815 Nicholas Parkway East, Cape Coral, Florida 33990• (239) 330-2240
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
October 23, 2014
TO:
All Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee Members
All Traffic Management and Operations Committee Members
All Technical Advisory Committee Members
All Citizens Advisory Committee Members
Digitally signed by Ron Gogoi
FROM:
Ron Gogoi, Transportation Planning Administrator
SUBJECT:
SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FUNDS,
AND THE LEE COUNTY MPO MULTI-MODAL ENHANCEMENT BOX FUNDS
DN: cn=Ron Gogoi, o=Lee MPO, ou, email=Rgogoi@leempo.com, c=US
Date: 2014.10.23 12:55:21 -04'00'
The Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is requesting pre-applications for Transportation
Alternatives Program (TAP) funds that will be available in FY 2020/21, and any such unused funds from
previous years. Lee MPO allocated TAP funds will pay for local Transportation Enhancement projects while
FDOT District One allocated TAP funds will pay for regional Transportation Enhancement projects. Regional
Transportation Enhancement projects may include planning, design, right of way and construction phases
for proposed shared use paths, and off road trails. Such paths or trails must be along greenway corridors
identified in the Lee County Greenways Plan and/or the Lee/Collier Bi-County Pathways Network. MPO
allocated TAP funds will also pay for Safe Route to School infrastructure projects.
The MPO is also requesting applications for Multi-modal Enhancement Box funds for FY 2020/21. The Multimodal Enhancement Box funds typically pay for bicycle pedestrian, congestion management, and transit
projects on roadways classified as arterials and urban/major rural collectors only. Such funds may also be
spent on local roads to address safety issues subject to FHWA guidance and at the discretion of MPO, FHWA
and FDOT staff.
Bicycle pedestrian projects submitted as part of the TAP and Multimodal Enhancement Box Programs is a
two-step process with the first step being a screening of all proposals for project validity by a SubCommittee of the MPO’s Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee (BPCC). The Sub-Committee meeting
will be in the first week of December on a date decided at the October 28, 2014 BPCC meeting. The second
step is the completion by applicants of FDOT Pre-Application Forms for project review by MPO and FDOT
staff for construction viability and cost estimates. Completed forms must be submitted to MPO staff no
later than January 15, 2015. As you prepare your Pre-Application Forms please keep in mind that:
1. The minimum funding request for a project must be at least $100,000 in order to be cost effective.
2. For local and regional transportation enhancement projects, District One’s participation is limited to $500,000 in
any one fiscal year per project. Any additional cost incurred in implementing the project beyond that amount will
have to be borne by the sponsoring agency.
2. For local transportation enhancement projects, SRTS and MPO Multi-Modal Enhancement projects, any
needed right-of-way must be in place to use either TAP or XU/SU dollars. The project must be built on public
owned property.
3. For regional transportation enhancement projects, TA funds may be used to acquire right of way.
4. Applicants/sponsoring agencies must be LAP certified if any of these projects are locally produced in which case
they will be responsible for developing design plans with local funds.
5. All cost estimates must be provided in 2015 Dollars and include all necessary phases for implementation.
6. If a locally produced project gets funded, 60% design plans must be received by FDOT by September 1st
of the year prior to the fiscal year in which construction funds are committed in the FDOT Work Program.
7. As a project applicant/sponsor, a government agency can submit pre-applications on behalf of local interest
groups or non-profit organizations.
8. Bicycle/pedestrian pre-applications submitted under the TAP and Multi-modal Transportation
Enhancement Programs must be identified in the MPO Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. Applicants are
advised to coordinate with MPO staff while preparing the pre-applications to ensure that their projects are identified
in the Master Plan.
9. Safe Route to School proposals for TAP funds must be coordinated through Ms. Elisa Yanes at the Lee County
School Board, and she will be submitting the completed pre-application forms to MPO staff on behalf of project
sponsors.
10. Proposals for local and regional transportation enhancement funds that call for bicycle/pedestrian improvements
will require completion of a MPO Supplement Form in order for the projects to be evaluated and ranked by the
BPCC. However, the MPO forms will need to be completed by the project sponsors only after the screening of
the completed pre-applications and after FDOT has determined that the projects are construction viable. At
that point MPO staff will contact the project sponsors for submission of a completed MPO Supplement Form for
each project.
Completed pre-applications should be mailed to the attention of Ron Gogoi, Lee County MPO, P.O.
Box 150045, Cape Coral, Florida 33915, or emailed to rgogoi@leempo.com. You can also deliver the
documents in person at the MPO office. (The Pre-Application Form in a Word file will be made
available on request)
Enclosure:
1.
TAP & Multi-Modal Enhancement Box Fund Pre-Application Packet
TAP & MPO MULTI-MODAL ENHANCEMENT BOX FUNDS
PRE-APPLICATION PACKET
October 22, 2014
Lee County MPO
815 Nicholas Parkway East
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 330 2240
WWW.LEEMPO.COM
CONTENTS
1.
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES …………………………1
2.
PROJECT SELECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE……………………………3
3.
FDOT PRE APPLICATION FORM
4.
SCREENING CRITERIA………………………………………………………………………..11
………………………………………………………..5
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM
Eligible Activities: Eligible activities (23 U.S.C. 213(b) (MAP-21 1122); 23 USC 101(a)(29) (MAP-21 1103)
under the TAP program include:
A. Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
non-motorized forms of transportation, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle
signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, and transportation projects to
achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
B. Construction, planning, and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for
non-drivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs.
C. Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non-motorized
transportation users.
D. Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
E. Community improvement activities, including
inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising;

historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities;

vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent
against invasive species, and provide erosion control; and

archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible
under this title.
F. Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and
mitigation to
address stormwater management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to
highway construction or due to highway runoff, including activities described in 23 U.S.C. 133(b)(11),
328(a), and 329; or

reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or
aquatic habitats.
G. The safe routes to school program (SRTS) under section 1404 of SAFETEA-LU, including
Infrastructure-related projects.-planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects on
any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools that will
substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including sidewalk
improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing
improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle
parking facilities, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools.

Non-infrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including public
awareness campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders, traffic education and
enforcement in the vicinity of schools, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and
environment, and funding for training, volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs.

Safe Routes to School coordinator.
H. Planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former
Interstate System routes or other divided highways.
Page 1
Ineligible Activities: Section 1103 of MAP-21 eliminated the definition of transportation enhancement activities in
section 104 of title 23 and inserted in its place a definition of transportation alternatives, which does not include eligibility
for certain activities that were previously eligible as transportation enhancements:
A. Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles.
Exception: Activities targeting children in Kindergarten through 8th grade are eligible under SRTS (an eligible
activity under the TAP funding).
Note: Some of these activities may be eligible under HSIP. Non construction projects for bicycle safety remain
broadly eligible for STP funds.
B. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
C. Scenic or historic highway programs (including visitor and welcome centers).
Note: A few specific activities under this category (construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas)
remain eligible under section 101(a)(29)(D) of title 23.
D. Historic preservation as an independent activity unrelated to historic transportation facilities. Note: Historic
preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities are permitted as one type of community
improvement activity; see section 101(a)(29)(E).
E. Operation of historic transportation facilities.
F. Archaeological planning and research undertaken for proactive planning. This category now must be used only
as mitigation for highway projects.
G. Transportation museums.
SOURCE: FHWA Transportation Alternatives Interim Guidance
Page 2
Project Selection and Implementation Guidance for
Transportation Alternatives & MPO Multimodal Enhancement
Box Funds
The MPO is required to coordinate with FDOT District One Planning Staff to develop a list of project priorities
annually for funding through the 5 Year FDOT Work Program process. In order for FDOT to determine the
constructability of a project submitted for either Transportation Alternative (TA) funds or MPO Enhancement
Multimodal Box Funds, project applicants/sponsors are required to submit standard FDOT Pre-Application
Forms. The forms must be fully complete and include a detailed project scope, cost estimate, and appropriate
signatures. Pre-Applications are due by January 15, 2015 to the Lee MPO. MPO staff will review the
pre-applications for completeness before transmitting them to the FDOT Community Liaison by February 1,
2015. Following are guidelines developed by FDOT District One and the Lee MPO:
Local Transportation Enhancement Projects for Lee MPO Multi-Modal Enhancement Box Funds and
Lee MPO’s Portion of TA Funds:
 All projects must be consistent with the MPO’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and/or local
plans and transportation elements.
 When information on the Pre-Application is confirmed, FDOT staff will conduct field reviews of
projects to determine constructability and obtain cost estimates pursuant to FDOT standards and
materials.
 The minimum funding request for a project must be at least $100,000 in order to be cost effective for
FDOT to produce.
 For TA Projects the total project cost will not be restricted; however funding participation from FDOT
will be limited to $500,000 per project, per fiscal year. This means local governments should be
prepared to fund any amount over $500,000 and/or provide a plan to break larger projects into
phases. FDOT may consider increasing funding on a project on a case by case basis.
 Bicycle pedestrian projects considered for Lee MPO Portion of TA funds and Lee MPO Multimodal
Enhancement Box funds shall be first screened for project validity by a Sub-Committee of the
MPO’s Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee (BPCC) before Pre-Applications can be
completed and submitted.
Regional Transportation Enhancement Projects for District 1 Portion of TA Funds
 These funds are available essentially for regional pathway projects. FDOT has a new requirement
