Project Selection and Amendment

1.0 | Description of TIP Process
Bi-annually, the MPO staff compiles a list of proposed projects from various sponsors that are eligible for MPO and Utah County transportation tax funds. This list is given to the MPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for further development. The TAC committee reviews project concept reports prepared by sponsors and makes recommendations as to which projects should be funded. Recommendations are forwarded to the MPO Regional Planning Committee for approval of the proposed MPO funded projects. UDOT, UTA, and other local projects using federal and state funds are amended into the TIP on an annual basis. Once every year, an update to the program is done to make sure the goals of the Regional Transportation Plan are being met. This process includes publishing a draft TIP and soliciting public comment about the program. The comment period required by law is 30 days. After this period, if there are no significant comments that require major changes, the Regional Planning Committee approves the final TIP. It is then adopted by the State Transportation Commission and sent to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for final approval. Any amendments to the TIP allow for public comment at the Regional Planning Committee as part of their monthly meetings, or if the project is regionally significant and not from the Regional Transportation Plan, a 30-day public comment period for the TIP and plan amendment is required.

2.0 | PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS / CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The Mountainland MPO is the Metropolitan Planning Organization over the Provo/Orem Urban Area with a planning area that includes all the municipalities within Utah County. The MPO is appropriated federal transportation funds based off the urban populations of the cities from Eagle Mountain through Provo to Santaquin. Utah County Sales Tax funds derived countywide are also used. This funding is programmed by the MPO to eligible applicants including member jurisdictions, UDOT, UTA, state agencies, and private organizations that have a government sponsor. The MPO selects projects through its committees based off congestion relief strategies, mode choice, air quality improvement, and safety.

2.1 | Schedule and Process
The following schedule is used biennially, the last occurring in the spring of 2016. The following are the processes that occur during the projection selection process:

2.2 | Policies
The following outlines the policies and requirements regarding MPO federally funded projects:

2.2.1 | Project Eligibility
The types of projects that can be funded include spot improvements that mitigate congestion or safety issues, ITS projects, pedestrian/trail projects, transit and park and ride projects, air quality equipment, transportation studies, and other transportation related projects. Capacity increasing highway projects and general shoulder improvement projects can be funded, but due to limited funds must be either small in scope, phased, or have additional matching funds. All roadway type projects must be identified on the Utah State Functional Class Map. They also should correspond with the projects and/or programs of the MPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

2.2.1 | Funding
Funding can come from various sources including the MPO federal funds, Utah County sales tax funds, Utah County vehicle registration fees, state funds, UTA funds, local funds supplied by the municipalities or the county and private funds. MPO staff will recommend to the MPO TAC Committee which funds should be used with each proposed project based on available MPO federal funding types and other non-MPO funds pledged by each sponsor. MPO federal funds require a match be paid. The required match is normally 6.77% of the total cost, but the committee can require a higher match. The match shall be paid by the sponsor.

2.2.2 | Contingency Fund / Cost Overruns
The MPO will hold back 10% of each MPO federal funding category each year as a contingency fund for project cost overruns and other needs. At the end of each federal fiscal year, any leftover contingency funds shall be placed into the general fund of each federal funding category and made available for new projects in the biennial selection process or used for planning studies proposed by the MPO as part of the Unified Planning Work Program. If a project cost escalates above what was awarded by the MPO, the sponsor is required to cover the cost overrun. A project sponsor can request to MPO staff to help cover small cost overruns up to 10% of the approved cost of the project. There is no guarantee the project will receive the additional funds. Any cost overrun over 10% must be recommended by the TAC Committee to the Regional Planning Committee for their approval.

The Utah County sales tax funds are scheduled to receive an annual Build America Bond (BAB) payment that can also be used for contingency funds, when needed. The same process for federal funds will be used for programming contingency funds and placing remaining contingency funds on new projects.

