Siouxland Regional Transportation Planning Association
Transportation Alternatives Program Projects
Request for Proposals
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THIS PACKET INCLUDES:
 Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Qualifying Criteria
 Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Priority Criteria
 Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Proposal
DUE DATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2016
Return To:
Kevin Randle, Transportation Planner
Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council
1122 Pierce St. P.O. Box 1077
Sioux City, Iowa 51102
Fax 712.279.6920
Kevin@simpco.org
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT THE INTENTION OF SIMPCO TO COMPLETE THIS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE
APPLICANT AGENCY(IES). THIS SELECTION PROCESS IS NOT AN EXERCISE IN GRANTSMANSHIP, BUT RATHER A
COMPARISON OF PROJECT FACTS.
ALL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROJECTS PROPOSED MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE SIOUXLAND
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION (SRTPA) LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN (LRTP).
*IT
IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM FUNDING IS A
REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. ALL APPLICANTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THE COMMUNITY OR AGENCY
APPLYING HAS THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT BEFORE ITS START.
SIMPCO
STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND
OFFER INPUT TO ASSIST YOU. IF YOU DESIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE
APPLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kevin Randle, Transportation Planner, at 712.279.6286
SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
QUALIFYING CRITERIA – TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM PROJECTS
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) has grouped the Transportation Enhancement funds under a new
program called Transportation Alternatives. Transportation enhancement activities no longer are required to be a part of the
Surface Transportation Program where 10 percent of the STP apportionment is required for transportation enhancement. The
Transportation Alternatives Program is funded at a level equal to 2 percent of the FHWA funding.
1. Eligibility activities under 23 U.S.C.213(b) eligible activities under the TAP program consist of:
A. Transportation Alternatives as defined in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(29) (MAP-21 1103):
i. Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
nonmotorized 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.
ii. 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.
iii. Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other nonmotorized
transportation users.
iv. Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
v. Community improvement activities, includinga.
inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising;
b.
historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities;
c.
vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent
against invasive species, and provide erosion control; and
d.
archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible
under title 23.
vi. Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and
mitigation toa.
address stormwater 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
b.
reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or
aquatic habitats.
B. The recreational trails program under section 206 of title 23.
C. The safe routes to school program under section 1404 of the SAFETEA-LU.
i. Infrastructure-related projects.-planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects on any
public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools that will substantially
improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including sidewalk improvements, traffic
calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle
facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and traffic diversion
improvements in the vicinity of schools.
ii. Noninfrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including public awareness
campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders, traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of
schools, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment, and funding for training,
volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs.
iii. Safe Routes to School coordinator.
D. Planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate
System routes or other divided highways.
Ineligible Activities: Section 1103 of MAP-21 eliminated the definition of transportation enhancement activities in section 104
of title 23 and inserted in its place a definition of transportation alternatives, which does not include eligibility for certain
activities that were previously eligible as transportation enhancements:
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SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
A. Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles.
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. Nonconstruction projects for bicycle safety remain broadly
eligible for STP funds.
B. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
C. Scenic or historic highway programs (including visitor and welcome centers).
i.
Note: A few specific activities under this category (construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas)
remain eligible under section 101(a)(29)(D) of title 23.
D. Historic preservation as an independent activity unrelated to historic transportation facilities. Note: Historic
preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities are permitted as one type of community improvement
activity; see section 101(a)(29)(E).
E. Operation of historic transportation facilities.
F. Archaeological planning and research undertaken for proactive planning. This category now must be used only as
mitigation for highway projects.
G. Transportation museums.
2. Projects must have an assured match (non-FHWA funds) of at least 20 percent of the estimated total cost of the
proposed project.
MAP-21 requires a match of a least 20 percent of project costs. Assurance of this required match by the applicant
agency(ies) at the time of the application indicates a necessary level of support by the applicant agency(ies) to
immediately proceed with the project development and implementation. Applicant agency(ies) may apply funds from
other federal agencies and the value of other contributions may be credited to the non-FHWA share of the costs of the
project to carry out a transportation alternative activity. Up to 100% of an individual project may be financed with
federal funds.
3. Eligibility of project sponsors
Under MAP-21, federal funds received by the State of Iowa will be received and disbursed by the Iowa Department of
Transportation (Iowa DOT). With MAP-21, eligible entities to receive TAP funds have expanded to include: 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 government 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.
Under TAP, nonprofits are not eligible as direct grant recipients of the funds. Nonprofits are eligible to partner with
any eligible entity on an eligible TAP project, if State or local requirements permit.
4. Applicant agency(ies) must provide written assurance that a governmental entity will adequately maintain the
completed project and not change the right-of-way use.
The Iowa Department of Transportation requires that a governmental entity agrees to operate and maintain facilities
funded with federal transportation enhancement funds for twenty (20) years and not change the use of any right-of-way
acquired without prior approval of from the Iowa DOT and the FHWA.