that MPO develop a regional trail element in their LRTP in order to be eligible to receive TAP (TALT)
funding for Regional Transportation Enhancement projects. For the time being this requirement is
flexible enough to cover projects that are consistent with the language in either MPO’s (Lee or Collier)
LRTPs, or their Bike Ped Master Plans, or identified in the Office of Greenways and Trails System
Plans. A joint MPO requirement is that candidate projects must be identified in the Lee and
Collier Regional Pathway Network.
October 22, 2014 Page 3
Regional Transportation Enhancement Projects for District 1 Portion of TA Funds (Continued)
 Regional pathway projects must be approved and prioritized jointly by the Lee and Collier MPO
Boards.
 Eligible regional pathway projects will be selected based on available funding and local commitment
to the project.
 ROW acquisition is an eligible activity for use of TALT funds, however due to the increased cost a
ROW phase would add to a project, local participation via donation of ROW and/or acquisition will
greatly enhance FDOT’s ability to fund a project.
Local Agency Program (LAP) Projects:
 If a local government decides to produce a project under a LAP agreement, the agency must be
LAP certified and commit to using local funds for the design phase.
 60% design plans must be submitted to the appropriate LAP project manager by September 1st of
the year prior to the fiscal year (FY) in which the construction phase is programmed.
Example:
Construction is programmed in FDOT 5-year Work Program in FY 2018/19
60% design submitted to FDOT by September 1, 2017
 Funds will be escrowed by FDOT for the construction phase of a LAP project and upon completion
of final design plans (inclusive of all required permits, NEPA documents, and right of way (ROW)
clearances) the construction phase will be programmed in the FDOT 5-year Draft Tentative Work
Program.
Example:
Design plans submitted September 1, 2017
Construction phase programmed in FY 2018/19
 If design has not progressed to 60% by the due date, the construction phase will be either deferred
to a later year or deleted from the Work Program until the design phase reaches 60% and is
approved by FDOT staff.
 FDOT will continue to fund the design costs for projects in the Rural Areas of Critical Economic
Concern (RACEC).
 by FDOT.
October 22, 2014 Page 4
FDOT PRE-APPLICATION FORM
Name of Applying Agency:
Contact Person (Name & Title):
Email:
Phone:
Mailing Address:
Your signature indicates that the information included with this application is accurate.
Signature:
Date:
Check below which of the required agencies is anticipated to be the Maintaining Agency:
City
County
Name of Maintaining Agency:
Contact Person (Name & Title):
Email:
Phone:
Mailing Address:
Your signature indicates your concurrence with the information provided within this application
and your agency’s willingness to allow this improvement within your right-of-way and enter into
the appropriate Local Agency Program (LAP) or maintenance agreement as applicable.
Signature:
Date:
If the City or County is located within an M/TPO area, a M/TPO representative must fill in the
required information below:
Name of M/TPO:
Contact Person (Name & Title):
Email:
Phone:
Mailing Address:
Your signature indicates the MPO has reviewed the application for consistency with all applicable
adopted plans as well as program requirements and supports the proposed project.
Signature:
Date:
For FDOT Use Only:
Yes
No
Project Eligible
Yes
No
Application Complete
Implementation Feasible
Yes
No
Recommend Programming
Yes
No
Liaison _____________________________________________________________________________
LAP Coordinator _____________________________________________________________________
Production Staff ______________________________________________________________________
SWAO Director (if applicable) _________________________________________________________
Director of Production _________________________________________________________________
Page 5
Project Information:
Project Category: Choose an item. If other, please indicate funding source being sought.
Project Name (Street Name):
Project Limits (From & To) (if not at an intersection, use logical termini):
Detailed project description: (lane width; design – rural or curb & gutter; shoulder width, paved
or grass; signals; median width, painted, grass or raised, etc.)
a. Existing Conditions (provide labeled & dated pictures):
b. Proposed Improvements:
Cost Estimate by Phase:
Planning
Study
PD&E
Design (PE)
ROW
Construction
Cost Estimate
(Present Day
Cost)
Fiscal Year
Funding
Available
Phase Status
Not Started
30%
60%
90%
Complete
N/A
Not Started
30%
60%
90%
Complete
N/A
Not Started
30%
60%
90%
Complete
N/A
Not Started
30%
60%
90%
Complete
N/A
Not Started
30%
60%
90%
Complete
N/A
Funding Type
(Local, State or
Federal)
Federal
State
Local
Federal
State
Local
Federal
State
Local
Federal
State
Local
Federal
State
Local
Date project was endorsed by local jurisdictional board/council. Provide certified meeting
minutes:
Is the Project in the Metropolitan/Transportation Planning Organization’s (M/TPO) Financially
No
N/A
If yes, provide page #:
Feasible Long Range Transportation Plan: Yes
If no, the project cannot be considered at this time.
Is the Project in the local jurisdictions Capital Improvement Plan: Yes
an adopted copy.
Is the applicant LAP certified? Yes
No
If yes, provide
No
Page 6
Constructability Review:
For items 2 – 7 provide labeled & dated photos.
