2011-12 Call for Projects
2011-12 Call for Projects
On September 26, 2011, the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) Board of Directors (Board) authorized staff to issue a call for projects (call) for the Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program’s (CTFP) Regional Capacity Program (RCP) and Traffic Signal Synchronization Program (TSSP). The CTFP is the mechanism by which OCTA administers competitive funding for streets and roads projects. OCTA is pleased to announce that the 2011‑12 call under Measure M2 (M2) is now open.
RCP Call (ACE, ICE, FAST)
$35 million in M2 and Proposition 1B State and Local Partnership Program (SLPP) formula funds will be available through the RCP. Any project approved through the RCP for a construction allocation of $2 million or more will automatically be allocated SLPP funds. Specific requirements for use of these funds are included in the guidelines.
Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Call
$12 million in M2 funds will be made available through the TSSP.
Click here for the Sample Project P Supplemental Application for the 2011 Project P Call. Proposed projects are required to complete the TSSP supplemental application as part of the Call per the 2011 Funding Guidelines document.
M2-SLPP Grant Matching Program
$10 million of additional SLPP funding will be made available. Unfunded RCP construction projects will be eligible for this program.
The Board approved revised CTFP program are available online and can be found at http://www.octa.net/pdf/CTFPGuidelines–LatestVersion.pdf. Applications must be submitted via the OC Fundtracker online system and followed up with the submittal of three hard copies. Applications are due to OCTA no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2011. It is anticipated the Board will review and approve programming recommendations by Spring 2012.
Staff has arranged for training sessions to assist local agencies in preparing applications using the OCFundtracker system. A copy of the training manual can be downloaded at http://www.octa.net/trainingmanual. The training sessions will be held Tuesday, October 11, 2011 and Thursday, October 13, 2011. The sessions will take place at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on each day. Seating is limited, therefore attendees shall be limited two per local agency. Please R.S.V.P. to Kameron Altar at kaltar@octa.net.
If you have any questions regarding the call, please submit them via email at callquestions@octa.net.
Call Questions/Answers
Q.
We are interested in submitting an application for construction funds; however,
the final project CEQA and PS&E are not yet completed. Can we submit an
application using preliminary CEQA and PS&E? If so, when is the absolute
deadline to submit the final/approved CEQA and PS&E? How does the response to the question apply to proposed
projects programmed in FY is 14/15?
A.
See page 2-1 of the guidelines: “Projects must complete the planning phase
before an agency requests implementation phase funding during a call for
projects. Exceptions to this rule include the following: An Agency may request
implementation funding prior to completion of the planning phase if the
jurisdiction can demonstrate that the planning phase activities are underway
and the agency will complete the activities within six months of the programmed
year.” Therefore if you request construction funding in FY 14/15
the final PS&E would be due December 31, 2014. However,
if the project is expected to exceed $2 million the
project is subject to SLPP requirements identified on page xiv of the
guidelines. “Request for CTC allocation requests must include the following
documentation:
a.
Submittal of the CEQA document to the CTC for consideration of funding;
b.
Certification of 100 percent design completion;
c.
Right-of-way Certification concurrence by Caltrans.”
Therefore
you would need these documents to request the construction allocation from the
CTC which has a three month lead time. In order to evaluate the feasibility of
your project for funding please submit a detailed schedule to OCTA staff for
evaluation.
Q.
Can the City submit a draft resolution with the grant applications for the
current M2 Call for projects and then provide an approved copy during the
application review process? [Chapter 9, Page 9-4, Paragraph 3 – “ A
resolution or minute action must be approved…………….…”]
A.
Yes. Please provide cover letter from City Manager identifying date resolution will be approved.
Q. Can OCTA assist with generating projected ADT volume?
A. New facilities -
The local agency should request an OCTA OCTAM model run estimate of the opening year volumes. OCTA will run the most current OCTAM version (3.3) for the base year (2005) and horizon year (2035). From base year information and the growth in traffic identified in the model run to 2035, OCTA will linearly interpolate the traffic growth to develop an opening year ADT forecast.
