#3 / #50 Navigating MAP-21

Naviga&ng MAP‐21

Advocacy Advance America Bikes

Safe Routes to School Na&onal Partnership

Agenda

1.  Overview of MAP‐21 2.  Q & A 3.  Campaign Strategies 4.  Advocacy Strategies 5.  Discussion

Caron Whitaker Campaign Director, America Bikes

Margo Pedroso Deputy Director, Safe Routes to School Na&onal Partnership


Overview of MAP‐21

MAP‐21 Basics

 Current transporta&on law in effect &l 9/30/12  2 year bill  October 1, 2012‐ September 30, 2014  Extends funding at current level

Themes: ☞ Consolidate programs ☞ Streamline project delivery ☞ Give states more flexibility

Changes to Biking and Walking

  Transporta&on Alterna&ves –  Eligible ac&vi&es –  Funding and opt outs –  Distribu&on of Funds

  Expedi&ng Projects

  Eligibili&es to other programs

Consolidates bike/ped programs into new program and changes eligibili&es. Includes:

Transporta&on Alterna&ves

Changes TE eligibili&es, including: ADDS: ✔ Turnoffs, overlooks, viewing areas ✔  Safe routes for non‐drivers ✔ ANY environmental mi&ga&on REMOVES: ✗  Tourist/welcome centers ✗  Museums ✗  Buying scenic/historic sites ✗  Streetscaping ✗  Bike/ped educa&on

 Recrea&onal Trails  Safe Routes to School

(per current law)

 Transporta&on Alterna&ves (rename of Transporta&on Enhancements)

 Redevelopment of under‐ used highways to boulevards

Transporta&on Alterna&ves Reduc&on in Funding

SAFETEA LU ‐ FY 2011

Total: $1.2 BILLION

MAP‐21

Total: $808 MILLION

TE

$928 MILLION

SRTS $202 M

RTP $97

TransportaAon AlternaAves $808 M

  Na&onally approx. 30% cut   State cuts range from 18% (GA) to 51% (VT)

Transporta&on Alterna&ves Funding Distribu&on

State’s TA alloca&on

Minus: Recrea&onal Trails (FY09 level) *unless Governor opted out

Half of $: “PopulaAon pot” Distributed by popula&on share

Half of $: “Unrestricted pot” ** Distributed by state through compe&&on

Variety of local en&&es eligible; state DOT not eligible

MPOs w/popula&on>200K • Receive suballocated funds • Must hold compe&&on to award funds

Remainder distributed by state‐run compe&&on

Split between areas with popula&on of 5‐200k and

below 5k

** Transferability: • State can transfer all of this pot to other transporta&on programs • State can also transfer up to 50% of other funds into TA


Recrea&onal Trails Program funding gets taken off the top (unless Governor opts out)

 To date: FL and KS have opted out  34 States have confirmed opt ins

Oregon Amount

Total TA Funding $8.96M

Rec Trails $1.6M

Remaining TA funding $7.36 M


Remaining funding is divided into 2 equal pots POT 1‐ distributed by popula&on

 MPOs Popula&on > 200,000 •  Funding is sub‐allocated •  MPOs must run compe&&ve grant process

 Communi&es with a popula&on < 200,000 •  State will run a compe&&ve grant process

 Rural areas popula&on < 5000 •  State will run a compe&&ve grant process

Transporta&on Alterna&ves‐

Transporta&on Alterna&ves Oregon Example

Map: Rails to Trails Conservancy, h:p://www.railstotrails.org/resources/documents/ourWork/MPOs_by_state

MPO/ Metropolitan area

Percent of Pot 1 Funding (esAmated)

Portland 39%

Salem 6%

Eugene 6.5%

Other areas of the state (pop < 200,000)

48%


Remaining funding is divided into 2 equal pots POT 2‐ distributed through compe&&ve grant process run by state.