2.2.3 | Project Cost Savings If a project does not require all MPO federal funding that was programmed to it, any remaining funds shall be returned to the general MPO account to be reallocated in the next biennial selection process. If the sponsor has additional MPO funded projects that require additional funds, MPO staff can transfer remaining funds between these projects. New projects or projects that are not funded with MPO funds must go through the normal biennial selection process to receive funding.

2.2.4 | Project Tracking and Progress
MPO staff will track all projects quarterly to ensure the project is progressing and to help with any problems. Regular updates will be given to the TAC and Regional Planning committees of all projects and programs to show what progress has been made. It is hoped that through project tracking, the MPO and the project sponsor will be able to better coordinate and avoid potential conflicts. This coordination will also help to determine the best years to program the project within the TIP. If a project is found to not be making progress, MPO staff will work with the sponsor to move the project forward. If staff cannot resolve the problem, then the project sponsor will report to the MPO TAC Committee their plan to more forward the project. The committee can recommend to the MPO Regional Planning Committee that a project that is not moving forward be removed from the TIP. Any federal funds expended toward the project shall be required to be reimbursed by the sponsor.

2.2.5 | Scope Change

Minor scope changes to a project are allowed and should be handled through the project tracking process. A major scope change needs to be approved by the MPO TAC Committee. A major change can include changing project limits to a point that a logical terminus is excluded, reducing or expanding capacity, adding components to the projects that were not approved or subtracting components that were approved.

2.2.6 | Regional Project

All projects funded by the MPO must be regional in nature. This include road projects being listed on the Utah State Functional Class System map, and projects being listed on the MPO transportation plan or supporting the goals and programs of the plan (functionally classified collector roads are not individually listed in the plan, but the collector system as a whole is, therefore improvements on these corridors are eligible for MPO funds). If a road project is proposed that is not on the functional class map, the MPO TAC Committee can review and determine that the corridor is regional and recommend to the state that it be included on the functional class map.

2.2.7 | New Projects Outside Biennial Process

The MPO supports funding all new projects through the biennial selection process, but there are instances where a projects need or timing might require approval of funding outside the normal process. A sponsor can request that a project be reviewed by the MPO TAC Committee to seek its approval and to be amended into the program. Generally, the same processes required for all projects will be followed (review by MPO staff for available funding, Project Idea Form, MPO TAC Committee approval to fill out a Concept Report, a Field Review, and final approval).

2.3 | CM/AQ and CM/AQ 2.5 Exempt Projects

Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality (CM/AQ) funds have federal regulations that require funding only go to projects that show a reduction to air pollution. MAP-21 calls for a State with PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) nonattainment or maintenance areas to give priority to using funds for projects proven to reduce PM 2.5 emissions in such areas; eligible projects to mitigate PM 2.5 include diesel retrofits. A quantitative or qualitative analysis showing the amount of pollution reduction benefit will occur with the project is required. This process can be quite technical. The MPO has staff that can help with this portion of the Concept Report. All projects except for additional capacity highway projects (widen lanes, shoulders) must fill out the CM/AQ portion of the Concept Report. Listed below are the types of projects that can qualify for CM/AQ funds. The project sponsor must be able to show that a project is an eligible activity from one of the items listed under Safety, Mass Transit, Air Quality, or Other.

2.3.1 | Safety

1. Railroad/highway crossing.
2. Hazard elimination program.
3. Safer non-Federal-aid system roads.
4. Shoulder improvements.
5. Increasing sight distance.
6. Safety improvement program.
7. Railroad/highway crossing warning devices.
8. Guardrails, median barriers, crash cushions.
9. Pavement resurfacing and/or rehabilitation.
10. Pavement marking demonstration.
11. Emergency relief (23 U.S.C. 125).
12. Fencing
13. Skid treatments.
14. Safety roadside rest areas.
15. Adding medians.
16. Truck climbing lanes outside the urbanized area.
17. Lighting improvements.
18. Emergency truck pullovers.
19. Traffic control devices and operating assistance other than signalization projects.
20. Widening narrow pavements or reconstructing bridges (no additional travel lanes

