MPO Policy and Procedures Manual - Indianapolis Metropolitan ...
MPO Policy and Procedures Manual - Indianapolis Metropolitan ... MPO Policy and Procedures Manual - Indianapolis Metropolitan ...
The funding for projects shown in the IRTIP reflects a variety of sources (examine Section 3 of this document for details). All federally funded transportation projects, including those funded with Congressional “Earmarks” and demonstration funds must be included in the IRTIP. Many of these projects are defined and selected through separate processes, as explained in Section 3. For example, Transportation Enhancement (TE), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds are programmed through a competitive application process administered by the MPO while INDOT has sole purview over programming of highway and interstate projects. Still, these projects must be shown in the IRTIP. The MPO administers the programming of Group 1 Urban Surface Transportation Program (STP), TE, CMAQ and HSIP funds, and the IRTIP reflects the final programming of these funds. IRTIP Development Procedures Generally, the schedule of the IRTIP development revolves around the MPO-administered competitive funding process for Surface Transportation Funds. The development of the IRTIP is initiated when the MPO staff makes a call to the local public agencies (LPAs) in the metropolitan planning area for project proposals for the use of Surface Transportation Funds. The “call for projects” is e-mailed to all local public agencies within the MPA and is posted on the MPO’s website. Agencies interested in submitting new projects then submit an application to the MPO that includes appropriate descriptive and fiscal material and project selection criteria for each proposed project. (Please note that MPO staff may not accept new project applications for every IRTIP cycle, depending on available funding, as well as possible other factors.) The MPO staff then compiles project proposals from all agencies and assesses each project proposal according to the following major planning considerations: • Long-Range Transportation Plan: a comprehensive listing of recommended, regional, long-range, capital-intensive improvements. Projects that are non-exempt from Air Quality Conformity requirements or otherwise deemed “regionally significant” must be consistent with the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to be considered for inclusion in the IRTIP. The LRTP also provides the policy support, as exhibited in its “goals and objectives”, for all planning and programming activities. • Congestion Management Process: a process to monitor and analyze the magnitude of congestion on a multi-modal transportation system which facilitates the planning and implementation of actions that alleviate congestion and enhance the performance of the 20
transportation system. (This process is currently under development by the MPO) • State Implementation Plan: a plan to attain national standards for the pollutants ozone (both 1-hour and 8-hr standards), fine particulates (PM 2.5 standard), and carbon monoxide (a 16-block downtown area for US EPA unclassified designation) • Federal Functional Classification System for Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Area: the organized structure of streets and highways comprised of freeways, expressways, primary and secondary arterials, and collector streets. In most cases, projects must be on a facility that is listed on the Federal-Aid functional classification system to be eligible for funding. Funding from the Surface Transportation Program may be used by the State and localities for any roads that are not functionally classified as local or rural minor collector. • Jurisdictional Classification System: a system defining who is responsible for each section of street and highway, method of funding and source of funding. The 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Equity Act (ISTEA) mandated the development of the National Highway System (NHS) that was officially recognized by Congress in 1995. • Fiscal Analysis: Surface Transportation Program / Minimum Guarantee funds are projected for the four-year program period to guide the development of a fiscally constrained program. General policy guidelines are incorporated into a series of project scoring criteria, which provide an objective measure of relative project quality that can guide the selection of projects to be funded. See Appendix F for Group 1 Urban STP Project Selection Criteria. The general guidelines followed are listed below (in no particular order): o POLICY GUIDELINE 1 – The proposed program should emphasize preservation of and efficiency improvements to the existing transportation system without placing excessive reliance on projects which increase roadway capacity (and the reliance on single occupancy vehicles) and their subsequent impact upon the region’s air quality (Goal 1 of the Long- Range Transportation Plan). Emphasis should be placed on preservation rather than expansion. o POLICY GUIDELINE 2 – The Indianapolis Regional Transportation Improvement Program (IRTIP) should follow the priority established in the Long-Range Transportation Plan in implementing projects of regional significance. Although program equity is a key component of the IRTIP, no sub-allocation of federal funds will be affected to replace the project staging and priorities established in the LRTP to advance the overall interrelated regional interests. o POLICY GUIDELINE 3 – Proposed projects within the region that have a proven potential to enhance economic development, stimulate the economy, and assist in job creation should be given additional consideration for inclusion in the program. Projects that have the potential to positively impact the quality of life for the area’s residents should be considered in the development of the program. Projects should: ‣ Be consistent and not in conflict with local and/or county comprehensive plans (i.e. the project implements a solution or addresses a problem identified in the plan) 21
