# Presentation: 207442

## Alternative Transportationin Parks and Public Lands

**Alternative Transportation****in Parks and Public Lands**
**Webinar****January 16, 2007**
**Federal Transit Administration**
***www.fta.dot.gov/atppl***
***Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona***

## Technical introduction (Eric Plosky, U.S. DOT Volpe Center)

- This webinar has three components:
- Audio (teleconference)—phone number was provided when you registered
- Web—software plug-in was provided when you registered *(presentation also at ****www.fta.dot.gov/atppl****)*
- E-mail: questions can be sent to the presenters via the webinar interface (or to **austinc@volpe.dot.gov**)** **for discussion during the webinar
- For technical questions or problems with the webinar**while it is running,** please call the Verizon help desk, at 1-866-449-0701.

## Webinar agenda (Scott Faulk, FTA)

-  Welcome and introductions
-  ATPPL overview: background, legislation, and goals
-  ATPPL program structure
-  Applicant and project eligibility and requirements
-  Project application process
-  Funds administration
-  Sample project proposals
-  Description of reference documentation and materials
-  Q&A period

## Federal Transit Administration representatives

**Terry Rosapep**, Deputy Associate Administrator for Program Management (TPM)
**Henrika Buchanan-Smith**
**Scott Faulk**
**Dwayne Weeks**

## Federal lands management agency representatives

**Lou DeLorme**, U.S. Department of the Interior
**Nathan Caldwell**, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
**Linda Force**, Bureau of Land Management
**Mark Hartsoe**, National Park Service
**Ellen LaFayette**, U.S. Forest Service

## Introduction (Terry Rosapep, FTA)

*Federal Lands Alternative Transportation Systems Study*
- $97 million authorized during FY 2006 – FY 2009
- Inter-agency team

**Introduction ***(Terry Rosapep, FTA)*

## Introduction

- About 70 project proposals were submitted, totaling more than $40 million in requests
- 42 planning and implementation projects were selected for a total of $19,631,170 in funding (full list of projects is at ***www.fta.dot.gov/atppl***)
- 17 planning projects ($3.6 million);25 capital projects ($16 million)
- 22 projects were under $250,000;9 projects were between $250,000 and $500,000; 11 projects were above $500,000

**Introduction**

## ATPPL overview

- Two broad objectives specified in legislation, relating to *the* *visitor experience* and *resource protection*
- Five specific program goals identified:
- Conserve natural, historical, cultural resources
- Reduce congestion and pollution
- Improve visitor mobility and accessibility
- Enhance the visitor experience
- Ensure access to all, including persons with disabilities

**ATPPL overview**

## ATPPL overview

**Program management goals**
*Sound evaluation:* select the most meritorious projects for funding, based on a quantitative evaluation process
*Demonstrated need:* develop the best possible solutions to current or anticipated problems
*Financial efficiency and sustainability:* use federal dollars wisely, and stimulate funding from partnerships
*Sound, integrated, and participatory planning:* use objective analysis and cooperative planning processes
*Project variety:* geographic diversity, urban/rural, project size, new/existing projects

## ATPPL program structure

- DOT, DOI cooperate to conduct program-level activities, such as technical assistance (up to 10% of ATPPL program funding can be used for this purpose)
- Annual report to Congress
**DOT-DOI Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)**
- The ATPPL **interagency working group** will undertake major program tasks: technical assistance, developing documentation and procedures, evaluating project proposals, providing oversight, monitoring project and program performance

**ATPPL program structure**

## ATPPL program structure

**ATPPL program structure**

## ATPPL program structure

**Communications**
- Regular meetings of the interagency team
- Notices published in the Federal Register
- ATPPL web site (***www.fta.dot.gov/atppl***)
- Guidance and outreach materials
- Training activities (such as this webinar)
- Designated agency point of contact (HQ, regions)
- E-mail distribution list for news, updates, announcements

## Applicant and project eligibility and requirements

**Eligible areas:** any federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area open to the general public, including:
- National Park Service units
- National Wildlife Refuge System units
- Bureau of Reclamation recreational areas
- Bureau of Land Management recreational areas
- National Forest System units

## Applicant and project eligibility and requirements

**Eligible applicants:**
**Any federal land management agency, including:**
- National Park Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Bureau of Land Management
- U.S. Forest Service
- State, local, or tribal governments with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an eligible area, *acting with the consent of* the relevant federal land management agency

## Applicant and project eligibility and requirements

**Eligible project types:**
***Planning projects*** are intended to identify potential solutions to alternative transportation problems, and to justify possible capital expenses
***Implementation (“capital”) projects*** generally involve purchasing, designing, or constructing alternative transportation facilities or equipment
- Eligible projects *(next slide) *must be in or near an eligible area, be “alternative transportation,” and contribute to the goals of the ATPPL program
- Operating assistance (e.g., driver salaries) is ***not*** eligible

## Applicant and project eligibility and requirements

**Applicant and project eligibility and requirements**

**Eligible *****planning***** projects:**
- Alternative transportation planning studies, including evaluation of no-build and other alternatives, traffic studies, visitor utilization studies, transportation analysis, and environmental studies
- Activities to comply with metropolitan and statewide planning requirements

## Three categories of eligible implementation projects

**Three categories of eligible implementation projects**

**#1: General capital expenses**
- Acquiring, constructing, inspecting, or supervising equipment or facilities
- Capital cost of service contracts
- Deployment/commercialization of alternative transportation vehicles