Eligible En&&es  Local/regional governments  Tribes  Local/regional transporta&on agencies  Public land agencies  Other local/regional en&&es state deems eligible

State DOT

Transporta&on Alterna&ves Transferability Op&ons

State can choose to transfer funding out Transfer op&on

–  up to 50% of TA to any other program –  Only out of Pot 2 (Unrestricted pot) –  Can also transfer 50% of any other pot INTO TA

Coburn Opt‐ out –  based on unobligated balance –  Doesn’t apply un&l year 2 –  Unique to TA

State of Emergency –  Can transfer funding to fix damaged infrastructure –  If State gets federal funds for emergency later, must reimburse TA

Transporta&on Alterna&ves Safe Routes to School Issues

Federal Share/Local Match   For rest of TA, it’s 80% federal; 20% local dollars   Safe Routes to School is 100% federally funded

Infrastructure/Non‐infrastructure   Current law: states spend 10‐30% on non‐infrastructure   NI definitely eligible, minimums difficult to apply

Coordinators and Clearinghouses

 Coordinators – Bike/Ped Coordinator – Safe Routes to School –  (TE Coordinator)

 Clearinghouses – Safe Routes to School Na&onal Center – Pedestrian/Bicycle Informa&on Center –  (NTEC)

Expedi&ng Projects/ Streamlining

  USDOT must iden&fy best prac&ces to expedite projects

  Expanded Categorical Exclusions (CE) for NEPA SAFETEA LU Categorical

Exclusions

☞ Biking and walking projects

MAP‐21 Categorical Exclusions

☞ Biking and walking

projects ☞ Projects within the right‐

of‐way ☞ Projects with a total cost

of less than $5 million

Highway Safety Improvement Program

 HSIP funding increases under MAP‐21  S&ll includes bike/ped and school zone safety eligibili&es

 In wri&ng plans, states must consult with: – State nonmotorized representa&ve – May include representa&ves from safety stakeholder groups

Highway Safety Improvement Program

New data and research requirements for states  Nonmotorized crash data  Motor vehicle crashes that include pedestrians and bicyclists

 Iden&fy roadway elements/ features

•  That cons&tute hazard... •  [and/or] safe condi&ons

Surface Transporta&on Program (STP)

 Higher funding, more compe&&on on non sub‐allocated funds

 Sub‐alloca&on to metropolitan areas – Same dollar amount as before

Eligibility: ☞ Transporta&on Alterna&ves ac&vi&es eligible ☞ Rec Trails projects eligible ☞ SRTS not listed as eligible, but similar projects fit under new TA eligibility for Safe Routes for non‐drivers

Conges&on Mi&ga&on and Air Quality (CMAQ)

 New Eligibility ☞ Project or program that shiqs traffic

demand to… other transporta&on modes

 Transferability –  States can transfer up to 50% of CMAQ –  Increase from ~ 21% in SAFETEA LU

 Evalua&on and Assessments –  Require cost benefit analysis –  Assessment of health impacts

Federal Lands Program  Consolidated programs; cuts funding overall

 Bicycling and walking facili&es eligible  Eliminated the Transit in the Parks program (AKA Sarbanes TRIP Program)

Summary

Transporta&on Alterna&ves –  Changes to eligibility –  Lower funding –  Funding distribu&on changes

•  50% by popula&on •  50% by grant program

Eligibility ☞ Increased opportunity for data and funding under HSIP ☞ Con&nued eligibility under CMAQ, STP, and Federal

Lands


Q & A

Darren Flusche Policy Director League of American Bicyclists


Campaign Strategies

The Naviga&ng MAP‐21 Campaign

AdvocacyAdvance.org/MAP21

Driven by state leaders

 Coordina&ng within state

  Gathering intel   Determining most effec&ve strategy

 Taking ac&on   bit.ly/MAP21stateleads

Campaign Goals

 Fully fund, staff, and implement Transporta&on Alterna&ves

 Maximize bike/ped spending across all programs

 Spend exis&ng funds

 Spend Transporta&on Alterna&ves funds on Transporta&on Alterna&ves projects

 Do not transfer funds out of TA – Transfer funds into TA

 Don’t let TA funds accumulate  Don’t opt out of Recrea&onal Trails Program

– Broadly successful

Fully Fund TA

Fully Staff TA

 Bike/Ped Coordinator  Safe Routes to School Coordinator

 Transporta&on Alterna&ves Coordinator

Correlation between dedicated staff and bicycle commuting levels

Fully Implement TA

 States – call for projects  MPOs – grant programs

–  Involves stakeholders – Non‐motorized criteria – Prompt implementa&on

 Advocacy: Find it, fund it  Important for Reauthoriza&on

Fully Spend Exis&ng Funds

 Safe Routes doesn’t expire  TE available for 3 years  How:

– Applica&ons – Announce – Obligate – Build

Fully Maximize Investments Underu&lized Funding Programs

  Surface Transporta&on Program (STP)

 Conges&on Mi&ga&on and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)