5. Projects must demonstrate a relationship to transportation.
MAP-21 requires that transportation alternatives program projects be related to transportation. The FHWA fact sheet
providing guidance states:
“The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) authorized under Section 1122 of MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 213(b),
101(a)(29) 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 the planning, design or construction of boulevards and other
roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways”
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SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
PRIORITY CRITERIA – TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM PROJECTS
Each of the following eight criteria explains its importance to the application and provides the applicant agency(ies) with
the amount of weight given in the application review. Each priority is directly related to questions on the application.
1. The degree to which the proposed project fulfills the intent of the MAP-21 10 points
It is important to implement quality projects. Relative to MAP-21, quality is defined by the declaration of policy
included in the act:
”MAP-21 creates a streamlined performance-based, and multimodal program to address the many
challenges facing the U.S. transportation system. These challenges include improving safety, maintaining
infrastructure condition, reducing traffic congestion, improving efficiency of the system and freight
movement, protection the environment, and reducing delays in project delivery.”
MAP-21 links transportation plans, programs, and projects to the goals of preserving community quality and
protecting the environment. Transportation alternatives program projects should provide leadership by example
for this new direction in federal transportation policy.
2. Projects which qualify in two or more of the eligible categories of transportation alternatives identified in the
MAP-21 process 10 points
There are several eligible categories identified for transportation alternatives in MAP-21. With limited funding
available, it is in the region’s best interest to give some funding priority to projects that accomplish multiple
objectives.
3. Projects with an assured match (non-FHWA funds) in excess of 20 percent 30 points
A number of agencies in Iowa currently solicit, prioritize, and select transportation alternatives type projects. The
demand for transportation alternatives program funds far exceeds the amount made available to Iowa. Providing a
modest incentive for the applicant agency(ies) to exceed the minimum 20 percent required match (non-FHWA
funds) would enable leveraging implementation of more projects in more locations throughout the state.
Providing equitable access to transportation alternatives program funds for poorer communities is also a concern.
And the maximum points given to this prioritizing criterion are sufficiently low to fund projects that score well on
the remaining prioritizing criteria.
Projects must demonstrate that there is an adequate amount of local funding for the project in the year of
construction. When projects are scored, the local commitment is weighed significantly. If a project does not
show an adequate amount of local funding, the application may be set aside and evaluated again the next year.
The SRTPA will fund construction costs of a physical trail and will not fund amenities for the trail. Other items
that are not typically funded by SRTPA are: land cost; preliminary design and engineering; utility relocation;
construction engineering; and in-kind costs.
4. Projects with components which have already been funded and/or implemented from other funding sources,
especially projects for which proposed transportation alternatives would complete a larger project, concept, or
plan 5 points
There may be a number of larger projects that are missing a key or final element. Funding these missing elements
with transportation alternatives program funds would provide additional benefits to funded projects.
5. Projects that have already gone through a statewide, regional, and/or local priority setting process 5 points
There are a number of processes in Iowa that have solicited, prioritized, and selected transportation alternatives
type projects for a decade or more. There appears to be a number of very good projects that have gone through
one or more of these processes but remain unfunded or underfunded because of limitations on the availability of
funding in these programs.
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SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
6. Projects which demonstrate more than a local impact or benefit and tourism and economic development
potential 20 points
Transportation alternatives program funds are federal funds. The amount of funds is limited and is probably not
sufficient to fund all projects submitted. For example, priority will be given to projects that benefit more than one
neighborhood, community, or county, or are recognized as being of regional or interregional significance.
Priority will also be given to those projects that enhance tourism and economic development potential. It is
suggested to the applicant agency(ies) that projects with statewide impact and benefit should apply directly to
Iowa DOT for Statewide Recreational Trails Project Funding.
7. Status of Land Acquisition 5 points
The status of land acquisition (if applicable) will be evaluated based on the progression of acquisition.
8. Project development status, at time of application, with regards to the federal and other processing
requirements appropriate to the proposed project 10 points
All projects funded with federal funds administered by the FHWA are required to be processed following rules
established by the FHWA. The precise process a project must follow varies. For example, a project to develop a
plan may merely have to follow the consultant selection process, whereas a major project entailing extensive land
acquisition and significant environmental impacts may entail a number of steps including the writing of a federal
environmental impact statement and holding numerous public meetings and hearings. Projects, which have
reached successive milestones in the development process appropriate for the project, will be awarded points
based on how far in the process they have been developed. The farther a project has been developed, the more
certain is its implementation and the more reliable is its estimated cost.
POSSIBLE TOTAL POINTS: 100
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SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
Proposal for
Siouxland Regional Transportation Planning Association
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM PROJECTS
CHECKLIST: The following items must be provided for all transportation alternatives program projects.
Transportation Alternatives Program Project Proposal
A Narrative description of the project
Transportation Alternatives Program Project Location Map(s)
A Sketch-plan of the project
A Time Schedule for the total project development
Resolution from a Sponsoring Governmental Entity
- commitment of funds
- statement on project maintenance
A narrative discussing public input
Letter of Support from member county (if required)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Applicant Agency:
Has your member county been notified of intent to apply for TAP funds (if required)?
