FY 018 Transprtatin Alternatives Instructins Backgrund The Transprtatin Alternatives Prgram (TAP) was established in 01, authrized under Sectin 11 f Mving Ahead fr Prgress in the 1st Century Act (MAP-1) and is cdified at 3 U.S.C. sectins 101(a) (9) and 13. On December 4, 015, the President signed the Fixing America s Surface Transprtatin (FAST) Act int law (Pub. L. 114-94). The FAST Act replaced the Transprtatin Alternatives Prgram (TAP) with a set-aside f funds under the Surface Transprtatin Blck Grant Prgram (STBG). Fr administrative purpses, the Federal Highway Administratin (FHWA) will nw refer t these funds as the TA Set-Aside. The Transprtatin Alternatives (TA) prvides funding fr prgrams and prjects defined as transprtatin alternatives, including n and ff rad pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure prjects fr imprving nn-driver access t public transprtatin and enhanced mbility, cmmunity imprvement activities such as histric preservatin and vegetatin management, and envirnmental mitigatin related t strm water and habitat cnnectivity; recreatinal trail prjects; safe rutes t schl prjects (SRTS); and prjects fr planning, designing, r cnstructing bulevards and ther radways largely in the right-f-way f frmer divided highways. Eligible Applicants Under 3 U.S.C. 13(c)(4)(B), the Eligible Entities t receive Transprtatin Alternatives (TA) funds are: Lcal gvernments; Reginal transprtatin authrities; Transit agencies; Natural resurce r public land agencies; Schl districts, lcal educatin agencies, r schls; Tribal gvernments Nnprfit entity respnsible fr the administratin f lcal transprtatin safety prgrams: Examples include a nnprfit entity respnsible fr a lcal prgram implementing cnstructin, planning, and design f infrastructure-related prjects and systems that will prvide safe rutes fr nn-drivers, including children, lder adults, and individuals with disabilities t access daily needs; and safe rutes t schl prgram Any ther lcal r reginal gvernmental entity with respnsibility fr versight f transprtatin r recreatinal trails (ther than a metrplitan planning rganizatin r a 1
State agency) that the State determines t be eligible, cnsistent with the gals f subsectin (c) f sectin 13 f title 3. Nnprfit rganizatins are nt eligible as direct grant sub recipients fr TA Set-Aside funds unless they qualify thrugh ne f the eligible entity categries (e.g., where a nnprfit rganizatin is a designated transit agency, schl, r an entity respnsible fr the administratin f lcal transprtatin safety prgrams). Nnprfit entities are eligible t partner with any eligible entity n an eligible prject, if State r lcal requirements permit. TA Eligibility MAP-1 cdified TA eligibility under 3 U.S.C. 101(a)(9) and 13. The FAST Act repealed these sectins, but authrized "prjects r activities described in sectin 101(a)(9) r 13, as such prvisins were in effect n the day befre the date f enactment f the FAST Act." Therefre, all TA eligibility remains unchanged. The prject selectin prcess and the eligible prject spnsr requirements apply fr all TA eligibility. TA Prjects are nt required t be lcated alng Federal-aid highways. Activities eligible under TA are eligible fr STBG funds. Sme aspects f activities als may be eligible under ther Federal-aid highway prgrams. Fr Safe Rutes t Schls (SRTS) nn-infrastructure prjects, traffic educatin and enfrcement activities must take place within apprximately tw miles f a primary r middle schl (grades K- 8). Other eligible nn-infrastructure activities d nt have a lcatin restrictin. SRTS infrastructure prjects are eligible fr TA funds regardless f their ability t serve schl ppulatins, and SRTS infrastructure prjects are bradly eligible under ther TA eligibilities, which d nt have any lcatin restrictins. Prjects that fall n state rutes may be required t fllw additinal standards per TDOT r MDOT. Eligible Prjects: 1. Transprtatin Alternatives as defined: a. Cnstructin, planning, and design f n-rad and ff-rad trail facilities fr pedestrians, bicyclists, and ther nn-mtrized frms f transprtatin, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and ther safety-related infrastructure, and transprtatin prjects including the ADA Transitin Plan t achieve cmpliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act f 1990. b. Cnstructin, planning, and design f infrastructure-related prjects and systems that will prvide safe rutes fr nn-drivers, including children, lder adults, and individuals with disabilities t access daily needs. c. Cnversin and use f abandned railrad crridrs fr trails fr pedestrians, bicyclists, r ther nn-mtrized transprtatin users. d. Cnstructin f turnuts, verlks, and viewing areas. e. Cmmunity imprvement activities, which include but are nt limited t:
