drawings or preliminary sketches of the proposed project. This may include a site plan of the proposed construction, proposed cross sections of the facility, or illustrations of the proposed work PLEASE NOTE: All maps and illustrations should be no larger than 11 x17. Memphis MPO s Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, Nicholas Oyler, will accept applications electronically at nicholas.oyler@memphistn.gov. Additionally, please copy Peter Jenkins (peter.jenkins@memphistn.gov) on your submission email to ensure its timely receipt. The electronic submission must still include the scanned signature of the applicable Mayor or State Agency Head as well as all necessary detailed maps, photographs, preliminary sketches, plans and support letters. Please note that only PDF and JPG documents will be accepted for electronic submissions. 6

All applications must include the County, Applicant and Project Title in the subject line. Limit one application per e mail. If more than one e mail is necessary per application submittal, you must label each e mail accordingly, e.g. County, Applicant, Title of Project, Part 1 of 2. NOTE: The Memphis MPO s mailbox limit is 15MB per email. If you choose to not submit electronically, you must submit one (1) CD containing the complete application. All CD s must be labeled County, Applicant and Title of Project. Submissions are to be made to: Memphis Urban Area MPO Attn: Nicholas Oyler, Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator 125 North Main Street, Room 450 Memphis, TN 38103 Applications will be due no later than 3:00pm CST on July 17, 2015. 7

Improvements Examples of Traffic Calming Improvements Description Example Photo Bulbouts/Neckdowns/ /Chokers Curb extensions at intersections that reduce curb to curbb roadway travel lane widths Center Islandss Raised islands located along the centerline off a roadway that narrow the widthh at that location Chicanes/Lateral Shifts Curb extensions that alternate from one side of the roadway to the other, formingg s shaped curves Diverters Barriers placed diagonally acrosss an intersection, blocking certain movements Forced Turn Lanes Raised islands located on approaches to an intersection that block certain movements Median Barriers Raised islands located along the centerline off a roadway and continuing through an intersection to block cross traffic Realigned Intersections Changes in alignments that convert T intersections with straight approaches into curving roadways meeting at right angles 8

Improvements Examples of Traffic Calming Improvements Continued Description Example Photo Roundabouts Barriers placed in the middle of an intersection, directing all traffic in the same direction Speed Humps Rounded raised pavement devices placed across roadways to slow and/ or discourage traffic Tables/Textured Tables/Textured Pavement/Raised Crossings Pavement/Raised Crossingss Rumble Strips Low bumps across road make noise when driven over 9

Improvements Examples of Roadway Design Improvements Description Example Photo Road Design Features Such as sight distance and cross section design improvements Roadside hardware Such as guardrail, crash cushions, bridge rails, etc Improved signage Such as retro reflective signs, pavement markings, etc Improvements Examples of Transit Related Improvementss Descriptionn Example Photo Transit Stop Amenities Benches, Shelters, Route and Schedule Signage, Bi cycle Storage, etc. Bus Bulb outs/bus Pull outs Curb extensions or cuts at bus stops allowing efficient movement of transit and local trafficc Intersection Improvements Such as turning radii, etc. Signalization Improvements Transit priority signalization system (signal preemption) Transit only lanes Adding bus only lanes 10