APBP / Alliance for Biking & Walking webinar Thursday, July 19, 2012

1. U.S. Federal Transportation
Policy Briefing
APBP / Alliance for Biking & Walking webinar
Thursday, July 19, 2012

2. Agenda
1. Clarifications & corrections from two
weeks ago
2. Review of Transportation Alternatives
(covered in last webinar)
3. Other changes to MAP-21
4. Next Steps

3. Changes and Corrections

4. Mandatory Sidepath Law
• Applies:
– On federal lands
– 30 mph or over
– Sidepath within 100 yards (not 100 feet)
• Secretary can override “if the road has a Bicycle level
of service B or better”
– Gives states and advocates an “out”
• For more information: League of American Bicyclists &
Adventure Cycling Association

5. Additional
Changes & Corrections
• Transportation Alternatives funding approx.$800
million
• CMAQ ban on SOV lane miles is back in place
– States CANNOT use CMAQ to build single-occupancy
vehicle lane miles
– Earlier confusion due to drafting error
• Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse not
eliminated
– Administrative, not created by law, so was not zeroed out

6. Follow up on questions
from last time
• Local match for Transportation Alternatives
– Overall 20% local match requirement remains
– For SRTS projects – 100% federal funding still possible
• Of potentially available funding, what may qualify for
educational, encouragement, and/or enforcement programs?
– SRTS
– Safe Routes for non-drivers (unclear)
– New CMAQ eligibility
• Status of the Federal Land Highways program and Sarbanes
TRIP?
– Eligibility for bike/ped remains
– Sarbanes TRIP (Transit in the Parks) eliminated
– Overall funding for federal lands transportation is reduced
– Opportunity: National Federal Lands Facility Inventory

7. Review of Transportation Alternatives

9. Transportation Alternatives
• For more information…
– Latest analysis posted on americabikes.org
– Our analysis of new bike/ped
policy:bit.ly/BikeWalkMAP21
– Rails to Trails Conservancy’s maps of MPOs by
population in each state: bit.ly/MPOsByPop

10. Other changes to MAP-21

11. Surface Transportation
Program (STP)
• Higher funding, more competition on non sub-
allocated funds
• Sub-allocation to metropolitan areas
– Same dollar amount as before
– Smaller percentage
– Important source of funding

12. Congestion Mitigation
& Air Quality (CMAQ)
• Ban on Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) lanes
IS in place (technical correction)
• Particulate Matter 2.5 (diesel)
• New Eligibilities
– Turn lanes
– Project or program that shifts traffic demand to nonpeak
hours or other transportation modes or otherwise reduces
demand for roads during peak times
(eg, carsharing, telecommuting, etc.)

13. Congestion Mitigation
& Air Quality (CMAQ)
• Transferability
– States can now transfer up to 50% of CMAQ to
other programs
– Increase from ~ 21% in SAFETEA LU
• States can obligate funds for non-attainment
areas without regard for type of air quality

14. Congestion Mitigation
& Air Quality (CMAQ)
• Evaluation and Assessment
– DOT with EPA shall evaluate projects based on
cost-effectiveness per:
• Congestion mitigation
• Air quality improvement
• Outcome Assessment
– DOT and EPA Assess and Document
• Emissions reductions
• Air quality and Human Health impacts

15. Highway Safety Improvement
Program (HSIP)
• HSIP funding increases under MAP-21
• In writing plans, states must consult with:
– State nonmotorized representative
– May include representatives from stakeholder
groups

16. Highway Safety Improvement
Program (HSIP)
• New data and research requirements for
states
– Improvement in gathering nonmotorized crash
data
– States shall consider motor vehicle crashes that
include fatalities or serious injuries to pedestrians
and bicyclists
– Crash frequency and crash rate data
– Identify roadway elements and features that
constitute hazard...[and/or] safe conditions

17. Federal Lands Program
• Consolidated programs; cuts funding overall
• Eliminated the Transit in the Parks program
(AKA- Sarbanes TRIP Program)
• Mandatory Sidepath Law
• Bicycling and walking still eligible
• National Federal Lands Facility Inventory
– Important to ensure bike/ped projects get on this
TIP

18. Next Steps

19. Next Steps
• US DOT to provide guidance on the new law
– America Bikes is providing input
• Contact us at http://www.americabikes.org/tip
• caron@americabikes.org
– USDOT is creating a portal for input
• State DOTs need to set up grant
programs/processes
• Ensure a robust and grant application process
at the State and MPO level

20. What America Bikes and
Partners are doing
• Guidance
• Recommendations moving forward
– Will provide materials and tool kits for state and local
advocacy organizations
– Coordinate with National organizations moving forward
• Transportation Alternatives
• TIGER
• Advocacy Advance
– Election toolkit
– Surveying MPO grant programs
– Highlighting best practices (CMAQ, HSIP, etc)

21. What you can do
• Tell your state: obligate existing
funds!
–Continue to push in planning process
(TIP)
• Urge DOT/Governor to not opt out
– Don’t opt out of Rec Trails Program
– Don’t opt out of Transportation
Alternatives

22. What you can do
• Publicize your success
– Show me events
– Success stories (quantitative data)
– Document the need
– Media on local support and local success