## Three categories of eligible implementation projects

**Three categories of eligible implementation projects**

**#2: Fixed guideway and bus projects**
- Fixed guideway
- Development of a new fixed guideway project
- Rehabilitation, modernization, or expansion of existing fixed-guideway systems
- Bus projects
- Purchase, rehabilitation, replacement of buses and related equipment
- Construction of bus-related facilities

## Three categories of eligible implementation projects

- Capital costs of coordinating with external transit
- Non-motorized transportation systems
- Water-borne access systems
- Any other alternative transportation project

**Three categories of eligible implementation projects**

## Non-motorized transit projects

- Non-motorized projects involving facilities for bicycling, walking, and watercraft need to meet the following criteria:
- Reduce or mitigate the number of automobile trips by providing an alternative to travel by private vehicle
- Provide a high degree of connectivity with a transportation system
- Improve safety for motorized and nonmotorized transportation system users

**Non-motorized transit projects**

## Project application process (Dwayne Weeks, FTA)

- Determine the project type:  **planning **or **implementation**
- Planning and implementation projects have different forms — **use the correct form**
- Review the proposal forms and the questions
- Gather data and documentation
*Planning* emphasis: purpose and need—why is it necessary to consider transportation alternatives?
*Implementation* emphasis: good projects with sound cost-estimate, solid financial plan, strong implementation strategy, local partnerships

## Planning project evaluation criteria

- Demonstration of Need (50%)

- Visitor Mobility and Experience (15%)

- Environmental Benefits (15%)

- Financial Feasibility (20%)

**Planning Proposal Overall Rating**

- Visitor Transportation Experience

- Environmental Conditions

- Reduced Traffic Impacts

- Enhanced Visitor Mobility

- Improved Education Recreation health Benefits

- Protection of Natural Resources

- Reduced Pollution

- Effectiveness in Meeting Management Goals

- Feasibility of Financial Plan

- Cost Effectiveness

- Partnership/Funding

## Implementation project evaluation criteria

- Demonstration of Need (25%)

- Visitor Mobility and Experience (25%)

- Environmental Benefits (25%)

- Financial Feasibility (25%)

**Implementation Proposal Overall Rating**

- Visitor Transportation Experience

- Environmental Conditions

- Reduced Traffic Impacts

- Enhanced Visitor Mobility

- Improved Education Recreation health Benefits

- Protection of Natural Resources

- Reduced Pollution

- Effectiveness in Meeting Management Goals

- Feasibility of Financial Plan

- Cost Effectiveness

- Partnership/Funding

## Project evaluation process: helpful hints

- Tell the story:
- Why is this project necessary?
- Who benefits?
- How?
- Do homework: use previous studies for data
- Document environmental impacts and benefits
- Clear definition of the project: length, mode, stations, vehicles, capital cost, operating cost
- Map of project and area

## Project evaluation process: helpful hints

- Financial plan – make it real!
- Use actual cost estimate – request only the amount of funding necessary!
- Capital funding needed – five years
- Operating funding needed – five years
- Identify capital and operating funding for project
- Leverage other funding sources
- Supporting documentation – commitment letters

## Project evaluation process

**Proposals submitted to land management agencies (February 16)**

**Land management agency internal screening review**

**Screened proposals distributed for technical working group review**

**Proposals rated by the technical working group**

**Ratings are compiled; projects are ranked based upon scores**

**Technical working group prioritizes project selections;****recommends project funding levels**

**Highest-ranked projects are recommended for funding to DOI**

**Project selections by DOI; concurred by FTA (summer 2007)**

## In summary

- Work with partners to develop the best proposals
- Use data to support the benefits of your project—document and cite sources
- Develop a strong financial plan and leverage funding
- Craft the best project proposal to meet identified needs

## Project proposal forms (two types!)

## Funds administration

- Funds awarded to FLMAs will be made through interagency agreements between FTA and the FLMA
- Funds awarded to state, local, and tribal entities will be made through grants directly from FTA

## Requirements for funding recipients

-   Federal requirements triggered by ATPPL
-   ATPPL specific requirements as contained in the legislation
-   Requirements that apply to all FTA programs
-   Requirements referenced in 49 U.S.C. §5307
-   Reporting requirements
**Full list** of requirements is available on the ATPPL web site at: ***www.fta.dot.gov/documents/ATPPL_FY_2006_Requirements_Final.pdf***

## Program documentation and reference materials

**ATPPL program manual** is central reference document
**ATPPL web site** (***www.fta.dot.gov/atppl***)*** ***contains links to other program documentation and reference materials, *including FY 2007 project application forms and guidance*

## Question-and-answer period

- Open Q&A period
- Please use the webinar interface to submit questions,or you may e-mail questions to **austinc@volpe.dot.gov**

## Webinar close-out (Scott Faulk)

- Thanks to all participants
- Your feedback will be solicited, and the webinar will be archived, on the ATPPL web page:***www.fta.dot.gov/atppl ***
- If you have questions or would like to follow up, please contact Scott Faulk at scott.faulk@dot.gov or 202-366-1660

## END OF WEBINAR

- Please provide feedback on the webinar by visiting***provide web site address here***
- This webinar will be archived on the ATPPL web page at ***www.fta.dot.gov/atppl ***
- If you have questions or would like to follow up, please contact Scott Faulk at scott.faulk@dot.gov or 202-366-1660

**END OF WEBINAR**
***Thank you for participating!***