Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

The Regional Forum for Transportation Planning

Southwestern Pennsylvania

• 10 Counties• >7,000 square miles• 2.66 million citizens• 548 municipalities• 132 School Districts• 3 PennDOT Districts• 10 Transit Agencies

SPC Roles and Responsibilities

• As MPO, SPC is responsible for planning and prioritizing the use of all state and federal transportation funds allocated to the region.

• Legal Obligations include preparation of

• Long Range Plan• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)• Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)• Air Quality Conformity Determination

• Partners within the region• 60 Commissioners on the Governing Board• 10 County Planning Offices• City of Pittbsurgh• 3 PennDOT Districts• 10 Transit Authorities, and other State and Federal Agencies• 550 municipalities• School Districts, COGs, Advocacy Groups and others

Twenty five year vision for the region

Identifies what we want the region to be in the year 2040

Creates vision, and goals for the region

Generally does not include specific projects

If projects are identified, they must be “fiscally constrained”

Regional Long Range Plan

Four year program of projects to be advanced.

The TIP lists specific projects

If a project is federally funded, regionally significant or meets certain other criteria, it must be identified on the TIP.

TIP must be “fiscally constrained”

Transportation Improvement Program

Anticipated revenues from known sources are projected

◦ Federal formula funds - allocated based on land area, lane miles of roadways, number of bridges, population, etc., can be loosely projected into the future

◦ Federal discretionary funds - traditional levels of funding are often used as rough guides. CMAQ traditionally brings about $25 million to the region each year.

◦ Other recurring funding programs at state and federal levels

Fiscal Constraint

Not all funding sources are consistent, from year to year

Net Present Value of future funds must be calculated

FHWA Federal Aid Highway Program includes more than 90 funding programs and projects◦ Not all are available in every region◦ Some are formula based, some are discretionary (aka competitive)◦ Different programs and funding sources might have different rules, eligibility,

etc.

Funding Sources, cont’d

In Pennsylvania, transportation funding comes from a variety of sources, including:

• federal funds (highway and transit),• liquid fuels taxes,• licenses and fees,• transfers from the Pennsylvania Turnpike,• sales tax,• lottery proceeds,• General Fund monies, and• other, more minor sources.

Where does the money come from?

Most federal funding for highways and transit originates from the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Since it was established in 1956, the HTF has generally provided stable, reliable, and substantial highway and transit funding.

However, that stability and adequacy has diminished in recent years. The major sources of revenue to the Highway Trust Fund are the federal 18.4-cent per gallon tax on gasoline and the 24.4-cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel. These user fees have not been increased since 1993.

As fuel prices increase, fuel sales decrease, tax revenues decrease

Highway Trust Fund

The Fuel Tax Conundrum: less fuel usage means less revenue

2011-2014 TIP – $1.5 billion

2013-2016 TIP - $1.25 billion

TIP Challenges: Overview

- 21% Reduction

Amount of money available is diminishing

Highway Trust Fund Balances FY2004-FY2009*

-30

-20

-10

0

10

20

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

2013

($bi

llion

s)

Highway Account

Transit Account

Status of the Federal Highway Account Trust Fund

* Assumes 2% annual growth in highway program obligation limitation

Anticipated Funding through 2040

The 2040 Transportation and Development Plan for Southwestern Pennsylvania (the regional Long Range Plan) estimates that $17.2 billion will be available for highways, bridges and other non-transit programs from now through the year 2040 for the SPC region.

◦ Bridge Capital Maintenance: $8.04 Billion; 51%◦ Roadway Capital Maintenance: $4.03 Billion; 25%◦ Traffic Operations & Safety: $3.23 Billion, 20%◦ New Capacity, Highways & Bridges: $601 Million, 4%

Funding Challenges

A four year program of projects

Most projects are individually listed, although some projects may be included in “line items” for later identification

Fiscal constraint requires that we know exact project details and phasing, so we have the money to do the project as we need it, but no money sits around waiting to be used.

The future costs of a given project must be determined. This is the “year of expenditure” cost of a project.

Transportation Improvement Program

By the Numbers: (Southwestern PA Region)

◦ 2,163 - Number of miles of state-maintained roads in poor condition in Southwestern PA

◦ $1.2 Billion – Backlog of road repairs needed

◦ 1,482 - Structurally deficient bridges

◦ 51 – Average age of local owned bridge

◦ $5.8 billion – Backlog of bridge repairs needed

Where does the money go?

Overall Challenges

Extensive Infrastructure/Basic Maintenance Needs

◦ Bridge Conditions (both State and Local)◦ Continued Maintenance of Roads (State and Local)◦ Construction Costs are up 80-100% from 2003-2010

Limited State & Federal Funds

◦ No adjustment in funding levels since 1993◦ Federal Authorization pending (currently under extension)

Dedicated sources of funds

◦ Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program Region has completed approximately $53 million in TE projects Approximately $14 million in TE projects remain to be completed Existing projects need to be completed before region will receive funds for

new projects; the last competitive round of TE funding was in 2006

◦ Safe Routes to School Program Falls under the TE program for most intents and purposes Most recent funding round provided $3 million to region

Pedestrian and Bicycle funding in SPC region

Competitive Funding Sources

Pennsylvania Community Transportation Initiative (PCTI)◦ Region received $55 million in funding

CMAQ Program◦ Biennial funding program

Region gets approximately $100 million every four years Recent reduction to approximately $80 million for 2013-2106 TIP Regionally competitive program

Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding in SPC region

Goal is to reduce Congestion and/or improve Air Quality

Most of SPC region is eligible for funding based on federal standards of air quality

Requests for funding often exceed available funds by 200 or 300 percent

Projects are assessed for air quality benefit, and then reviewed by a CMAQ Evaluation Committee

CMAQ Evaluation Committee ranks projects, makes recommendations to SPC Transit Operators Committee and Transportation Technical Committee

CMAQ Program Funding

Other Sources of funding for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodation

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)◦ PennDOT allocates funds for safety improvements in accordance with goals as

articulated in the State Highway Safety Plan (per federal regulations)

◦ In 2006 PA Coordinated Highway Safety Plan, Pedestrian Safety was one of the “Vital Six” goals. Bicycle safety was identified as an “additional goal” Assigned a priority of 12

◦ In 2010 PA Highway Safety Plan, neither pedestrians nor bicycles are identified as a priority goal, although the reduction of pedestrian fatalities related to motor vehicle crashes remains a Core Performance Measure.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding in SPC region

Allocation of HSIP funds in Pennsylvania

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds are allocated to each region based on lane miles, vehicle miles traveled, fatalities and reportable crashes.

The project selection criteria are “set” by the goals, strategies and core performance measures of the PA Highway Safety Plan. The reduction of the most severe accidents, and those resulting the gravest injury (or fatality) are prioritized.

SPC region receives about $9 million annually

Highway Safety Improvement Program

The region makes funding decisions collaboratively.

The programming of transportation funds is the responsibility of the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC)

Responsibility for the transit portion of the regional TIP is one of the primary responsibilities of the Transit Operators Committee (TOC).

The Transportation Technical Committee, and the Transit Operators Committee, have the responsibility of making recommendations to the SPC Board (the Commission).

Who Makes the Funding Decisions

Project Evaluation Process (Non-Transit Projects)