- Page 1 and 2: Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning
- Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION B
- Page 5 and 6: 1. Introduction Background Metropol
- Page 7 and 8: The current Metropolitan Planning A
- Page 9 and 10: 2. Work Program and Products SAFETE
- Page 11 and 12: 6. Be adopted and transmitted to IN
- Page 13 and 14: 3. Indianapolis Long-Range Transpor
- Page 16 and 17: Air Quality Conformity The 9-county
- Page 18 and 19: • Highway Safety Improvement Prog
- Page 20 and 21: Air Quality Conformity Determinatio
- Page 22 and 23: 18 (this page intentionally left bl
- Page 26 and 27: ‣ Provide improvements to air qua
- Page 28 and 29: Formal Amendment Process The MPO pr
- Page 30 and 31: • Moving any project phase progra
- Page 32 and 33: attached in PDF format. No hard cop
- Page 34 and 35: 30 federal fiscal year (October 1)
- Page 36 and 37: Federal legislation and the State o
- Page 38 and 39: FTA Funding FTA funds are distribut
- Page 40 and 41: new formula grant program allocated
- Page 42 and 43: those traditionally underserved by
- Page 44 and 45: their neighborhoods. The EJ Program
- Page 46 and 47: evisited. As a rule, however, the M
- Page 48 and 49: scope, schedule, and budget, and re
- Page 50 and 51: 46 (this page intentionally left bl
- Page 52 and 53: Responsibilities It is somewhat mis
- Page 54 and 55: e reallocated from slower activitie
- Page 56 and 57: Data The primary data source for de
- Page 58 and 59: 54 that it feels is unsupportable o
- Page 60 and 61: 56 (this page intentionally left bl
- Page 62 and 63: 58 developed to fund local programs
- Page 64 and 65: 60 (this page intentionally left bl
- Page 66 and 67: BACKGROUND Federal legislation requ
- Page 68 and 69: D. Provision of pertinent certifica
- Page 70 and 71: 1. Each local public agency within
- Page 72 and 73: V. OFFICERS 68 i. The Chair of the
The funding for projects shown in the IRTIP reflects a variety of sources (examine Section 3 of<br />
this document for details). All federally funded transportation projects, including those<br />
funded with Congressional “Earmarks” <strong>and</strong> demonstration funds must be included in the<br />
IRTIP. Many of these projects are defined <strong>and</strong> selected through separate processes, as<br />
explained in Section 3. For example, Transportation Enhancement (TE), Congestion Mitigation<br />
<strong>and</strong> Air Quality (CMAQ) <strong>and</strong> Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds are<br />
programmed through a competitive application process administered by the <strong>MPO</strong> while INDOT<br />
has sole purview over programming of highway <strong>and</strong> interstate projects. Still, these projects must<br />
be shown in the IRTIP. The <strong>MPO</strong> administers the programming of Group 1 Urban Surface<br />
Transportation Program (STP), TE, CMAQ <strong>and</strong> HSIP funds, <strong>and</strong> the IRTIP reflects the final<br />
programming of these funds.<br />
IRTIP Development <strong>Procedures</strong><br />
Generally, the schedule of the IRTIP development revolves around the <strong>MPO</strong>-administered<br />
competitive funding process for Surface Transportation Funds. The development of the IRTIP is<br />
initiated when the <strong>MPO</strong> staff makes a call to the local public agencies (LPAs) in the metropolitan<br />
planning area for project proposals for the use of Surface Transportation Funds. The “call for<br />
projects” is e-mailed to all local public agencies within the MPA <strong>and</strong> is posted on the <strong>MPO</strong>’s<br />
website. Agencies interested in submitting new projects then submit an application to the <strong>MPO</strong><br />
that includes appropriate descriptive <strong>and</strong> fiscal material <strong>and</strong> project selection criteria for each<br />
proposed project. (Please note that <strong>MPO</strong> staff may not accept new project applications for every<br />
IRTIP cycle, depending on available funding, as well as possible other factors.) The <strong>MPO</strong> staff<br />
then compiles project proposals from all agencies <strong>and</strong> assesses each project proposal<br />
according to the following major planning considerations:<br />
• Long-Range Transportation Plan: a comprehensive listing of recommended, regional,<br />
long-range, capital-intensive improvements. Projects that are non-exempt from Air<br />
Quality Conformity requirements or otherwise deemed “regionally significant” must be<br />
consistent with the Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to be considered for<br />
inclusion in the IRTIP. The LRTP also provides the policy support, as exhibited in its<br />
“goals <strong>and</strong> objectives”, for all planning <strong>and</strong> programming activities.<br />
• Congestion Management Process: a process to monitor <strong>and</strong> analyze the magnitude of<br />
congestion on a multi-modal transportation system which facilitates the planning <strong>and</strong><br />
implementation of actions that alleviate congestion <strong>and</strong> enhance the performance of the<br />
20
Change language