TTP Bridge Update

BIA Providers Conference

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Russell Garcia, PE

TTP Bridge Program Manager

FHWA/Office of Tribal Transportation

Anchorage, AK

November 28, 2018
• TTP Bridge Components

• TTP Bridge Program

• TTP Bridge Inspection Program 

• Tribal Bridge Inspection (MAP-21)

• NBI Data Submittal – BIA & Tribal

• Tribal Bridge Inspection Process

• NBIS Compliance – 23 Metrics

Topics

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• TTP Bridge Program 

• Funding Applications – 23 CFR 661

• TTP Bridge Inspection Program 

• 23 CFR 650 Subpart C

• Tribal Bridge Inspection (initial/routine)

• NBI Data Submittal Update – FHWA NBI

• NBIS Compliance – Bridge Posting

TTP Bridge Components

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Criteria for bridge eligibility (23 CFR § 661.17):

• Bridge eligibility requires the following: i. Have an opening of 20 

feet or more. ii. Be classified as a tribal transportation facility. iii. 

Be structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. iv. Be recorded 

in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) maintained by the FHWA.

• Bridges that were constructed, rehabilitated, or replaced in the 

last 10 years, are only eligible for seismic retrofit or installation of 

scour countermeasures.

TTP Bridge Program
Eligible activities for TTP Bridge Program funds (23 CFR § 661.15):

TTP Bridge Program funds can be used by Tribes for the following 

activities:

Planning, design, engineering, preconstruction, construction, and 

inspection of a project to replace, rehabilitate, seismically retrofit, 

paint, apply calcium magnesium acetate, sodium acetate/formate, 

or other environmentally acceptable, minimally corrosive anti-icing 

and deicing composition.

TTP Bridge Program
Procedures for submitting an application package from FHWA 

Agreement Tribe:

Any time during the year a Tribe may prepare and submit to their 

FHWA Tribal Coordinator (TC) an application package to request 

funding for bridge preliminary engineering (PE) or bridge 

construction (CN). The TC will assist the Tribe in preparing the 

application package. Then, the application package is submitted 

directly to FHWA/OTT Bridge Program Manager (PM) for review of 

the application.

TTP Bridge Program
Procedures for submitting an application package from BIA Tribe:

Any time during the year a Tribe may prepare and submit to their 

BIA Regional Office an application package to request funding for PE 

or CN. The BIA Region will assist the Tribe in preparing the 

application package, review the Tribe’s submittal and resolve any 

issues with the Tribe. Then, the application package is submitted 

to BIADOT for review and submitted to FHWA/OTT.

TTP Bridge Program
• Funding under SAFETEA-LU:

$14 million/year (FY05-FY12)

• Funding under MAP-21:

$9 million/year (FY13-FY15)

• Funding under FAST Act:

$13.95 million (FY16)

$14.25 million (FY17)

$14.55 million (FY18)

TTP Bridge Program

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FY18:

• Funds made available = $13.3 million

• Received 59 bridge applications for about $34 

million total funding request

• Funded 35 bridge projects for $13.3 million

FY19:

• Funds made available to date = $2.4 million

• Under the 68-day CR

TTP Bridge Program

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• Funded Projects under SAFETEA-LU (FY05-FY12):

228 bridge projects for about $140 million

• Funded Projects under MAP-21 (FY13-FY15):

66 bridge projects for about $26 million

• Funded Projects under FAST Act (FY16-FY18)

80 bridge projects for about $37 million

• 374 funded projects for about $203 million

TTP Bridge Program

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Tribal Bridge Inspection (MAP-21)

• Calls for a National Inventory of bridges and 

tunnels on public roads including tribally and 

Federally owned bridges

• Calls for bridge and tunnel inspection 

standards to be carried out by State, Federal 

and tribal governments
Tribal Bridge Inspection 

• 332 sections in RIFDS ownership coded as 2 

(Tribal)

• 250 sections verified to date

• 157 sections were verified either not a bridge, 

not a tribal bridge, proposed bridge, or 

pedestrian bridge
• BIA NBI Inspection Data Submittal – 1,009 bridge records

– 986 bridge records

– 23 bridge records from the Oglala Tribe

• Tribal NBI Inspection Data Submittal – 69 bridge records

– 12 bridge records from Port Graham

– 12 bridge records from Hydaburg

– 26 bridge records from Eastern Band of Cherokee

– 1 bridge record from Fort Yukon

– 3 bridge records from Klawock

– 12 bridge records from PBPT (BIA Tribe)

– 1 bridge record from Shakopee (BIA Tribe)

– 1 bridge record from Crooked Creek (BIA Tribe)