 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

  Sec&on 402 Safety Grants

Fully Maximize Investments Suggested Approaches

Policy:  Guidance & Policy  Applica&on  Priori&za&on  Commiuee Membership Advocacy:  Poli&cal Support  Focus on Safety

Fully Maximize Investments Bicycle‐friendly Policies

CMAQ lessons:  Regional decision making

– “Sub‐alloca&on”  Projects rated by type  Set‐asides  Inten&onal planning  Local advocacy support  Quality applica&ons

Campaign Resources

AdvocacyAdvance.org/MAP‐21

 List of state leaders  Transporta&on Alterna&ves Toolkit

 Naviga&ng MAP‐21 Webinars

Robert Ping Technical Assistance Director Safe Routes to School Na&onal Partnership


Advocacy Strategies

Show Me the Money: Fully Fund

  Bike/ped and SRTS has strong momentum

  SRTS is very popular program   At least maintain exis&ng levels   SRTS and Ped/Bike are already small   There is lots of new compe&&on   Decisions are being made NOW!!

It Takes People: Fully Staff

 Coordinators are cri&cal to move funds to communi&es

 Program staff needed at regional and local levels

 Diverse advisory commiuees help DOT’s achieve goals

 Coali&ons help DOT’s achieve and keep moving forward

 DOT staff needed at regional and local/district level

SAFETEA‐LU: Fully Spend

 Keep exis&ng SRTS processes  Keep exis&ng bike/ped processes  No delays in those processes  Priori&ze Ped/Bike and SRTS in MAP‐21

SAFETEA‐LU: Fully Implement

 ApplicaAons: Hold grant compe&&ons  Announce: Award funds without delay  Obligate: Get Projects Approved  Build: Spend Obligated Funds

SRTS Can Lead and Grow: Fully Maximize

 Opportunity: SRTS can help push bike/ped  Flexibility: SRTS could even get bigger  Make the Case: Health, Safety, Kids

What You Can Do Overall

  Act Now!!   Check in with your state campaign leader   Gather intel on regional, local decisions, &meline   Develop local and join state campaigns   Ask for mee&ng to gather info and make statements   Get Funds to Lower‐Income Communi&es   Get SRTS Champions onto Bike/Ped and Health Commiuees – Health in All Policies

  Get Decision Makers to Meet and See Programs   Go to saferoutespartnership.org ‐ Resource Center

State: What We Are Learning

 Some states may push funding decisions to local coali&ons/commiuees

 Some may maintain current status, others may combine all into one compe&&on

 Many coordinators are not gewng any informa&on about the future

 States are wai&ng for FHWA guidance  Some DOT staff feel there will be even more spent on bike/ped/SRTS

State: What We Are Learning

 Some states are going to spend down SAFETEA‐LU funds on statewide campaigns and contractors

 SRTS and other bike/ped will be administered as a single program

 Some regional governments may follow state lead/processes

 Some states are locked into exis&ng funding for 2013, even 2014/2015

State: What You Can Do

 Talk to SRTS, TE and Bike/Ped coordinators and others, especially upper mgmt.

 Learn about STP, CMAQ, HSIP funding, decision makers and applica&on criteria

 Talk to statewide bike/ped and health advocates  Figure out mechanisms that will protect or even increase SRTS funding

 Conduct outreach to local advocates to get info out to them, join campaign

Regional/Local: What You Can Do

  Connect with other bike/ped/health advocates, get them involved and inspired to work towards regional funding targets

  Find out who the decision makers are on bike/ped, what relevant commiuees are ac&ve

  RTP ‐ learn &meline, commiuees, public input phases; any new ini&a&ves/ processes being developed by MPO?

  Collect data on spending history of MPO, and regional safety and health data

 Work with other champions to brainstorm ideas, build playorm – especially health partners

  Feed informa&on to state lead

Potential for Growth of SRTS and

Bike/Ped

MAP‐21 Could Be a New Opportunity

More funding sources and

flexibility

Strong advocacy and momentum

Contact

Caron Whitaker Campaign Director, America Bikes [email protected]

Margo Pedroso Deputy Director, Safe Routes to School Na&onal Partnership [email protected]

Darren Flusche Policy Director, League of American Bicyclists / Advocacy Advance [email protected] Robert Ping Technical Assistance Director, Safe Routes to School Na&onal Partnership [email protected] Brighid O’Keene

Program Manager, Alliance for Biking & Walking / Advocacy Advance brighid@peoplepowered movement.org

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#3 / #50 Navigating MAP-21