Call for Projects-Illinois

May 22, 2013

EFL’s approach to administering the Call for Projects Phase of the Access Program

As a result of the recent MAP-21 legislation which established the Federal Aid Access Program (Access Program) and 

with the receipt of initial program implementation guidance from Federal Lands Highway Headquarters staff (FHWA, 

HQ), and EFL’s understanding of the MAP-21 legislation, the EFL staff has determined that a consistent approach to work 

processes and procedures be established at this time. 

The internal FHWA-EFL staff resources will consist of, but not be limited to, EFLHD, HQ FLH, and the Federal Aid Division 

Office (DO) for each of the states within the EFLHD geographic area of responsibility. The external staff partners will 

come from the various Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs), State DOTs (SDOTs), local public agencies and/or 

local government agencies (LPAs and/or LGAs), and possibly the metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) within 

each of our states. The FLMA partners in each state will consist of the five legislatively defined principal partner 

agencies, i.e., the US Forest Service (FS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the US Army Corps of Engineers 

(USACOE), the National Park Service (NPS), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) who own and maintain at least 

one federal land parcel in that state. The FLMA partners will also include, as appropriate, any other FLMA who owns and 

maintains a federal land parcel in that state where access to that parcel is provided via any travel mode deemed eligible

for the receipt of funds under the Access Program requirements.

Once the Programming Decisions Committee (PDC) is formed and validated by the PDC member agencies, a “Call for 

Projects” will be advertised for each state administered by EFL. The advertisement will be posted on the EFL website 

with direct electronic notification to Federal Land Management Agencies. 

Reflective of the initial Access Program implementation guidance issued by FLH HQ, the Call for Projects notification will 

follow a written process for screening and rating the proposed projects. EFL has developed this process that is 

contained in separate documents. A brief outline of the process follows:

1. EFL has established a public website for the Access Program located at: 

http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/federal-lands-access.aspx

2. The PDC will establish the Step 2 rating criteria and point allotments for the application for their respective 

state. 

3. EFL will coordinate with each state DOT to determine the Call for Projects schedule and post this schedule on 

the EFL website, and send notice to the FLMAs.

4. EFL will conduct a coordination meeting for the benefit of the FLMAs, PDC members, and other concerned 

stakeholders prior to the Call for Projects.

5. EFL will announce the Call for Projects and provide the project proposal application on the EFL Access page 

website or in response to requests from partner agencies.

6. Only State, local or tribal entities may submit projects sponsored by the appropriate FLMAs to the PDC.

7. A minimum of 30 calendar days will be provided for submittal of applications to EFL.

8. State and local sponsors should consider projects that are supported or endorsed by the appropriate FLMA(s). If 

more than one priority project is identified by an FLMA, that Federal agency should delegate establishment of 

priorities to their headquarters, regional or state office as appropriate.

9. EFL will provide the initial screening of the proposed projects using the process contained in Step 1 of Appendix 

A of this document.
10. The PDC will convene a meeting led by EFL and determine the project rating scores as contained in Step 2 of 

Appendix A of this document.

11. If a member of the PDC has a possible conflict of interest or impartiality on any of the proposed projects, the 

member should recuse him or herself from the rating and selection process and provide an alternate member 

from their agency to temporarily replace them.

12. All official PDC decisions shall be unanimous.
Appendix A - Access Program Screening Process

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division 

Access Program

Project Screening and Rating Criteria for General Projects

Instructions: If the answer is yes to criteria below, then allocate points. Points are cumulative. 

**First two “Base” criteria shall have points, otherwise project does not move forward to Step 2 (Rating Criteria).

STEP 1: INITIAL SCREENING (max 200 points) Point allocation

Economic/Visitation Prioritization

Do FLMA, StateDOT, and Facility Owner agree that the project is an 

economic/visitation generator?

45

Do FLMA, StateDOT, and Facility Owner agree that the project is a priority? 45

Is Project on current State Transportation Improvement Plan? 10

Base**

Submitted by facility owner** 40

Project supported by FLMA** 40

20% Match No points

Leveraging additional funding 

more than the required 20% 

match

20% match + (1-10)% of project cost 5

20% match + (11-20)% of project cost 10

20% match + (21)% of project cost 20

STEP 2: PROJECT RATING (max 100 points)

General Projects Point allocation

Safety 30 points

Improves identified crash site (Signage, Pavement Markings, Etc.) 10

Project involves pavement reconstruction with safety enhancements such as realignment, grade corrections widened shoulders, etc. 10

Project provides for a higher type pavement than existing conditions. 5

Improves safety for wide range of users / separates motorists from pedestrians 

and bicyclists. 5

Accessibility and Mobility 20 points

Identified route connects to a FLMA inventory route 5

Identified need on FLMA plan, State or County Comprehensive Plan 5

Improves or provides an ADA accessible route to the FLMA site. 3

Fills missing link in network, removes travel restriction, bottleneck 3

Improves mode choice, explores and enhances transit systems (i.e. operation 

and maintenance of transit facilities) 4

Preservation 20 points

Improves National Bridge Inventory System (NBIS) deficient bridge rating 5

Improves overall surface condition 5

Reduces operating costs to the user and maintenance costs to the agency 5

Enhances scenic and historic areas 5

Economic Development 10 points
Attracts Visitation 4

Increases/improves access to FLMA unit/area 2

Provides Economic Benefit to the Local Community 4

Environmental Quality and Sustainability 20 points

Improves water quality, fish passage and wildlife connectivity 4

Reduces erosion, scour, and/or sedimentation 4

Reduces air and noise pollution through alternative modes of transportation. 4

Project proposes to incorporate recycled materials in the construction phase. 4

Provides bicycle or pedestrian opportunities 4

TOTAL MAXIMUM POINTS (cumulative) = 300
Appendix A - Access Program Screening Process

Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division 

Access Program

Project Screening and Rating Criteria for Studies and Assessments

Instructions: If the answer is yes to criteria below, then allocate points. Points are cumulative. 

**First two “Base” criteria shall have points, otherwise project does not move forward to Step 2 (Rating Criteria).

STEP 1: INITIAL SCREENING (max 200 points) Point allocation

Economic/Visitation Prioritization

Do FLMA, State DOT, and Facility Owner agree that the project is an 

economic/visitation generator? 

45

Do FLMA, State DOT, and Facility Owner agree that the project is a priority? 45

Is Project on current State Transportation Improvement Plan? 10

Base**

Submitted by facility owner** 40

Project supported by FLMA** 40

20% Match No points

Leveraging additional funding 

more than the required 20% 

match

20% match + (1-10)% of project cost 5

20% match + (11-20)% of project cost 10

20% match + (21)% of project cost 20

STEP 2: PROJECT RATING (max 100 points)

Studies and Assessments Point allocation

Safety 30 points

Will address issues related to safety 15

Will consider safety for all users (pedestrians, bicycles, motor vehicles) 15

Accessibility and Mobility 25 points

Will consider issues related to traffic congestion 10

Will consider ADA accessibility at the FLMA site. 5

Will address mode choice, explore and enhance transit systems (i.e. operation 

and maintenance of transit facilities) 10

Economic Development 20 points

Considers ways of attracting visitation 5

Addresses more than one FLMA 5

Provides Economic Benefit to the Local Community 10

Environmental Quality and Sustainability 25 points

Addresses water quality, fish passage and wildlife connectivity 10

Addresses erosion, scour, and/or sedimentation issues 5

Addresses the use of recycled materials. 5

Addresses bicycle or pedestrian opportunities 5

TOTAL MAXIMUM POINTS (cumulative) = 300