1. Are there any other projects programmed (local, state or federal) within the project
limits? Yes
No
If yes, please provide details, including but not limited to, project
scope and schedule.
No
Identify areas
2. Does the applicant have an adopted ADA transition plan? Yes
within the project limits that will require ADA retrofit.
3. Bus Stops/Shelters/Benches: (Number, type, etc.)
4. Drainage Structures: (Number of Culverts or Pipes currently in place; type, replace,
extend, etc.)
Does the project fall within an area covered by a stormwater master
plan? Yes
No
If yes, please provide a copy of the plan.
5. Any excavation greater than one foot below land surface? Yes
No
If yes, give
locations:
No
If yes, please list specific utilities within project limits and any
6. Utilities: Yes
issues.
7. Bridges within project limits: Yes
No
Can existing bridges accommodate
No
proposed improvements? Yes
8. Right-of-way (Existing Width) See letter E under “Required Documentation”:
9. Additional Right-of-way/Easement Required: Yes
No
If yes, project is not
eligible at this time. If Right-of-Way was previously acquired, please provide
documentation supporting process consistent with 49 CFR Part 24 was followed.
10. Is there a railroad within the project limits: Yes
No
If yes, project cannot be
considered.
For items 11 – 17, if the answer is yes, please provide additional details, including the
credentials for the person responding and by what method was the information obtained. If the
answer is no, please note how this conclusion was drawn.
11. Are there any permits required?: Yes
No
No
12. Are there any wetlands within the project limits: Yes
13. Is there any critical habitat within the project limits: Yes
No
No
14. Are there any endangered species within the project limits: Yes
15. Is a historic survey required: Yes
No
16. Is Recreational or 4(f) property within the project limits: Yes
No
No
17. Are there any contamination areas within the project limits: Yes
18. Additional Information:
Page 7
Required Attachments:
A – Project Location Map
B – Dated & Labeled Pictures of the project
C – Detailed Cost Estimate including pay items
D – Local Capital Improvement Program (if necessary)
E – Survey/As-builts/ROW documentation (provide enough detail to show that adequate rightof-way exists for the proposed improvement)
F – Property Acquisition Process (if necessary)
G – Certified Meeting Minutes
Resources:
A – Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Manual
(http://www.dot.state.fl.us/emo/pubs/pdeman/pdeman1.shtm)
B – Local Agency Program (LAP) Manual
(http://www.dot.state.fl.us/projectmanagementoffice/LAP/LAP_TOC.shtm)
Glossary of Terms:
ADA Transition Plan: An adopted list of the physical barriers in a public entity's facilities that
limit the accessibility of its programs, activities, or services to individuals with disabilities; a
detailed outline of the methods to be utilized to remove these barriers and make the facilities
accessible; the schedule for taking the necessary steps to achieve compliance. If the time period
for achieving compliance is longer than one year, the plan should identify the interim steps that
will be taken during each year of the transition period; and, 4) the name of the official
responsible for the plan's implementation.
Bridges: A box culvert greater than 20’ long is considered a bridge (for construction purposes)
Contamination: The presence of any regulated material/chemical contained within the soil,
surface water or groundwater on or adjacent to project, that may require assessment, remediation
or special handling, or that has a potential for liability.
Critical Habitat: Area essential to the conservation of a listed species, though the area need not
actually be occupied by the species at the time it is designated.
Endangered Species: A species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion
of its range.
Historic Survey: The act or process of determining the location and identification of historical
and archaeological sites and properties. An aspect of identification is evaluation, meaning
determination of the historical significance or values represented by historical and archaeological
sites and properties which have been located and otherwise described.
Page 8
Logical Termini: The end points to a transportation improvement allowing for the review of
environmental impacts.
Recreational or 4(f) property: FHWA and other DOT agencies cannot approve the use of land
from publicly owned parks, recreational areas, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, or public and
private historical sites unless the following conditions apply:
 There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of land.
 The action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property resulting from
use.
Survey: Measurement of a specific parcel of land to ascertain area, corners, boundaries,
topography, and divisions with distances and directions of such parcel(s). An instrument that
specifies precise property boundaries.
Wetland: 1) lowlands covered with shallow and sometimes temporary or intermittent waters 2)
those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration
sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation
typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.
(The Pre-Application form in a "Word" file is available on request)
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Land Development or Highway Capacity Project Potential – Is the project unlikely to be funded through a development project or as part of
a highway capacity project in the next ten years?

