Surface Transportation Program (STP) OVERVIEW AND GENERAL RULES* Approved June 2007 Revised January 2008 Revised September 2013

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1 BENTON FRANKLIN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION Surface Transportation Program (STP) OVERVIEW AND GENERAL RULES* Approved June 2007 Revised January 2008 Revised September 2013 *Does not include rules for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) As of August 2004, WSDOT has designated the Benton Franklin Council of Governments (BFCG) as Lead Agency for the distribution and tracking of all federal STP funds sub allocated to the BFCG. In accordance with a 2006 Legislative directive a competitive selection process has been structured for available STP funds. FEDERAL PURPOSE The STP provides flexible transportation funding that may be used by States and localities for projects on any Federalaid highways, transit capital projects, and intra city and inter city bus terminals and facilities. Funds are allocated to the MPOs/RTPOs and county lead agencies for selecting regional transportation projects through a competitive process. STP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS All projects must meet federal eligibility requirement as outlined in the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century MAP 21 (23U.S.C. 133(b)) and any extensions of MAP 21 or subsequent federal transportation authorizations. In general, eligible projects must be part of the Federal Functional Classification system; as an urban collector or rural major/minor collector or higher classification to be eligible for federal STP funding. STP MATCH REQUIREMENT The project implementing agency will be responsible to provide the required local match for STP funds. ADVANCE PROGRAMMING Advance programming of future year(s) STP distributions shall be in accordance with WSDOT rules/restrictions and any other rules/restrictions that are deemed necessary by the BFCG Board. The BFCG Board has approved advance programming for 4 years or as recommended by WSDOT. FUNDING Advance programming will be based on an estimate of available funding provided to BFCG by WSDOT staff. Project award amounts will be established by the BFCG Board during the advance programming process. At such time that WSDOT informs BFCG of actual sub allocations that vary from the estimates used for advance programming BFCG will include any resulting funding amount adjustments into the next available advance programming process. In the event that the required adjustment provides additional funding and a majority of eligible agencies request immediate allocation of the additional funds BFCG will initiate a project selection process to allocate the additional funds as soon as possible. In the event that the required adjustment removes funding that requires delays in project implementation to meet WSDOT requirements BFCG will convene meetings necessary to coordinate funding obligation activity to meet WSDOT requirements. STP funds are subject to the distribution formula of the most current federal transportation act.

2 REGIONAL PRIORITIES All projects must address the RTPO regional goals and policies as defined in the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) i.e. safety, congestion, freight and people mobility, economic development, etc. ELIGIBLE JURISDICTIONS All jurisdictions in the RTPO are eligible to participate in the STP competitive process. URBANIZED BURBANK, WALLA WALLA COUNTY The BFCG agreement with the Walla Walla Valley MPO (WWVMPO) dated August 2013 states the urbanized STP UL funds that are attributed to Burbank will remain part of the Tri Cities MPO. The Burbank portion of STP UL funds is to be split 70%/30% between Benton and Franklin Counties respectively. This split will be reviewed every five (5) years. STP SELECTION and APPROVAL PROCESS 1. BFCG makes the Call for Projects and will support the selection committees in coordinating the project selection forums. 2. Each County serves as lead agency with the respective jurisdiction s TAC and PAC members comprising the selection committees. 3. Selection committees will be comprised only of TAC and/or PAC members from each jurisdiction, organization or agency that is eligible to utilize the funding in the call for projects. 4. All applicants will use the standard BFCG STP application form. 5. All applications will be submitted to the BFCG Transportation Office by the deadline specified in the Call for Projects. 6. BFCG will receive all applications, selection committee meeting minutes and a list of those in attendance. 7. Projects recommended by the selection committees will be forwarded to TAC and PAC. 8. The TAC will review and comment on the project selections 9. The PAC will review and send forward a recommendation to approve project selections. 10. The BFCG Board has final decision making authority on distribution of regional STP funds to projects. Criteria used in the selection process are stated goals and policies from the current Regional Transportation Plan and Washington State Transportation Policies. This ensures the projects that are selected and programmed into the TIP/STIP are consistent with both the BFCG M/RTP and the WTP. Recipients of STP funds will receive written notification from BFCG of the project approval within 30 days. A list of contingency projects 1 will be chosen to move forward if one of the selected projects fails to meet obligation deadlines. Partial and/or unfunded projects with the highest ranking from the most recent call for projects will be the first considered. TIP REQUIREMENT All projects or activities to be funded with regional STP monies must be included or amended into the jurisdictional sixyear Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) to secure federal funding. OBLIGATION COMMITMENT In January 2013, Washington state s newly formed Local Agency Task Force developed the Obligation Authority (OA) Policy that imposed annual obligation targets for all MPO s/ RTPO s across the state. The policy outlines a more stringent project delivery policy than in the past, including sanctioning of funds if target amounts and target dates are 1 To be based on the Local Agency Federal OA (obligation authority) Policy. 2

