Transportation Enhancement in Oregon Pat Rogers Fisher TE Program Manager Oregon Dept. of Transportation (503)

 TE Basics  Oregon’s TE profile  The 12 TE Activities  Schedule for 2010  Tips for a Successful Application Main Topics

Acronyms TE Transportation Enhancement ODOT Oregon Department of Transportation FHWA Federal Highway Administration AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

TE Basics  Federal funds for transportation-related projects  Source of funds -- 10% of STP allocation  Reimbursement -- not grants !!  Requires matching funds %

Projects are meant to:  Strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, or environmental aspects of the trans. system  Enrich the experience of those using the transportation system  Go beyond what is routine or required on transportation projects

Eligibility  Fits an approved TE Activity  Has clear relation to surface transportation also…  Is over and above what is routine or required on transportation projects

Twelve TE Activities 1. Facilities for Pedestrians and Bicyclists 2. Safety and Educational Activities for Pedestrians and Bicyclists 3. Acquisition of Scenic Easements and Scenic or Historic Sites (including historic battlefields) 4. Scenic or Historic Highway Programs (including tourist and welcome center facilities)

more TE Activities… 5.5Landscaping and Other Scenic Beautification 6.Historic Preservation 7.Rehabilitation and Operation of Historic Transportation Buildings, Structures and Facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals) 8.Preservation of Abandoned Railway Corridors (including conversion and use for pedestrian or bicycle trails)

more TE Activities… 9. Inventory, Control and Removal of Outdoor Advertising 10.Archaeological Planning and Research 11.Environmental Mitigation (i) to address water pollution due to highway runoff or (ii) to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity 12.Establishment of Transportation Museums

Oregon’s TE Program  2-part program– Statewide Competitive – Director’s Discretionary  Allocation 8.5 $M/yr FY $M/yr FY  42 active projects13 programming 13 PE or ROW 16 construction

Oregon TE Profile  TE Awards Minimum$200,000 Maximumabout $1.5M (no set policy) Average$870,000  Matching funds Minimum10.27% Average20% Soft match with prior approval

Standards --Bike/PedAASHTO + Oregon Bike/Ped Plan --OthersAppropriate to type of project Plans & Goals -- Local comp plans & transportation plans -- Statewide plans and goals Contracting -- State and federal rules -- Certified Agency Program Oregon TE Profile

 Schedule -- 2 year cycle with STIP -- Notice by letter, news release, web site months from notice to award  Type of Process -- Statewide selection -- No quotas by project type or location  Assistance -- Web site. Workshops. Local DOT contacts. Oregon TE Profile

 Application Sequence NOI = Notice of Intent Approval to Proceed 2-part app: form + support docs  Screening and Review Initial compliance Technical Review Comment Period Cut to 30 Finalists Scoring/Selection

 Selection Team 11 member Advisory Committee  Selection Method Individual scoring.Meet to discuss & select  Approvals DOT. FHWA. Commission.  After Award Assigned to Region staff Oregon TE Profile Selection and Approval

Projects Dollars  Sidewalk, Bike Lane33%26%  Separate Path (trail)34%43%  Main Street/Streetscape 6% 8%  Historic Preservation13%13%  Scenic, Environmental 14% 9% TE Projects, FY

 Scenic Byway Program  Forest Highway Program  Safe Routes to School  State Pedestrian & Bicycle Program Coordinating with Other Funding Programs

TE and Bicycle-Pedestrian Program  Coordinate on project selection, program policy, technical review  Many of the same applicants & projects  Jointly funded projects --Powell Blvd Bike-Ped Bridge --Waldport Sidewalk / Streetscape --Rogue River Greenway Trail, Hwy 140 Tunnel

TE and Scenic Byways  Many of same applicants  Byways & TE Activity #4  Jointly Funded Projects --Heceta Head Lighthouse Access --Vista House Restoration --Depoe Bay Scenic Lands Acquisition

 TE Program Mgr is FHP coordinator  FH Enhancement projects also fit TE  Jointly Funded Projects --Lowell Covered Bridge --Vista House / Crown Point Viaduct --Oneonta Tunnel TE and Forest Highway Program

TE and Safe Routes to School  TE Program Manager manages SRTS Infrastructure  Many of the same applicants  Jointly funded projects --Elkton: River Rd. Sidewalks

Twelve TE Activities 1. Facilities for Pedestrians and Bicyclists 2. Safety and Educational Activities for Pedestrians and Bicyclists 8.Preservation of Abandoned Railway Corridors (conversion and use for pedestrian or bicycle trails)