Existing facilities -
The local agency should develop an opening year forecast based on current and future land use/transportation conditions. The jurisdiction should submit a current/recent ADT count sheet and a summary of the methodology used to develop projected opening day ADT (e.g. description of any model application and/or growth factoring technique)
Q. It is my understanding that we can’t get approval
for construction funding if we can’t acquire the R/W beforehand (this project
has one property from which we need partial R/W take) and so we would not apply
for construction funding at this time if it does not look like we will be able
to acquire the R/W. Do you know if this is the case?
A. See Precept 15 page viii, page 2-1 Sequential
Programming Process and page 2-3 Project Readiness. In order to receive a
construction allocation you must have environmental clearance. Step two,
also known as the implementation phase, includes right-of-way
engineering/acquisition and construction activities.
Therefore, you may request construction funding and may want to consider
requesting allocation of funds in a later year to allow for delays due to
right-of-way.
Q. How do I create the Priority List of Projects form?
A. The priority list can be included in the cover memo
or an attachment to the application will meet this requirement.
Q. As part of the application, I would like to verify
that a Letter of Support can be submitted in lieu of the resolution. The
Letter of Support will include the City Council date for the approval of the
resolution. As soon as we receive the resolutions from the cities, we
will immediately submit them to OCTA.
A. See page 9-4 Additional Information. “If a project
includes more than one jurisdiction and is being submitted as a joint
application, one agency shall act as lead agency and must provide a resolution
of support from the other agency.” A minute order or resolution is
acceptable from the other agency. A Letter of Support signed by the City
Manager with the scheduled council date and draft resolution is acceptable at
time of application if council approval cannot be obtained by the December 2,
2011 date. A final Resolution or
minute order must be made available prior to OCTA Highways and Board approval
of the project.
Q. Can I include the following tasks as part of the
engineering (or R/W engineering) phase:
Preparation of legal descriptions and plat maps
Preparation of appraisals
Preparation of purchase agreements and deeds
Negotiations with property owners.
The actual purchase/acquisition of the properties will not
occur during this phase. Depending upon the outcome of negotiations, the
design may change, which is why we need to complete the above four tasks during
the engineering or R/W engineering phase. We plan on applying for R/W
acquisition and construction funds (“implementation phase”) at a later date.
A. Tasks 1 and 2 can be included as part of the
engineering phase. Task 3 and 4 should be included in the implementation
(right-of-way acquisition) phase.
Q: Caltrans is in support of signing “letters of support” on my project and all other Project P project submittals. However, they are currently finalizing the language with OCTA and don’t anticipate completion of that language by the December 2 call deadline. Would it be possible to submit the “letter of support” at a later date?
A: Yes. For the 2011 Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program Call for Projects, proposed projects that include Caltrans as a partner will be required to include a “letter of support”. The details of the letter are being finalized and once approved will be required no later than the TAC priority funding recommendation approval meeting.
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Q: How can a city show an improved network PCI for their street system to qualify for the ten percent match rate reduction if their updated biennial PMP submittal will not be completed until after the project application filing date?
A: The city can perform an updated run of MicroPaver using their available inspection data as long at the time of the run the inspection data for the MPAH and local streets is no more than 2 years and 5 years old, respectively. The updated run should reflect any rehabilitation work performed since the last PMP submittal, although there likely will be additional pavement deterioration projected by the software. Or the agency can demonstrate a PCI that is within the highest 20% of the scale (PCI of 75% or greater). In addition, for the submittal format please provide information as required in the Countywide Pavement Management Program Guidelines Manual dated May 25, 2010 page 12, item 4.a.
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Q: Chapter 9 Application Materials request that all projects (ACE, ICE and FAST) include a Cost Estimate Form for all phases and refers to page 10-31. I believe this should be page 10-15 Form 10-3. Is that correct?
A: Yes, please use form 10-3 page 10-15 of the Guidelines.
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Q: Can you please provide a map with the MPAH Assessment Categories.
A: See maps below. Also, the information is available segmented by city upon request.
MPAH Assessment Map Northwest
MPAH Assessment Map South
MPAH Assessment Map Central Coast
MPAH Assessment Map East
MPAH Assessment Map Northeast