Transportation Enhancements

Introduction

The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments is a designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Eastgate will be responsible for overall administration of this urban area component of the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program, including recognition of sponsor and project eligibility; development of local program policies and schedules; project evaluation, ranking, and final allocation of funding to awarded projects. It is important to note that sponsors of awarded projects will be required to enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the implementation phase of the project.

Eligible TE projects must demonstrate a direct relationship to the surface transportation system. The TE program is intended to encourage transportation related activities that go beyond the customary cultural or environmental mitigation required when developing a transportation improvement project. The intent of the program is to creatively integrate transportation improvement facilities into their surrounding communities and the natural environment, thus “enhancing” the traditional transportation system. Enhancement projects can be either supplemental to a planned roadway project, or a stand alone project. Both Eastgate and ODOT encourage adding enhancements to planned programmed projects rather than stand alone projects.

Transportation Enhancement Activities are defined as follows, with ODOT grouping the activities into three main categories:

Historic and Archaeological Transportation Enhancements

• Acquisition of historic sites
• Historic highway programs
• Historic preservation
• Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structure, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and research)
• Archaeological planning and research
• Establishment of transportation museums

Scenic and Environmental Transportation Enhancements

• Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic sites
• Scenic highways programs including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities
• Landscaping and other scenic beautification
• Anti-litter Education
• Control and removal of outdoor advertisement Mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity

Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities

• Provision of facilities for pedestrian and bicycles
• Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles
• Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use thereof for pedestrian and bicycle trails)

Funding Provisions

The Transportation Enhancement program is not a grant program. The federal-aid program operates on a reimbursement basis as work progresses. In no case will cost be eligible for reimbursement until the project is approved by Eastgate, ODOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Cost estimates documented in the sponsor’s application must be certified by a professional engineer, architect, or other appropriate professional discipline. The funding amount will be capped at the cost estimate used in the original application. Applicants are cautioned to be thorough in the development of cost estimates, as requests for supplemental funding to cover cost overruns may not be considered.

The Transportation Enhancement program will provide up to 80% of the total construction cost for the project, including Construction Engineering, Inspection and Testing. The applicant is required to provide a minimum, in cash match, of 20% of the construction cost. The applicant additionally shall finance the architecture/engineering plans, environmental assessment studies, right-of-way plans, right-of-way purchase (except when property acquisition is part of the TE proposal) and environmental remediation, if necessary.

These expenses can not be credited toward the applicant's 20% local share of the construction or implementation costs.

Eligibility Guidelines

Eligible Applicants

Applicants are limited to political subdivisions of the State of Ohio located inside of the boundaries of an MPO (Eastgate). Political subdivisions outside of the boundaries of an MPO may apply through the appropriate ODOT District Office for TE funding. Eligible applicants also include park districts and other agencies of state government. Any citizen group or other private organization may sponsor a project by coordinating with and making application through the eligible entity having jurisdiction over the transportation facility involved.

Project Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, a Transportation Enhancement proposal must meet the criteria established and the following requirements:

• Minimum estimated construction cost of $50,000.00
• The applicant is permitted to submit only ONE project for TE funds per funding round.
• All proposed projects must have a direct relationship to transportation.
• The applicant is responsible for all plan development, project planning, design, architecture, environmental studies and remediation (if necessary), right-of-way plans and acquisition (unless the project involves acquisition of a scenic or historic site or an abandoned railway corridor), and certified engineering cost for the project.
• Federal law requires that federally-funded projects conform to the National Environmental Protection Act and the National Historic Preservation Act. To comply with these laws, projects must have an environmental review to assess and/or mitigate effects on social, economic, and environmental factors. Similarly, work involving sensitive historic structures or archeological sites must conform to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's standards and guidelines for archeological and historic preservation.
• Any property acquisition must conform to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Act, as amended.
• Engineering and architectural designs for all facilities must conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• The local match is required to be cash. In-kind contributions cannot be accepted as part of the local share.
• The proposed Enhancement project must be publicly-owned and on existing publicly owned property (except when property acquisition is part of the TE proposal).
• The applicant must demonstrate ability and commitment to maintain the enhancement project.
• The structure or site must be on the National Register of Historic Places to be eligible for Historic and Archaeological Transportation Enhancements.
• All bicycle/pedestrian facilities projects must conform to the requirements of the Guide for the Development of Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities, published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Evaluation Guidelines

Project submittals will be evaluated and prioritized by a Transportation Enhancement Selection Committee whose membership shall be represented by ONE appointment from each of the entities listed below. The selection committee will prepare a list of prioritized TE projects to be funded, with recommendations advanced to Eastgate’s TAC, CAB, and General Policy Board for their approval.