Washington Street in Vale BEFORE AFTER

4 th StreetMain St PhoenixHeppner

Shared-Use Paths Trails & Bridges

The Dalles Riverfront Trail

Sports Park Bridge, Grants Pass

Union Street Railroad Bridge

Main Streets & Streetscape

Lakeview

‘A’ Street in Vale BEFORE AFTER

Twelve TE Activities 3. Acquisition of Scenic Easements and Scenic or Historic Sites (including historic battlefields) 4. Scenic or Historic Highway Programs (including tourist and welcome center facilities) 5.Landscaping and Scenic Beautification

Shell Island – Simpson Reef Overlook Walkway to Viewpoint

Vista House at Crown Point

Landscaping & Scenic Beautification

Philomath: US-20 Landscaping BEFORE AFTER

more TE Activities… 5.Historic Preservation 6.Rehabilitation and Operation of Historic Transportation Buildings, Structures and Facilities (including railroad facilities and canals)

Historic Preservation

Portland Union Station

Lowell Covered Bridge Restoration & Interpretive Site

more TE Activities… 9. Inventory, Control and Removal of Outdoor Advertising 10.Archaeological Planning and Research 11.Environmental Mitigation (i) to address water pollution due to highway runoff or (ii) to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity 12.Establishment of Transportation Museums

 MAY 18, 2010App. Forms Available  JUNE 30, 2010NOI Due  SEPT 30, 2010Applications Due  FEB. 2011Narrow to Finalists  APRIL 2011OTC Final Approval Project Selection Schedule for 2010

Selection Process  Two-stage Application -- Notice of Intent (NOI) -- Application with support documents  Review and Screening -- Initial compliance review -- Technical review -- Comment period  Selection and Approval (next slide)

Selection and Approval  Reduce to ~30 finalists  TE Advisory Committee scores and selects  FHWA and ODOT Director review  Oregon Transportation Commission approval

After Selection  Notification and acceptance  Assign to program year (STIP)  Scoping, prospectus, agreement  Hire consultant and begin

 Who May Apply If a project is on notice for being late or inactive, the sponsoring agency and all co-applicants or partners in any phase of the project may not apply for TE funding and may not sponsor a project for others… Policy & Procedures Changes for 2010

 Focus Areas -- #1 Benefits a state highway, state-owned transportation facility, or a multi-modal transportation facility Policy & Procedures Changes for 2010

 Focus Areas -- #3 Supports or augments one or more of the following: 1 -- an upcoming STIP project, 2 -- a mixed-use or compact development, 3 -- a state or regional Governor’s Economic Revitalization Team effort, or 4 -- a state or federal job creation/retention program. Policy & Procedures Changes for 2010

 Focus Areas -- #5 Directly supports tourism, health promotion, or economic development efforts, or has tourism, health promotion or economic development as its primary focus. Policy & Procedures Changes for 2010

Enhancing your Application

Choice of Project  Predominant work fits a TE Activity  General intent fits TE program purpose  Early coordination is done  Match and partnerships confirmed

Enhancing your Application Scope of Work  Meet design / development standards  Logical end-points or phasing  Funding, Partnerships -- simple and secure  Distinguish eligible vs. non-TE work

Enhancing your Application Matching Funds  Prove you have enough qualified match  Cash counts more than “soft match”  Extra match can score higher  Distinguish match from non-TE costs

Enhancing your Application Cost Estimate  Be realistic – we check detail and prices!  Be reasonable – is it an appropriate transportation expenditure?  Be specific – show unit costs Show separate total for non-TE work  Don’t “pad” to meet minimum size

Enhancing your Application Rating Factors  Speak to published rating factors  Emphasize most relevant factors  Use terms and sequence from the application packet

Enhancing your Application Assembling the Application  Respect page limits, font size, formatting  Make sure pages copy OK in black-and-white  App. form and support documents separate  Legible map and graphics

Enhancing your Application Supporting Documents  Confirm local support and priority  Commitments and contributions from others  Resolutions and Endorsements  Approval to use property owned by others

Enhancing your Application Consider the Reviewers  Give short, simple answers. Avoid repetition. Minimize background info.  Stick to the question.  Use legible font. Check format and spacing.  Use support letters wisely -- 2 or 3 max.  Provide a GOOD map !

Pat Rogers Fisher TE Program Manager Oregon Dept. of Transportation (503) Transportation Enhancement