Transcript Proposed Interim Guidance – Small Starts

New Starts/Small Starts and BRT:
An Update
APTA Bus Conference
Seattle, WA
May 5, 2009
Topics
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Overview of the New Starts/Small Starts Program
Small Starts Project Planning & Development
Small Starts Evaluation and Funding
BRT in Small Starts (and New Starts)
2
New Starts/Small Starts Funding: Supply
and Demand
• Demand:
– 14 New Starts projects in PE and Final Design
– 21 Small Starts projects in PD
– Total cost of pipeline: ~$25 billion, $10 billion in New
Starts funding
– FTA tracking >100 planning studies considering major
transit capital investments
• Annual funding
– New Starts: $1.6+ billion
– Small Starts: $200 million
3
Eligibility: Small Starts
• Cost criteria
“Exempt” projects
– Total cost <$250 million
exist only until a new
– Small Starts share < $75 million
rule is published
• Scope criteria
– Project has a fixed guideway for 50 percent or more of its
length during peak periods, or
– Non-fixed guideway project in a corridor including at least
three of the following:
- Significant transit stations
- Traffic signal priority or pre-emption
- Low floor buses or level boarding
- Premium service branding
– No longer require all four project elements
4
Eligibility: Very Small Starts
• Small Starts criteria for cost and scope
• Plus additional eligibility criteria:
– Total cost under $50 million
– Cost per mile < $3 million per mile, excluding rolling
stock
– (Existing weekday riders over 3,000)
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Small Starts/Very Small Starts
Eligible Applicants
• Any public body is eligible to apply for Small
Starts funds
• If the applicant is not the operator:
– The small starts application must demonstrate how the
project will be operated and maintained
– Project sponsor must provide an executed operating
agreement before a PCGA can be finalized
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Small Starts/Very Small Starts
Project Development
• Alternatives Analysis
– Simplified
– Project Justification based on Warrants for Very Small
Starts
• Project Development
• Project Construction Grant Agreement
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What is a Project Construction Grant
Agreement (PCGA)?
• Formal Agreement signed by FTA and Grantee
following detailed review by DOT, OMB and
Congress
• Agreement on Project Scope, Budget, and
Schedule
• Terms and Conditions of Federal Participation
• Multi-year Funding Commitment (subject to
Congressional Appropriations)
• Caps Federal Section 5309 Small Starts funds
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Project Construction Grant Agreement
• To receive a PCGA a project must:
– Be Authorized in Law
– Complete the Planning, Project Development, and NEPA
Processes
– Meet Project Readiness Requirements (technical capacity, firm
and final cost estimate and funding)
– Receive a “Medium” or higher overall rating
– Receive a “Medium” or higher cost effectiveness rating
– Meet all other Federal requirements
• Execution of the PCGA will be subject to a 60 day
congressional review
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FTA Ratings: Small Starts
Summary Rating
Project Justification
Rating
Financial Rating
Other
Factors
Cost
Effectiveness
Land
Use
Non-Section
5309 Share
Capital
Finances
Operating
Finances
Capital
Cost
O&M
Cost
User
Benefits
Minimum Project Development Requirements:
Metropolitan Planning and
Programming Requirements
Project Management
Technical Capability
NEPA
Approvals
Other
Considerations
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FTA Ratings: Small Starts
• Existing New Starts framework
• Simplifications
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–
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Fewer criteria
Simpler evaluation measures for land use criterion
Opening year forecasts only
Simpler travel forecasting procedures possible
Simpler financial documentation possible
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FTA Ratings: Small Starts (continued)
• Simpler financial documentation possible
– Rating of “medium” for local financial commitment if:
- Reasonable plan to secure local share (all non-New Starts funding
committed for PCGA)
- Project O&M under 5 percent of agency operating budget
- Agency in solid financial condition
– Projects that cannot meet these conditions submit a financial plan
- According to FTA guidance
- Covering period up to and including opening year
- Evaluated based on criteria used for New Starts
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FTA Ratings: Very Small Starts
Summary Rating
Project Justification
Rating
Financial Rating
Other
Factors
Cost
Effectiveness
Land
Use
Non-Section
5309 Share
Capital
Finances
Operating
Finances
Capital
Cost
Benefiting
Riders
Minimum Project Development Requirements:
Metropolitan Planning and
Programming Requirements
Project Management
Technical Capability
NEPA
Approvals
Other
Considerations
13
FTA Ratings: Very Small Starts
• Existing New Starts framework
• Simplifications
– Fewer criteria
– “Warrants” approach for project justification
- Benefiting riders > 3,000/day
- Capital cost (excl. vehicles) < $3M/mi.
- Total capital cost < $50M
Demonstrate
consistency with
characteristics of
“justified”
projects
– Simpler financial documentation possible
(as with Small Starts)
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Summary Ratings
Summary Rating
Local Financial
Commitment Rating
(50%)
Project Justification
Rating (50%)
• Rating categories:
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–
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High
Medium-high
Medium
Medium-low
Low
• Decision Rule:
– Must have at least “Medium” on both
justification and finance to receive
“Medium” overall
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BRT’s in New Starts and Small Starts
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•
One PCGA (Eugene)
One in NS Final Design (Hartford)
One in NS PE (Boston Silver Line)
18 in Project Development
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Austin
Federal Way/Seattle, WA
Flagstaff
Fort Collins
Grand Rapids
Kansas City Troost
King County/Belleview-Redmond
Livermore/Amador Valley
Los Angeles Gap Closure
Los Angeles Wilshire
Monterey, CA
New York Nostrand Avenue
Oakland, CA East Bay
Roaring Fork Valley, CO
San Bernardino Omnitrans
San Diego Mid City Rapid
San Francisco Van Ness
Stockton, CA Metro Express Airport Way Connector
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Project Ratings and Decisionmaking
• Ratings guide FTA
approvals of PE/PD, Final
Design, and
FFGA/PCGAs
• “Medium” or better overall
rating required to advance
• Once in PE/PD, rating
reported each year in
Annual Report on Funding
Recommendations
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Conclusion
QUESTIONS?
18