• The City of Youngstown
• The City of Warren
• Eastgate Citizens Advisory Board
• Trumbull County Planning Commission
• Mahoning/Trumbull County Engineer Office
• Mill Creek Metro Parks
• Small Cities/Villages from both counties (appointed by Eastgate’s TAC)
• Township Representative from both counties (appointed by Eastgate’s TAC)
• Ohio Department of Transportation District 4

Application Format

The applicant shall complete the application and include the following information:

1. A complete detailed description and general scope of the proposed project and its relation to the intermodal transportation system. Location maps, elevations, and photographs should be included, to fully illustrate the project.
2. A complete and detailed breakdown of the source of funding and cost for the proposed project, certified by a professional engineer, architect, or other appropriate discipline. The estimate should include 10 percent for inspections. If the project is approved for funding, the cost estimate will be used to cap the project amount. Cost must be forecast for two years into the future considering the time element to bring a project to construction.
3. A complete and detailed description of the proposed project's characteristics and benefits.
4. The date (month and year) when the project will be ready to proceed to construction. Include the present status of property ownership and status of plan preparation, if applicable.
5. A certified copy of a resolution from the applicant's governing body authorizing the submission of the application, agreeing to share in the project cost, and the future maintenance of the proposed project.

Twelve copies of the completed application must be received at the Eastgate office no later than 4:00 p.m. on 03/07/08.

Project Evaluation

Projects will be evaluated on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to the following:

• Inclusion in Eastgate's 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan Update.
• Enhancement of a applicants programmed project in Eastgates current Transportation Improvement Plan.
• Overall project application.
• Project readiness to proceed to construction/implementation.
• Priority for projects of “regional significance”, whose benefits will objectively extend beyond a single jurisdiction.
• Priority for projects with local participation above and beyond the required 20% local match.
• Priority for projects requesting $250,000 or less in enhancement funds.

The above criteria will be used to generally evaluate and compare all of the proposals submitted. In addition, each proposal will be evaluated by criteria which are specific to each of the three general TE categories. Additional information about category-specific evaluation criteria is available from the Eastgate staff.

Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 Review Meeting

Project sponsors recommended to receive TE funds through the Eastgate evaluation process will be required to meet with representatives from Eastgate and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 4. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss project time lines, project cost and what action should be taken for your project to be identified in Eastgate’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Requirements For Awarded Projects

Transportation Enhancement projects approved by the General Policy Board for funding must meet the following requirements:

• A project sponsor will have 30 days after receiving written notification of selection from Eastgate to submit a Programming Package to ODOT District 4. If it is the intention of the project sponsor to use the LPA process, District 4 should be notified at this time. If the programming package is not submitted to ODOT district 4 within 30 days, this matter will be brought to the attention of Eastgate’s Technical Advisory Committee for review, possible cancellation of the project and redistribution of funds to other unfunded TE project sponsor.
• A project sponsor is required to have their project ready for sale in the Fiscal Year they applied for construction in the enhancement application. If it becomes a concern to Eastgate that this time frame can not be met this matter will be brought to the attention of Eastgate’s Technical Advisory Committee for review, possible cancellation of the project and redistribution of funds to other unfunded TE project sponsor.

It is in the best interest of the project sponsor to review all necessary aspects of their project to insure the above requirements can be met. Special detail must be given to the Fiscal Year the project sponsor commits to construction and their readiness to proceed at that milestone.

Program Timetable

The deadline for having proposals submitted are:
03/07/08 - Deadline for application submission to Eastgate Office no later than 4:00 p.m.
03/10/08 - 04/14/08 - Project application reviewed by selection committee
05/--/08 - ODOT District 4 Review Meeting
06/--/08 - EASTGATE announces projects selected to receive TE funding allocations
07/--/08 - Notification of awarded funding projects in writing to project sponsor
08/--/08 - Deadline for program package to ODOT District 4

For Further Information Contact:
Ken Sympson
EASTGATE REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
City Centre One
100 E. Federal Street, Suite 1000
Youngstown, Ohio 44503
330-779-3800 E-Mail - ksympson@eastgatecog.org

Please click here for a printable application