Federal Highway Administration The Uniform Act - the next 20 years. A discussion of where we are now, innovations, needs and where we see ourselves in the future. Federal Agency Update Symposium January 14, 2009 Las Vegas, Nevada Uniform Act Update Marshall Wainright Realty Specialist FHWA-Office of Real Estate Services David Blakeney Realty Officer FHWA-AR Division

Today’s Agenda Brief Uniform Act Update History Current Uniform Act Update Proposals Current Uniform Act Update Status Current Uniform Act Non-Statutory update activities Future Uniform Act Non-Statutory update activities Comments and questions Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

URA Regulation Timeline The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 Pub. L Law Signed Federal Agencies issued their own rule Interim Rule Unified Rule Amended Amended Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

URA Regulation Timeline (cont.) The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 Pub. L Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Research studies, scans & National listening sessions Rule Updated Symposium

Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Office of Real Estate Services (HEPR) Plan Update regulation Identify statutory update needs FHWA Executive Briefing Pursue statutory update Convene Interagency working group Identify needs that can be met by alternative means Develop update proposal Circulate Proposal Proposal to OMB Revise regulation

Research and Outreach Results  More than 50 potential changes to Uniform Act suggested  775 comments received during NPRM for 49 CFR part 24  More than 180 comments received during National Listening sessions  Several Research activities identified need for change  Anecdotal support and identification of needed change at numerous meetings Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

Uniform Act Proposal Objectives Meet modern needs Clarify present requirements Improve Services Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

General Proposed Uniform Act Changes Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Increased Statutory Limits Modified Homeowner’s Occupancy Requirements Enhanced Reporting Requirement Enhanced Uniform Act Services

Increased Statutory Limits Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Residential housing payments $31,000 (owner/occupant) and $7,200 (tenant) Business Reestablishment payments $25,000

Increased Statutory Limits Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Residential housing payments $31,000 (owner/occupant) and $7,200 (tenant) Business Reestablishment payments $25,000 Lump Sum: in lieu of payments $40,000 Indexing Allows administration and Congress to focus on priority items and ensures limits are current

Virginia Business Reestablishment Number of Claims Average Claim Cost = $21,000 Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

Modify Homeowner’s Occupancy Requirements Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Provide enhanced assistance to homeowners Reduce administrative burden Streamline program Negligible program costs

Enhanced Reporting Requirement Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Agencies would collect information on program activity annually Lead Agency would receive annual reports and prepare OMB report

Enhanced Uniform Act Services Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Enhanced  Coordintation  Assistance  Monitoring  Research  Training Meet future needs

Current Uniform Act Non-statutory Activities Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Turbo Relocation Fixed-rate mortgage calculator Tools to address negative equity (“upside- down” or “underwater”) situations Mortgage interest differential (MIDP) Q&As added to Uniform Act FAQs ( ) Reverse mortgages 2008 Right-of-Way and Utilities (ROWU) International Scanning Tour

Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update Right-of-Way and Utilities (ROWU) International Scanning Tour Australia - Canada September 4-19, 2008

2008 Australia-Canada International Scan Overarching Themes  Promote non-adversarial solutions to right-of- way acquisition while respecting property rights  Improve working relationships with utility industry at all levels  Explore and promote the Alliance contract approach  Organize right-of-way and utility community to implement scan ideas Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

2008 Australia-Canada International Scan Top Implementation Ideas 1. Integrate right-of-way acquisition and utility coordination in an alliance contract approach 2. Enhance cooperative relationship with property owners to facilitate timely property acquisition 3. Promote visualization techniques to communicate anticipated project impacts to property owners 4. Develop framework to establish proficiency of right-of-way and utility professionals in core disciplines Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

2008 Australia-Canada International Scan Top Implementation Ideas (cont.) 5. Promote incentive-based reimbursement for utility relocations 6. Pursue strategies to facilitate corridor preservation 7. Promote use of multiple-level MOU structure among transportation and utility interests 8. Develop GIS-based right-of-way project and asset management systems 9. Promote the use of best practices in utility coordination during the construction phase Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

Future Uniform Act Non-statutory Activities Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update International Scan Implementation & Pilot Opportunities Research STEP Opportunities  Relocation Assistance Retrospective Study  ROW, Design Build & Acquisition Models  ROW Competency Navigator & Capacity Building  Outreach and Information Dissemination Programs Proposed FHWA training courses

Questions or Comments? Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update

Contacts Federal Highway Administration Uniform Act Update David Blakeney, Realty Officer FHWA Arkansas Division Office 700 West Capital Ave, Suite 313 Little Rock, AR Marshall Wainright, Realty Specialist FHWA Office of Real Estate Services 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC Gerald Solomon, Director FHWA Office of Real Estate Services 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC

Federal Highway Administration THANK YOU! Federal Agency Update Symposium January 14, 2009 Las Vegas, Nevada Uniform Act Update