9.2.A. PRSR 02-14-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachment D-10172106 6. Preliminary and construction engineering are ineligible for enhancement funding. Land acquisition necessary for preserving abandoned railroad corridor is eligible for reimbursement If the property is being acquired for the provision of pedestrian and bicycle trails. Appraisal fees, legal frees, and other costs associated with acquisition of right-of-way are ineligible. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to effectively acquire any right-of-way needed for their transportation enhancement project. Acquisition of property may be secured through direct purchase, donation, easement, or a combination thereof. Applications will be favored that show an achievable and realistic plan for acquisition. SAFETEA-LU requires that Enhancement funds not be used to implement mitigation of the adverse impacts associated with implementation of other transportation projects. According to the FHWA, environmental measures conducted as routine or customary elements of transportation projects or those provided to mitigate project impacts in compliance with the requirements of environmental, historic preservation, or other laws are not eligible for Enhancement funding. Enhancement activities are over and above normal transportation projects. Typically, a normal transportation project involves mitigation, including landscaping, other permit requirements, and provisions negotiated as a condition of obtaining a permit for the transportation project. If this proposal is an enhancement to a larger project, check the environmental document for these items - Is the proposed enhancement part of the project description? Is it listed as mitigation? If so, the activity would not be "over and above" a normal project. 9. All federal aid projects must undergo a successful environmental review and clearance to be awarded. Typical environmental document paths vary in complexity and take a variety of forms (e.g. Project Memorandum, Project Path Report, Environmental Assessment, etc.). Depending upon the environmental path required, applicants must demonstrate and document how their project impacts existing environmental, historical, cultural, and social resources. Impacts to these resources should be first avoided, then minimized, and mitigated if they cannot be avoided and/or minimized. 10. There are significant state and federal project processing requirements that come with federal funds. These requirements translate into expenditures of time and money on the parts of both the agency proposing the project and the agency administering the federal funds for the project. Successful applicants must consider a number of state and federal regulations and requirements during project development and implementation. State statutes require all federal funds to be administered by an eligible fiscal agent. Cities over 5,000 in population, counties, state agencies, and Indian Tribal Governments may apply directly for federal aid. Cities under 5,000; townships; and quasi governmental and private non-profit entities may apply but require sponsorship from a state agency or county. Projects are subject to specific standards during the design and construction stages. Applicants are expected to maintain and comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Davis- Bacon and Copeland Acts, and other anti-discrimination laws at the state and federal level in the development of their projects. Further, applicants must agree to operate and maintain facilities constructed with federal transportation funds for the useful life of the improvement and not change the use of any right of way acquired without prior approval from the FHWA. Most physical conditions and total reconstructions are considered by the FHWA to have useful lives of 20 years. Bridge constructions and total reconstructions have useful lives of 50 years.