2.3.2 | Mass Transit

1. Operating assistance to transit agencies.
2. Purchase of support vehicles.
3. Rehabilitation of transit vehicles.
4. Purchase of office, shop, and operating equipment for existing facilities.
5. Purchase of operating equipment for vehicles (e.g., radios, fareboxes, lifts, etc.).
6. Construction or renovation of power, signal, and communications systems.
7. Construction of small passenger shelters and information kiosks.
8. Reconstruction or renovation of transit buildings and structures (e.g., rail or bus buildings, storage and maintenance facilities, stations, terminals, and ancillary structures).
9. Rehabilitation or reconstruction of track structures, track, and trackbed in existing rights-of-way.
10. Purchase of new buses and rail cars to replace existing vehicles or for minor expansions of the fleet 1.
11. Construction of new bus or rail storage/maintenance facilities categorically excluded in 23 CFR part 771.

2.3.3 | Air Quality

1. Continuation of ride-sharing and van-pooling promotion activities at current levels.
2. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

2.3.4 | Other

1. Planning and technical studies.
2. Grants for training and research programs.
3. Federal-aid systems revisions.
4. Noise attenuation.
5. Acquisition of scenic easements.
6. Plantings, landscaping, etc.
7. Sign removal.
8. Directional and informational signs.
9. Intersection channelization projects.
10. Intersection signalization projects at individual intersections.
11. Interchange reconfiguration projects.
12. Changes in vertical/horizontal alignment.
13. Truck size and weight inspection stations.
14. Bus terminals and transfer points.
15. Traffic signal synchronization projects.
16. Transportation enhancement activities (except rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities).
17. Repair of damage caused by natural disasters, civil unrest, or terrorist acts, except projects involving substantial functional, locational or capacity changes.
18. Planning activities conducted pursuant to titles 23 and 49 U.S.C.
19. Engineering to assess social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed action or alternatives to that action.
20. Emergency or hardship advance land acquisitions (23 CFR 712.204(d))

2.4.1 | Ranking Matrix for Project Selection Process General procedure: For each of the 4 categories listed in section 2.1.3, MPO staff assigns an overall score representing their judgment of the project’s relative merit based off the Concept Report. The maximum score for each category reflects its relative significance in the ranking process. Rankings are coupled with the following guidelines when selecting projects to fund:

1. The process should be simple.
2. It should recognize the special characteristics of our region.
3. The process should include geographical balance.
4. The process should consider transit, ITS, pedestrian/bike, as well as congestion relief for roads.
5. High priority should be given to projects that SAFETEA-LU requires to be funded.
6. The outcome should not be completely dependent on scoring, but should also allow for each jurisdiction’s own priorities.
7. MPO staff review the ranking questions with the MPO TAC Committee prior to the start of a selection cycle and make changes as deemed necessary by the committee.

2.4.2 | MPO Staff Project Ranking

The following categories are addressed in the Concept Report. MPO staff will score the responses in each concept report and give a ranking for each project. MPO staff’s recommendations will be made available to the MPO TAC Committee for their use in making final project selection recommendations. MPO staff ranking is a tool to aid the MPO TAC Committee in their final selection. The committee is not required to pick projects solely on MPO staff ranks.

2.4.3 | Congestion Relief (25 Points)

1. Provides alternate transportation facility that corrects identified congested problem.
2. Reduces congestion by reducing the number of vehicles.
3. Reduces need for additional highway lanes for peak hour capacity.
4. Increases efficiency of transportation system through traffic management measures.
5. Adds turning movements to relieve congested intersection.

2.4.4 | Mode Choice (25 points)

1. Benefits multiple transportation systems (transit and highway, pedestrian and transit).
2. Promotes alternative transportation solution to SOV use.
3. Creates or improves linkages between transportation modes
4. Reduces physical, psychological, or economic barriers to carpool, bike, walk, or transit use.
5. Provides incentives to carpool, bike, walk, or transit use.