i. Inventry, cntrl, r remval f utdr advertising; ii. Histric preservatin and rehabilitatin f histric transprtatin facilities; iii. Vegetatin management practices in transprtatin rights-f-way t imprve radway safety, prevent against invasive species, and prvide ersin cntrl; and iv. Archelgical activities relating t impacts frm implementatin f transprtatin prject eligible under title 3. f. Any envirnmental mitigatin activity, including pllutin preventin and pllutin abatement activities and mitigatin t: i. Address strm water management, cntrl, and water pllutin preventin r abatement related t highway cnstructin r due t highway runff, including activities; r ii. Reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mrtality r t restre and maintain cnnectivity amng terrestrial r aquatic habitats.. The recreatinal trails prgram. (Managed by TDEC in TN and MDWFP in MS) 3. The safe rutes t schl prgram eligible prjects and activities (Managed by TDOT in TN and MDOT in MS): i. Infrastructure-related prjects. ii. Nn-infrastructure-related activities. iii. Safe Rutes t Schl crdinatr. 4. Planning, designing, r cnstructing bulevards and ther radways largely in the right-f-way f frmer Interstate System rutes r ther divided highways. Prjects must benefit the general public (3 CFR 1.3 and 3 CFR 460.). TA funds awarded frm the lcal MPO sub-allcatin may be used fr any phase f the prject including Preliminary Engineering, Design, Envirnmental, Right-f-Way, r Cnstructin. TA funds cannt be used fr: State r MPO administrative purpses, except fr SRTS administratin, and administrative csts f the State permitted fr RTP set-aside funds. Prmtinal activities, except as permitted under the SRTS. General recreatin and park facilities, playgrund equipment, sprts fields, campgrunds, picnic areas and pavilins, etc. Rutine maintenance and peratins except trail maintenance as permitted under the RTP. Examples f Eligible Prjects: Pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreatinal trails, safe rutes t schl prjects, cmmunity imprvements such as histric preservatin and vegetatin management, and envirnmental mitigatin related t strm water and habitat cnnectivity and ADA Transitin Plans. 3
Match Requirements The 0% nn-federal share f the prpsed prject must be prvided by the Lcal Agency as a hard cash match. The ptin f prviding these funds as a sft (in-kind) match r special match credit thrugh the use f the value f preliminary engineering services, dnated land, r materials and equipment is n lnger available. Fr Tennessee Jurisdictins: FY 018 TA funding must be authrized n r befre July 1, 01 t risk the funding being withdrawn fr the prject. Prpsal Evaluatin & Selectin Prcess Prject evaluatin will be cmpleted in three stages and invlve participatin by MPO staff and members f the Memphis MPO s Active Transprtatin Advisry Cmmittee (ATAC): Quantitative Scring by MPO Staff - MPO staff will apply mdified scring criteria used during the develpment f the FY 017-0 Transprtatin Imprvement Prgram (TIP) which includes an analysis f safety, cngestin reductin, ecnmic vitality, envirnmental sustainability, netwrk cntinuity and infrastructure cnditin. Qualitative Assessment by ATAC - The ATAC will perfrm a qualitative evaluatin f each prject, scring applicatins frm 0 (wrst) t 5 (best) within each f the fllwing categries: Prvides safe traveling ptins fr pedestrian and bicyclists, Prvides pprtunities fr physical activity amng users thrughut the transprtatin system, Increases cnnectivity amng a mixture f land uses, and Prvides last-mile cnnectivity fr user f public transprtatin. Qualitative Assessment by MPO Staff - MPO staff will develp the final rankings