Project Selection Process for PSRC’s Federal Funds

1. Project Selection Process for PSRC’s Federal Funds Puget Sound APA Conference May 16, 2012

2. PSRC Funds PSRC receives ~$180 Million annually through SAFETEA-LU programs: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) ~$58m Surface Transportation Program (STP) ~$40 m Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) ~$18 m Federal Transit Administration (FTA) ~$122 m Competitive grant process: Funds distributed every 2-3 years Policy Framework for PSRC’s Federal Funds, adopted prior to each funding cycle Based on VISION 2040 policies: support for centers and the corridors that connect them Criteria includes: mobility, safety, financial plan, project readiness, reduction of emissions 10% of STP/CMAQ set aside for nonmotorized priorities $2.0 million STP set aside for Rural Town Centers and Corridors program

3. PSRC Funding Process Eligibility STP Funds – most flexible; roadway, transit, nonmotorized, freight, etc. CMAQ Funds – must benefit air quality; general purpose capacity projects ineligible FTA Funds – must be transit-related; local agencies eligible to apply with concurrency from a transit agency

4. PSRC Funds FHWA Funds = Shared regional and countywide process Regional process Limited number of submittals 6 from Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish Counties 12 from King County 2 each from Sound Transit, WSDOT, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency PSRC staff scores projects based on regional project evaluation criteria Focus on regional growth and manufacturing/industrial centers and their connecting corridors Support for housing/employment densities, development of center Addresses a need – e.g. safety, missing link Benefits a variety of user groups Accessibility, multimodal connectivity, improved circulation Range of modes

5. PSRC Funds FHWA Funds = Shared regional and countywide process Regional process cont. Air quality and climate change Emissions reduction Reduction in vehicle miles traveled, single occupant vehicle trips Alternative fuels, vehicle retrofits Improving traffic flow Financial plan / project readiness Ability to obligate funds quickly Full funding of phase or project Regional Project Evaluation Committee (RPEC) reviews and recommends projects to receive funding to the Transportation Policy Board

6. PSRC Funds FHWA Funds = Shared regional and countywide process Countywide process Follows regional policy framework and criteria Focus on locally designated centers Each countywide organization conducts competitive process King County Project Evaluation Committee Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council Pierce County Transportation Coordinating Committee Snohomish County Infrastructure Coordination Committee Recommendations from these committees through their policy forums and then to Transportation Policy Board Nonmotorized set-aside allocated to each county based on population; competitive processes conducted at countywide level PSRC’s Executive Board makes final funding decisions Both regional and countywide processes also include prioritized contingency list of projects, should additional funds become available

7. PSRC Funding Process FTA Funds = Shared regional competitive and “earned share” process Three urbanized areas (UZAs) in the region: Bremerton = Kitsap Transit Marysville = Community Transit Seattle-Tacoma-Everett = Nine transit agencies Seattle-Tacoma-Everett (STE) UZA Processes: Split between regional and earned share processes Earned share process: ~86% of funds come to the region based on the transit agencies’ service and operating characteristics Funds distributed to each transit agency based on their earnings – “earned share” process Regional process: ~14% of the funds come to the region based on regional attributes such as population density Regional competition for transit-related projects All jurisdictions with eligible projects in the UZA may apply

8. PSRC Funding Process FTA Funds = Shared regional competitive and earned share process Regional competitive process PSRC staff scores projects based on regional project evaluation criteria Focus on regional and locally designated centers and their connecting corridors Support for housing/employment densities, development of center System continuity – improves intermodal connections, provides a missing link Long-term benefit – safety, efficiency Air quality and climate change Reduction in vehicle miles traveled, single occupant vehicle trips Alternative fuels, vehicle retrofits Financial plan / project readiness Ability to obligate funds quickly Full funding of phase or project

9. Goal: Efficient use of PSRC funds Projects are delivered in timely manner Cost of delays will be minimized Traveling public benefits from investment at earliest point possible Transportation investments help create jobs and stimulate regional economy Program Parameters: PSRC funds must be obligated within specific time frames or will be returned Proactive approach to monitoring with quarterly reports and assistance from project evaluation committees Redistribution of unused funds Comprehensive reporting of project progress Past performance may become a consideration in future project selection exercises 9 9 Project Tracking Program

10. 2009 process concluded July 2009: 10 10 Funding Examples • Programmed FFY 2011-2012 funds • 105 projects receiving $388 million • System Expansion: 40 projects, $150 million • Improve Existing System: 39 projects, $69 million • System Preservation: 26 projects $170 million Since 1992: • ~30% of PSRC’s FHWA funds have been awarded to transit projects • ~10% to nonmotorized projects • ~12% to freight projects

11. 2012 Process Currently Underway Policy Framework adopted February 2012 Call for Projects - Spring 2012 Competitive processes – April through June 2012 Board recommendations – July 2012 Adoption of new 2013-2016 TIP – October 2012 State, federal approval - ~January 2013 $441.9m Available $157.6m FHWA $284.3m FTA New this year: Preservation/State of Good Repair set-asides Research into Innovations for future cycles

12. Future Processes Federal Funding Uncertainty Six year surface transportation act - SAFETEA-LU - expired on 2009 Eight extensions since 2009 Most recent extension expires June 30, 2012 Current proposals: Senate MAP21, 2-year bill House 5-year bill (didn’t pass) Conference Committee met May 8th Future funding levels, timing of reauthorization uncertain

13. Kelly McGourty Program Manager (206)971-3601 kmcgourty@psrc.org Transportation Improvement Program http://www.psrc.org/transportation/tip 13 13 Questions?