3 not met. Because of the new use it or lose it policy it very important for project sponsors to carefully consider how likely the application they submit will meet the stringent state policy as well as the BFCG obligation rules. OBLIGATION RULES o FEDERAL PERIOD OF AVAILIBILITY STP Funds are available for obligation for a period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year for which funds are authorized. Thus funds are available for obligation for up to 4 years. o LOCAL AGENCY TASK FORCE OBLIGATION AUTHORITY Washington s Local Agency Task Force was asked to develop a strategy to ensure delivery of the local share of the Federal Highway (FHWA) program. The Task Force established a Two Tier Local Agency Federal OA (obligation authority) Policy that sanctions unutilized allocation from MPO/RTPO/County lead agencies that are unable to deliver their annual target. MPO/RTPO/County lead agencies are provided annual distribution and corresponding obligation targets based upon estimated OA available for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY). The OA targets are developed based upon a formula utilizing localities carry forward balance and annual allocation. o BFCG OBLIGATION RULES Approved December 14, 2012 Having met the target goal imposed by the Local Agency Task Force for 2013, the BFCG Obligation Rules, approved December 14, 2012 and suspended in April 2013 will continue to be suspended thru September 30, BFCG will defer to the Local Agency Task Force Obligation Authority Policy. The annual project status review will determine whether the BFCG Obligation Rules remain suspended from year to year. ANNUAL PROJECT STATUS REVIEW BFCG will hold an annual meeting to review project status. The first meeting will be held January of 2014 and each January thereafter. A Project Status Form will be sent prior to the annual meeting for those jurisdictions that have STP projects. The is to be filled out regarding specific project status details. The annual meeting will serve three purposes; 1.) RTPO members will review project accomplishments and delays and the overall obligation rate. 2.) BFCG will gather information for the MPO/RTPO TIP regarding 23 U.S.C. 450 (l) 3.) De obligations will be reviewed. TRANSFER OF STP FUNDS: STP funds may be transferred from one project to another. Requirements to make a transfer are: 1. Lead Agencies will review and make a recommendation to the BFCG transportation staff. 2. Transfers must be reviewed and approved by the selection committee for the funding category the transfer will occur in. 3. A written request and resolution from the jurisdiction or jurisdictions who wish to transfer/receive funds must be submitted to BFCG. The request will provide information regarding $$ amount, Council/Commission approval of transfer and identify the specific project (s) the funds will be transferred to and from. 4. Any transfer of STP funds will require BFCG Board approval. 3

4 TRACKING OF STP FUNDS INCLUDING DE OBLIGATION: BFCG as the region s MPO/RTPO oversees the selection and approval of STP projects, TIP STIP development and the tracking of STP project obligations. Tracking of project obligations and/or de obligations are based on a quarterly Obligation Report sent to the region from WSDOT Highway & Local Programs in Olympia. BFCG cannot acknowledge an obligation or de obligation of funds prior to the funds appearing on the Obligation Report. BFCG cannot program de obligated funds in the TIP STIP that have not appeared on the Obligation Report from WSDOT Highway &Local Programs Olympia and confirmed to have been returned to the region. De obligations will be reviewed on an annual basis along with the Annual Project Review as referenced above. De obligations are to be returned to the category from which they originated for the next call for projects. STP rules, criteria, and guidelines adopted herein shall be subject to any overriding rules, guidelines, or policies adopted by the BFCG Board. The rules, criteria and guidelines of the regional STP program shall apply throughout the life of the 2012 MAP 21 (October 1, 2012 October 1, 2014 and any extensions). Any revisions shall be by a majority vote of the Benton Franklin Council of Governments Board. 4

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