Applications for federal transportation funds due June 15

Met Council releases biennial regional solicitation

Amidst all the activity of applying for and allocating federal economic stimulus funds, local governments and other agencies in the Twin Cities metropolitan area shouldn’t forget about the 2009 Regional Solicitation of Federal Transportation Projects.

Agencies in the region interested in applying for select federal funds to support certain roadway, bridge, enhancement, and congestion relief projects have until Monday, June 15, to prepare applications. That’s the deadline set by the Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). Regional solicitation materials were released in April.

Federal law requires that all roadway and transit projects using federal funds be included in the four-year regional Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Pictured here is construction to expand Highway 65 in Blaine, a project in the 2008-2011 TIP.

"This is a great opportunity for local governments to get federal funding to construct a project that’s important to them and provides a regional benefit,” said Kevin Roggenbuck, TAB Coordinator. “We facilitate this process every two years – it’s not connected to the federal stimulus fund process at all.”

$174 million total available from four programs

Up to $174 million in federal funds may be allocated through this competitive process to metro area projects within four different improvement programs:

Surface Transportation Program (STP): Projects on regionally significant roadways that connect or feed the metropolitan area freeway/highway system, as well as non-recreational bicycle and pedestrian projects ($93 million).
Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ): Projects principally intended to reduce congestion and therefore improve air quality, such as transit facility and operations expansions, and transportation management and information systems ($55 million).
Transportation Enhancements (TE): Projects specifically related to improving transportation choices and enhancing the transportation experience, including pollution mitigation, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs, historic preservation, and streetscape or scenic route projects ($17 million).
Bridge Improvement and Replacement (BIR): Bridge reconstruction or rehabilitation projects on non-local roadways in the metro area ($9 million).

In addition, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is receiving applications for the Highway Safety Improvement Program through July 2.

The regional solicitation process takes place every two years. Funds for the 2009 solicitation will be allocated in 2013 and 2014. Projects also require the commitment of local matching funds. Selected projects and programs will be included in the region’s Transportation Improvement Plan for 2011-2014, which will be adopted in September 2010.

The Council and other regional transit providers often use federal funds to purchase buses.

Funding supports a variety of projects

In 2007-08, nearly $159 million was allocated for projects in these four programs. Projects selected included the following examples:

Construction of a bicycle/pedestrian trail on the Mississippi River Regional Trail in Dakota County (TE).
Improvements to traffic flow and timing of traffic signals throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul (CMAQ).
Funds to purchase buses to expand regional express bus fleets, and funds to acquire property and construct park-and-ride facilities in Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park (CMAQ).
Reconstruction of county roads (in Forest Lake and in Maple Grove) to expand to a four-lane roadway, and include bicycle and pedestrian trails (STP).

Project applications must come through an eligible sponsor, which means projects generally need to be sponsored by a public agency or private non-profit. “Anyone with a good idea, who can come up with the local matching funds and find an eligible sponsor, can submit an application,” said Roggenbuck.

 
            The Transportation Advisory Board is expected to complete project review and selection by February 2010.
            

Applicants should be sure to consider all of the issues that might affect project costs, Roggenbuck said, particularly because these applications are submitted for work that will not be completed for several years, before any engineering is completed on a project. He suggested making sure the scope and goals of the project are clearly understood when submitting a proposal.

"The more you know going into this process, the more confidence you have that you are proposing a good project,” Roggenbuck said.

Questions regarding the process may be directed to the following Council staff:

James Andrew at 651-602-1721 or james.andrew@metc.state.mn.us
Kevin Roggenbuck at 651-602-1728 or kevin.roggenbuck@metc.state.mn.us, or
Carl Ohrn at 651-602-1719.