– 1 bridge record from Elim (BIA Tribe)

FY18 NBI Data Submittal (BIA & Tribal)

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• FY18 Tribal NBI Data – 69 bridge records

• FY19 Additional Tribal NBI Data – 73 bridge records from BIADOT 

inspection ID/IQ contract

• Total of 142 Tribal bridges to be recorded in the NBI 

• EFL Bridge – 29 FHWA Tribal bridges to be inspected in Jan 2019

• 26 EBCI Tribal bridges (routine)

• 2 Mohegan Tribal bridges (initial)

• 1 Citizen Potawatomi Tribal bridge (initial)

• Initial/Routine Inspection, load rating, and scour analysis

FY19 NBI Data Submittal (Tribal)

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• Tribally Owned Bridges. Procedures for FHWA Agreement Tribes 

requesting initial inspection of tribally owned bridges for 

inclusion in the FHWA NBI:

1. The Tribe verifies if the tribal bridge is a public bridge, 

20 ft. or more in length.

2. Tribe coordinates with the TC to fill out the tribal bridge 

inspection request form.

3. The TC submits the inspection request form to the 

FHWA TTP Bridge Program Manager (PM).

4. PM submits the request form to EFL Bridge for 

inspection.

Tribal Bridge Inspection Process 

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Continuation: 

5. Once inspected by EFL Bridge, a copy of the 

inspection report and the NBI data file (432 text file) is 

provided to the FHWA TTP Bridge PM and to the EFL 

Bridge Management Team for 2nd level review.

6. Once approved, the NBI data file is submitted 

to FHWA HQ Office of Bridges and Structures for 

recordation in the FHWA NBI.

Tribal Bridge Inspection Process 

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• Tribally Owned Bridges. Procedures for BIA Tribes requesting 

inspection of tribally owned bridges for inclusion in the FHWA 

NBI:

1. The Tribe verifies if the tribal bridge is a public bridge, 20 

ft. or more in length.

2. Tribe coordinates with the BIA Region to fill out the 

tribal bridge inspection request form.

3. BIA Region submits the request form to the BIA TTP 

Bridge PM for inspection by the consultant.

4. PM submits the request to the BIADOT’s consultant or in- house BIA Regional Inspection Team

Tribal Bridge Inspection Process 

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Continuation: 

5. Once inspected, BIADOT sends a copy of the NBI data file 

to the EFL Bridge Management Team for 2nd level review.

6. Once approved, the NBI data file is submitted to FHWA 

HQ Office of Bridges and Structures for recordation in the 

FHWA NBI.

Tribal Bridge Inspection Process 

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Tribal Bridge Inspection Form 

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NBIS Compliance – 23 Metrics

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NBIS Compliance – 23 Metrics 

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NBIS Compliance 

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Metric #1: Bridge inspection organization 

NBIS Reference: 23 CFR 650.307 – Bridge inspection organization

Criteria

• An organization is in place to inspect, or cause to inspect, all highway 

bridges on public roads.

• Organizational roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and documented 

for each of the following aspects of the NBIS: policies and procedures, QC/QA, 

preparation and maintenance of a bridge inventory, bridge inspections, 

reports, and load ratings.

• Functions delegated to other agencies are clearly defined and the necessary 

authority is established to take needed action to ensure NBIS compliance.

• A program manager (PM) is assigned the responsibility for the NBIS.
NBIS Compliance – 23 Metrics 

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Metric #6: Inspection frequency – Routine – Lower 

risk bridges 

NBIS Reference: 23 CFR 650.311 (a) – Routine inspections

Criteria

• Routine inspections are performed at regular intervals not to exceed (NTE) 

24 months, or NTE 48 months when adhering to FHWA approved criteria.
NBIS Compliance – 23 Metrics

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Metric #14: Inspection procedures – Post or Restrict 

NBIS Reference: 23 CFR 650.313 (c) Inspection procedures – Post or restrict 

bridges

Criteria

• Bridges are posted or restricted in accordance with the AASHTO Manual for 

Bridge Evaluation (MBE) or in accordance with State law, when the maximum 

unrestricted legal loads or State routine permit loads exceed that allowed 

under the operating rating or equivalent rating factor.

• Posting deficiencies must be resolved within 90 days and provide pictures of 

bridge posting.
NBIS Compliance – Bridge Posting 

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NBIS Compliance – Bridge Posting 

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Bridge Posting: Hydaburg E09211T0461-060 East End 
NBIS Compliance – Bridge Posting

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Bridge Posting: Hydaburg E09211T0461-060 West End 
SAFE UNSAFE

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QUESTIONS???