fr prjects, taking int cnsideratin FY 018 TA budget cnstraints, the perfrmance histry f prject spnsrs, the lng-term sustainability f the prject, and cnsistency with the Livability 040: Reginal Transprtatin Plan (RTP). Prjects will be reviewed and awarded based n funding availability. Partial funding r a change in the prject scpe may be needed based n the funding availability. Memphis MPO staff will wrk with the prject spnsrs and the State DOTs t determine feasible ptins if necessary. Prject selectin will ccur in three stages and invlve participatin by Memphis MPO staff, Memphis MPO ATAC, Memphis MPO Engineering and Technical Cmmittee (ETC), and the Memphis MPO Transprtatin Plicy Bard (TPB): With the Memphis MPO ATAC serving in an advisry rle, MPO staff will make recmmendatins fr prject awards t the ETC and TPB. The ETC will be requested t apprve prjects fr cnsideratin by the TPB. The TPB will be asked t adpt ETC recmmendatins. Upn actin by the TPB, letters will be mailed t award recipients with instructins n hw t mve frward with the cntracting prcess. 4
Applicatin Dcument & Submissin Instructins The FY 018 Transprtatin Alternatives applicatin will be required fr all submittals. The applicatin will be made available n August 1, 017. Memphis MPO ETC and TPB members will receive blank cpies f the applicatin and instructins by email. Additinally, the applicatin and instructins will be available fr dwnlad fr the Memphis MPO s website (www.memphismp.rg). The applicatin will be prvided in PDF frmat that will allw applicants t fill-in the necessary infrmatin, save the dcument, and email the cmpleted dcument back t the MPO fr cnsideratin. The saved applicatin can als be printed fr the applicant s internal use. Viewing and utilizing the applicatin will require the installatin f Adbe Reader. A free dwnlad f the sftware can be btained here: http://get.adbe.cm/reader/. Please rename the PDF file using the fllwing frmat befre sending: Prject Name_Applicant.pdf (ex. Fletcher Creek Greenway_Bartlett.pdf). Applicants shuld include with fllwing with their submissin: Cmpleted Applicatin Prject Lcatin/Extents Map that clearly delineates the prject (with rad names, a nrth arrw, and the prject lcatin highlighted) Preliminary Site Plan/Illustratins f the prpsed prject (this may include a site plan f the prpsed cnstructin, prpsed crss-sectins f the facility, r illustratins f the prpsed wrk) Itemized cst estimate f the prpsed prject Zylavian Watley, will accept applicatins electrnically at zylavian.watley@memphistn.gv. Additinally, please cpy Kate Hrtn (kate.hrtn@memphistn.gv) n yur submissin email t ensure its timely receipt. The electrnic submissin must include all necessary prject lcatin/extents map, preliminary site plans/illustratins, and an itemized cst estimate. Please nte that nly PDF and JPG dcuments will be accepted fr electrnic submissins. All applicatins must include the Applicant and Prject Title in the subject line. Limit ne applicatin per e-mail. If mre than ne e-mail is necessary per applicatin submittal, yu must label each e- mail accrdingly, e.g. Applicant, Title f Prject, Part 1 f. NOTE: The Memphis MPO s mailbx limit is 15MB per email. We have included a link here t include any additinal dcumentatin, images, and map fr yu t include if yur file exceeds 15MB. Applicatins will be due n later than 3:00pm CST n August 30, 017. 5
FY 018 Transprtatin Alternative Criteria Criteria Pints Definitins Benefits t Active Transprtatin 0 The ATAC will perfrm a qualitative evaluatin f each prject, scring applicatins frm 0 (wrst) t 5 (best) within each f the Prvide Safe Traveling Optins fr Pedestrians and Bicyclists 5 fllwing narratives prvided by the applying jurisdictins: The scpe f the prject shuld: Prvide Opprtunities fr Physical Activity Thrughut Transp. System 5 Increase Cnnectivity Amng a Mix f Land Uses 5 Prvide Last-Mile Cnnectivity fr Users f Public Transprtatin 5 Safety 0 Accident Rate 6 Accident Rate 10.01 r mre 6 Accident Rate 6.01 t 10.00 4 Accident Rate 4.01 t 6.00 Accident Rate.01 t 4.00 1 Accident Rate less than.00 0 Prject Addresses Histry f Incapacitating r Fatal Bike/Ped Accidents 4 Prject Incrprates Traffic Calming and Design Imprvements (Maximum Cmbined Pints) 6 Pedestrian Safety Speed Cntrl Vlume Cntrl 1 Additinal Design Imprvements 1 Prject Incrprates Security Imprvements 4 Cngestin Reductin 0 Bicycle Related Imprvements (Maximum Cmbined Pints) 5 Prject scpe includes cycle track r shared use path Prject scpe includes signed and painted bike lane r bicycle bulevard Prject scpe includes end f trip facilities (Wayfinding Signs, Racks, Etc) 1 Prject scpe des nt include bicycle facility 0 Pedestrian Related Imprvements (Maximum Cmbined Pints) 5 Prject scpe includes ADA accessible sidewalks, curb ramps, shared use path, r verpass/underpass Prject scpe includes pedestrian signals r enhanced n-street crssing facilities 1 Prject scpe includes marked crsswalks 1 Prject scpe includes pedestrian amenities 1 Prject scpe des nt include pedestrian facilities 0 Transit Related Imprvements 4 Prject scpe includes shelters, signage, r ther amenities n an existing r prpsed transit rute 4 Prject scpe includes sidewalk access imprvements n an existing r prpsed transit rute Prject scpe des nt include any transit related imprvement 0 Reginal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan 4 Crridr pririty ranking in the Reginal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan: # 1-394 4 Crridr pririty ranking in the Reginal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan: # 395-788 Crridr is nt a ranked pririty in the Reginal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan 0 Utilizes CMP Strategies 1. Prvide safe traveling ptins fr pedestrians and bicyclists (up t 5 pints),. Prvide pprtunities fr physical activity amng users thrughut the transprtatin system (up t 5 pints), 3. Increase cnnectivity amng a mixture f land uses (up t 5 pints), and 4. Prvide last-mile cnnectivity fr users f public transprtatin (up t 5 pints). The safety criterin is intended t measure the ptential imprvements t public safety and security that the prpsed prject will prvide. It applies t all users f the transprtatin system. The greater the ptential imprvement t verall transprtatin safety, the higher the scre fr the ptential prject. Up t 6 pints will be awarded t prjects that have a higher accident rate. 4 pints will be awarded t prject that address lcatins with a histry f fatal bike/ped crashes. Prjects incrprating traffic calming and design imprvements, primarily fcusing n the benefits fr pedestrians and cyclists, will be awarded up t 6 pints. Examples include raised pedestrian crssings, sidewalk bulb-uts t narrw traffic lanes, installatin f bike lanes t narrw traffic lanes, pedestrian refuges, curb-ramps and crsswalk recnfiguratin, etc. 4 pints will be awarded fr any prject that incrprates security imprvements such as lighting, bike racks, bike lckers, r any ther additinal security cnsideratins. The Cngestin Reductin criterin awards pints t prjects that reduce cngestin by enhancing nn-autmtive mdes f transprtatin Within the Bicycle Related Imprvements and the Pedestrian Related Imprvements categries, up t 5 pints will be awarded fr different types f facilities Within the Transit Related Imprvements categries, up t 4 pints will be awarded fr different types f imprvements Up t 4 pints will be awarded fr prject if the prject is identified as ne f the crridrs n the Bicycle r Pedestrian Crridr Imprvements Pririties table in the Appendix f the Reginal Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Prjects will be awarded pints if the scpe identifies utilizatin any f the 8 Cngestin Management Strategies (CMP) as discussed in the Livability 040 RTP. 6
Envirnmental Sustainability 17 Envirnmental Justice Impacts (Maximum Cmbined Pints) 3 Prject prvides transit imprvements in an Envirnmental Justice area 1 Prject prvides safety enhancements in an Envirnmental Justice area 1 Prject prvides bicycle and/r pedestrian imprvements in an Envirnmental Justice area 1 Minimal Envirnmental Justice Impacts 0 Envirnmental Impacts 1 Minimal Envirnmental Impacts 1 Negative Envirnmental Justice and/r Envirnmental Impacts -4 Prject Prvides Linkages Between Different Land Uses (within 1/ mile ped, 3 mile bicycle) 10 Schls and Clleges Parks Majr and Lcal Retail Centers Majr Emplyment Centers Transit Rutes Adpted