2.4.5 | Environmental Quality (15 points)

1. Provides cost effective emission reductions (amount of reduction justifies cost).
2. Helps efforts to attain and maintain national air quality standards.
3. Minimizes environmental impacts or reduces existing impacts (e.g. air/water/noise pollution).
4. Enhances the natural, cultural, or historic environment.
5. Mitigates invasive impacts to existing neighborhoods/commercial areas (minimal relocations).

2.4.6 | Safety (20 points)

1. Corrects/improves a verified or potential safety or accident problem.
2. Improves information/communications for traffic operations and emergency responders.
3. Reduces severity of crashes.
4. Enhances safe movement of pedestrian, bicycle traffic.
5. Provides an intermodal safety improvement (e.g. separation of vehicles-trains, vehicles-pedestrian).

2.4.7 | Other Considerations (15 points)

1. Effectively distributes funding throughout the MPO area.
2. Phases project in a manner that the MPO can use limited funds efficiently.
3. Cost effectiveness is appropriate for the amount of improvement made.
4. Benefits transportation users from adjacent municipalities.
5. Is supported by elected officials.

5.0 | TIP Modification/Amendment Process

The TIP is updated annually. Modifications and amendments to the TIP can occur by administrative action, board action, or an amendment to the Regional Transportation Plan as shown in the following chart:

6.0 | Performance Measures

Each project within this document are developed to help MAG and UDOT to meet or exceed the performance measures required by FHWA and FTA. Many of these projects are so small that it is not feasible to measure each project and its effects. Below is the targets that are set by UDOT and agreed upon by MAG.

6.1 | Governor’s Approval/Inclusion into the State Transportation Improvement Program

Pursuant to the provisions of 23 CFR 450.324(a), this Transportation Improvement Program must be approved by the MPO and the Governor of the State of Utah. The Governor has formally designated the Utah Transportation Commission to act as his agent in this matter, MAG submits the TIP to the Utah Transportation Commission for approval on behalf of the Governor.

Then, pursuant to 23 CFR 450.328(b, after approval by the MPO and the Governor, the TIP shall be included without modification, directly or by reference, in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) required under 23 U.S.C. 135 and consistent with [23 CFR] 450.220, except that in non-attainment and maintenance areas, a conformity finding by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration must be made before it is included in the STIP

Mountainland MPO, the Utah Department of Transportation, and the Utah Transit Authority previously exchanged copies of the draft TIP and STIP for the purpose of cooperation and coordination in order to avoid potential conflicts.

7.0 | Certification

Mountainland MPO certifies that the metropolitan planning process addresses the major transportation related issues in the area in conformance with all applicable requirements of:

• Section 134 of title 23, U.S.C., Section 5303 of the Federal Transit Act (49 U.S.C. app. 1607)
• Sections 174 and 176(c) and (d) of the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7504, 7506(c) and (d)]
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Title VI assurance executed by each state under 23 U.S.C. 324 and 29 U.S.C. 794
• Section 1003(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102 240) regarding the involvement of disadvantaged business enterprise in FHWA and FTA funded planning projects [Pub. L. 97 424, Section 105(f); 49 CFR part 231
• The provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Pub. L. 101366,104 Stat. 327, as amended) and U.S. DOT regulations "Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities" (49 CFR parts 27, 37, and 38)

8.0 | Public Involvement

The public comment period commenced on 07/01/2019 and ran for 31 days until 08/01/2019. A public meeting was held on 07/17/2019 at the MAG office between 4:30 and 6:30pm. The meeting and comment period were advertised as per the MAG Public Involvement Program in Provo Daily Herald Newspaper, on mountainland.org as well as the UDOT website with copies available at the UDOT regional offices and headquarters. Also, post cards were sent to persons that have attended previous transportation related meetings to solicit comment and meeting attendance. Over 30 people attended the public meeting. The main topics of discussion at the meeting were information on specific projects. No comments that require significant changes regarding the program were received. No comments were received through the mail, phone, or other means prior to the end of public comment period on 07/031/2019. Subsequent project modifications to the program are presented to the MPO Regional Planning Committee monthly. Public are welcome to ask questions or make comment about any modification at these meetings.