Project terminates at, or passes through a regional or
community park
Project terminates at, or passes through a residential area.
Connecting where people live
Connecting to parks
Project addresses a bicycle or pedestrian safety issue along
the project corridor.
Crash history
Project terminates at, or passes through a commercial area.
Project creates or enhances a facility for pedestrians,
bicyclists or transit riders.
Address multiple modes of
transportation
Connecting where people work or shop
Project is consistent with an MPO adopted plan or locally adopted
plan.
Criterion
Consistency with local plans
Metric
1 point if the project connect to a regional or state park
1 point if the project connect to a commercial area
1 point if the project connects to a residential area
1 point if there has been a pedestrian crash along the corridor
in the last 3 years
1 point if there has been a bicycle crash along the corridor in the
last 3 years;
1 point for each mode that is supported by the project (1 point
for pedestrian facility, 1 point for bicycle facility, 1 point for
transit facility)
1 point if project is consistent with an MPO adopted plan or locally
adopted plan.
Methodology
1
1
1
2
3
1
Max Score
Overall cost of the project – Can an applicant b u i l d a project on a roadway classified ‘Local’ with o n l y $500,000 in M P O
A l l o c a t e d Transportation Alternative Funds knowing that additional costs would have to be addressed with local funds?

OBJECTIVE SCREENING CRITERIA
Ease of Implementation: Cost of utilities – Are utility improvements greater than 50% of the project costs? The maximum allowed by FDOT is
50%.

OBJECTIVE SCREENING PHASE
Ease of Implementation: Right‐of‐way – Is right‐of‐way available? If yes, project can be considered.
If no, project is removed from this process and is considered through another funding source.

SUBJECTIVE SCREENING PHASE – Criteria Addressing “Fiscal Responsibility”
PROJECT SCREENING