Plans Prject is cnsistent with adpted cmprehensive and/r rad plans and has psitive land use impacts Prject in an area withut adpted cmprehensive and/r rad plans and has psitive land use impacts 1 Prject is incnsistent with adpted cmprehensive and/r rad plans and has negative land use impacts - Prject Serves a Strategic Area Targeted fr Develpment 1 Ecnmic Vitality 15 Ecnmic Vitality 5 Prject lcated near existing and prpsed emplyment centers: Prject serves 500 r mre jbs 5 Prject serves 100-499 jbs 3 Prject serves 0-99 jbs 1 Prject supprts high grwth areas and/r revitalizes existing develped znes: 5 Prjects serves multiple cmmunities 5 Prjects serves single cmmunity 3 Prjects serves n cmmunity 0 Netwrk Cntinuity 5 Prject prvides reginal netwrk cntinuity 5 Prject prvides lcal netwrk cntinuity 3 Prject prvides n netwrk cntinuity 0 Infrastructure Cnditin 8 Prject Imprves r Maintains an Existing Radway r Transit Operatin 4 Prject Upgrades Rute (Design Imprvements, Cmplete Streets, Etc.) 4 Ttal Pints 100 Prject Delivery 10 Lcal Funding Overmatch 10 36% r mre Lcal Match 10 6% - 35% Lcal Match 5 1% - 5% Lcal Match 0 % - 4% Lcal Match 0 Ttal Pints (incl. bnus pints) 110 The Envirnmental Sustainability criterin cnsiders the impacts f prjects n Envirnmental Justice (EJ) cmmunities and the physical envirnment as well as the relatinship between transprtatin and land use. Under Envirnmental Justice, up t 3 pints will be awarded fr prjects that psitively impact the EJ cmmunities. Under Envirnmental Impacts, 1 pint will be awarded if the prject has minimal envirnmental impacts n the physical envirnment such as wetlands and cultural resurces. Whereas a prject will receive -4 pints if it adversely impacts the EJ cmmunity area/envirnment r the such as crssing an established wetland. Up t 10 pints will be awarded fr prjects that prvide linkages between different land uses. pints will be awarded fr each land use within the prximity f pedestrian (1/ mile) r bike access (3 miles). pints will be awarded t prjects that are cnsistent with lcally adpted plans. Plans t be cnsidered include, but are nt limited t, cmprehensive plans, land use plans, special district plans, r rad plans. Prjects that are lcated in areas withut an adpted plan, but have psitive land use impacts will be awarded 1 pint. Prjects that are incnsistent with lcally adpted plans r have a negative impact n land use will be awarded - pints. An additinal 1 pint will be awarded t prjects that serve a strategic zne targeted by the jurisdictin fr develpment r revitalizatin. These znes may be recgnized by the municipality as lcatins targeted fr develpment thrugh tax breaks and ther incentives. The ecnmic vitality criterin takes int accunt the verall ecnmic impact that prjects will have n the area as well as the impact prjects will have n expanding the netwrk f nn-mtrized mdes f transpiratin. Prjects will be awarded up t 5 pints fr ecnmic vitality categry if it benefits an existing r prpsed emplyment center Prjects will be awarded up t 5 pints that supprts high grwth areas and/r revitalizes existing develped znes. Netwrk cntinuity cnsiders the need fr verall system efficiency fr ach evaluated prject. 5 pints will be awarded t a prject that fster greater cnnectin regin wide. 3 pints will be awarded t a prject that prvides that has lcalized benefits. The system preservatin criterin cnsiders the maintenance and imprvements made t existing radways. 4 pints will be awarded t prjects that imprve an existing radway r transit peratins. 4 pints will be awarded t prjects that prvide upgrades such as design imprvements and cmplete streets strategies as discussed in the Livability 040 RTP. The Transprtatin Alternatives (TA) requires a match f 80-0 i.e. 80% f the funds are prvided by the federal gvernment and 0% by lcal lead agency. This criterin awards bnus pints t prjects fr which lead agency can vermatch the minimum 0% match requirement. 10 pints will be awarded t prjects fr which 36% r mre lcal match can be prvided by the lead agency. 5 pints will be awarded if nly 6%-35% f lcal match can be prvided by the lead agency. pints will be awarded if nly the minimum match funds i.e. 5% are included in the prject cst 7