DEPARTMENT: Public Works
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S., Director/City Engineer
COUNCIL DISTRICT IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Call for Projects for the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
SUMMARY:
Public Works Department will provide a briefing to the City Council Transportation & Mobility Committee on the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) call for projects process for the FY 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The AAMPO includes all of Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe Counties, and a portion of Kendall County. As part of the AAMPO's planning process, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is developed cooperatively among the partner agencies to determine the allocation of federal transportation funds for major roadway, highway, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and other projects.
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) has opened program project calls for three separate funding sources as of October 1, 2020 for funding consideration in FY 2023-2026:
• Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ)
In this process, federal transportation funds are allocated to major road, street, highway, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, and other programs. The implementing agency commits to developing and letting selected projects within one year of the let year in which the projects are initially placed in the Transportation Improvement Program.
For infrastructure projects, only eligible items related to construction will be reimbursable and all project development costs (such as design, engineering, environmental, utility relocation and right of way acquisition) are the responsibility of the implementing agency. This requires the local entity to have approximately 50% of the overall project costs available and identified in local funds.
All projects being recommended by the local agency must be technically vetted to have a feasible scope and an identified funding source. Staff prepares project summary information, mapping, funding breakdown including sourcing, cost estimations, and appropriate calculations in order to complete the online AAMPO applications. All preparation must be in place months prior to the application due date of April 1, 2021 in order to complete the necessary prior council coordination and action.
The schedule for the preparation and submission of the proposed projects is as follows:
• October 2020 - Program Call For Projects
• November 2020 - Preparation of Staff Recommended Project List and Funding Identification
• December 2020 - January 2021 - Input from City Council and Departments on Potential Projects
• February 2021 - Finalize Project Lists & Brief Council on Proposed Projects
• March 2021 - Prepare Applications & Council Approval of Proposed Projects
• April 2021 - Application Submission
ISSUE:
Public Works Department will provide a briefing to the City Council Transportation & Mobility Committee on the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) call for projects process for the FY 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing only.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends a follow up briefing in February 2021 on proposed FY 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects prior to requesting City Council authorization for the submittal of the proposed transportation projects for funding consideration by the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization in April 2021.