Yes
No
Contact Person (name & title):
Complete Mailing Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
Email:
If more than one agency or organization is involved in this project, please state the name, contact person, mailing address, and
telephone number of the second agency. (Attach an additional page if more than two agencies are involved)
Additional Applicant Agency:
Contact Person (name & title):
Complete Mailing Address:
City:
Email:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Title:
Project Description (include length if applicable):
If this project includes land acquisition, how many acres?
Project Category – Check all boxes that apply to indicate the categories that best describe your project.
1) Trails and Bicycles
☐ Facilities for pedestrians and bicycles including safe routes for
non-drivers
☐ Conversion and use of abandoned railway corridors
(3) Safe Routes to School
☐ Infrastructure (Sidewalks/trails/signals/signs
Addressing K-8 need)
☐ Non-infrastructure (Public Awareness, education,
training, etc.)
(2) Scenic and Historic
☐ Construction of turnouts, overlooks and viewing areas
☐ Inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising
☐ Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation
Facilities
☐ Archeological activities relating to impacts from another eligible
activity
(4) Environmental
☐ Vegetation management practices in transportation
rights-of-way
☐ Highway related stormwater management
☐ Reduction of vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or
Restoration of habitat connectivity
ESTIMATED PROJECT COSTS
Construction Costs
Other Costs (not funded by the SRTPA)
Construction Cost
Contingency
Total Construction Costs
$
$
$
Enhancement Fund Request
Application Match(20%) Minimum
$
$
Land Cost
Preliminary Design/Engineering
Utility Relocation
Construction Engineering
In-Kind Cost
Total Other Costs
$
$
$
$
$
$
SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
Match Source
Amount
1.
2.
3.
Are any state funds involved in this project?
Yes
No
If yes, please explain the source and conditions
Are any other federal funds involved in this project?
Yes
No
If yes, please explain source and conditions
Will this project be open to the public?
Do you intend to charge a fee to users?
Yes
Yes
No
No
If yes, how much? $
What will it be used for?
List any tourism or economic development potential this project may have.
List state, regional or local plans or processes which have recognized this project as a priority.
ESTIMATED PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
Design (start and completion date)
Land Acquisition (start and completion data)
Construction (start and completion data)
Has any part of this project been started?
If yes, explain
Yes
No
Assured or Anticipated
SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
DOCUMENTATION AND NARRATIVE INFORMATION
The following documents and narratives must be attached to this application. In the upper right-hand corner of each document or
narrative write the corresponding letter shown below:
A.
A NARRATIVE assessing existing conditions, outlining the concept of the proposed project, and providing adequate project
justification. Transportation alternatives must have direct relationship to the intermodal transportation system, either as it
exists or as it is planned. Assess your project in regard to the transportation system relative to its functional relationship,
proximity, or impact to an existing or planned transportation facility. Assess the value of this project from a regional or
metropolitan perspective and how it will be functional addition to the transportation system and state as a whole if no
additional development funds are received.
B.
A MAP identifying the location of the project.
C.
A SKETCH-PLAN of the project, including cross-section for bicycle or pedestrian facilities.
D.
An ITEMIZED BREAKDOWN of the total project costs.
E.
A TIME SCHEDULE for the total project development. Funding for projects which fail to make satisfactory progress may be
rescheduled or removed from the program by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
F.
An OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT of the proposal from the authority to be responsible for the maintenance and operation. The
authority must provide written assurance that it will adequately maintain the completed project for its intended public use for a
minimum of 20 years following project completion.
G.
A NARRATIVE discussing the public input process that was followed and the extent to which adjacent property owners and
others have been informed of the proposed project and an assessment of their acceptance.
H.
A LETTER OF SUPPORT from member county if required as outlined in the SRTPA STP/TAP Application Process.
The award of regional or metropolitan Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds; any subsequent funding or letting of contracts
for design, construction, reconstruction, improvement, or maintenance; or the furnishing of materials shall not direct or indirect interest,
prohibited by Iowa Code Sections 314.2, 362.5, or 331.342, of any state, county, or city official, elective or appointive. Any award of
funding or any letter of a contract in violation of the foregoing provisions shall invalidate the award of funding and authorize a complete
recovery of any funs previously disbursed.
SRTPA Transportation Alternatives Program Projects Request for Proposals
Certification
To the best of my knowledge and belief, all information included in this application is true and accurate, including the commitment of all
physical and financial resources. This application has been duly authorized by the participating local authority. I understand the
attached OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT(S) binds the participating local governments to assume responsibility for adequate maintenance
of any new or improved facilities.
I understand that, although this information is sufficient to secure a commitment of funds, an executed contract between the applicant
and the Department is required prior to the authorization of funds
Representing the
Signature: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Date:
Typed Name and Title:
Date: