Available Funding for Infrastructure Program

The SRTS Program has set aside $3.5 million for infrastructure projects.  Funding requests may range from $100,000 to $300,000 per project.  (For infrastructure projects under $100,000, which are located on state-maintained roadways, please access the Highway Division Fund Program for information on an alternative source for SRTS funds.)  Funding may be requested to support discrete activities at an individual school or for community-wide project.

The infrastructure grant program is a cost reimbursement program.  This competitive reimbursement program is 100% federally funded – no local match is required.  Grant recipients must be able to cover the costs of the project and will be reimbursed during the course of project implementation.  All costs submitted for reimbursement are subject to eligibility requirements and must comply with a reimbursement agreement executed between NCDOT and the recipient.  Any work performed or costs incurred prior to a Notice to Proceed are not eligible for reimbursement.

Although no local match is required, applicants are encouraged to leverage their request for SRTS funding with other funding sources that may be available to them, including grant awards, local, state, or other federal funding.  However, additional funding is not required, and a lack of such will not penalize an applicant.  The SRTS funds may not be used as a match for other federal funding.  Also, per the federal guidance for SRTS, this infrastructure program funding cannot be used to replace existing funding sources for pedestrian or bicycle transportation projects.

Infrastructure Program Timeline*

September 29, 2008	Solicit Call for Proposals
January 30, 2009	Applications due to NCDOT Division of Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation (DBPT) office by 5:00 pm
May 2009	Eligible applications distributed to review committee for scoring
June 2009	Review committee makes recommendations
August/September 2009	NCDOT makes final selection to present to Board of Transportation (BOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
September 2009	Recipients are notified of award
December 2009	Deadline for execution of reimbursement agreement

*This schedule is provided here to assist you in your planning.
The actual dates may be subject to change. (Last updated 6/25/09)

Applicant Eligibility

NOTE:  all required resolutions must be submitted with the application.  Since some MPOs, RPOs, City or Town Councils, or other governmental bodies may only meet monthly or even quarterly, it is important that you request the appropriate resolution of support as soon as you decide to apply for this program.

Any agency that is willing and able to enter into a reimbursement agreement with NCDOT, has the authority to construct and/or install and maintain infrastructure, and can also demonstrate an ability to meet the requirements of the federal SRTS program is eligible to apply for funds.  This entity is typically a municipal or regional government, A Resolution of Support and Administration from the lead sponsoring agency or organization must be attached to the application indicating support of the project and the sponsor’s ability to enter into agreement with NCDOT.  The lead sponsor will be responsible for project administration, including letting the project contract, paying for any work performed, and submitting proper proof of payment to NCDOT for reimbursement.  This sponsor will also be NCDOT’s primary contact if awarded the grant.  If the agency with jurisdiction over the public right-of-way where the project is proposed is not the lead agency, the jurisdictional agency must also submit an endorsement to demonstrate its support of the project.

Only one infrastructure project application may be submitted per lead sponsoring agency.

Schools, school districts, nonprofits, and civic organizations that have a strong interest in and support for the use of infrastructure funding are strongly encouraged to partner with a local government agency experienced in federal regulatory compliance and NCDOT contracting procedures to develop project applications as a co-sponsor.  If applying on behalf of an individual school or a cluster of schools, a letter of support from the principal of each school participating in the infrastructure project must be attached with the application.  Endorsement from the school district is encouraged.

To stimulate creative approaches to implementing this program, communities are encouraged to develop relationships among diverse stakeholders.  Letters of support from these other stakeholders may be attached to the application.  Partners who may be contributing funds to the infrastructure project must supply a resolution or letter indicating support in the application.  For projects that are within a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) area, resolutions of support from the respective MPO must be obtained and attached to the application.  Resolutions of support from respective Rural Planning Organizations, although not required, are strongly encouraged.  Please refer to the list of MPOs and RPOs and their respective contact information on the NCDOT Transportation Planning Branch web site.

Eligible Projects and Activities

Infrastructure projects consist of preliminary engineering and construction activities that, when implemented, provide an increase in safety, convenience and accessibility for children to walk and/or bicycle to school.  For all applicants, requests for funds will involve implementation of the engineering “E” of a SRTS program.  (Please note: funds for education, encouragement, and enforcement strategies are available through the SRTS Non-Infrastructure Grant Reimbursement Program.)

Applicants may apply for eligible projects and activities that allow for needs to be addressed at an individual school or cluster of schools; or a school district, municipality, or county level.  Applications must define a complete, identifiable and feasible project.  Funds are not available for partial activities that cannot function as a complete and useful whole or for projects that do not have an independent utility. 

1. Inappropriate Uses of Funds

Although funding for SRTS is flexible to allow for creative partnerships and solutions, there are certain activities and projects that are ineligible for funding.  Ineligible expenses include:

• Projects that do not specifically serve the stated purposes of the SRTS Program.

• Recurring costs, such as maintenance.

• Projects that focus on pick-up and drop-off areas or procedures in order to make it more convenient for the drivers rather than to improve child safety and/or walking and bicycling access.

• Improvements to bus stops.

• Applicants may not request infrastructure grant funds for the purposes of acquiring right-of-way.

2. Engineering Project Requirements

Construction and capital improvement projects must be located on public right-of-way or on land with a permanent easement.  Projects must be within two miles of any public, charter, or private school that serves elementary and/or middle school children (K-8).  Projects may indirectly benefit high school aged youth or the general public; however, these constituencies cannot be the sole or primary beneficiaries.  Planning, design, and engineering expenses, including consultant services, associated with developing an infrastructure project are eligible expenses. 

2.1 Project Types

The SAFETEA-LU legislation specifies that sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and traffic diversion improvements are all eligible infrastructure-related projects.  Each of these categories is further defined below:

• Sidewalk system improvements: new sidewalks, sidewalk widening, sidewalk gap closures, sidewalk repairs, curbs, gutters, and curb ramps.
• Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements: crossings, median refuges, raised crossings*, raised intersections*, traffic control devices (including new or upgraded traffic signals, pavement markings, traffic stripes, flashing beacons, bicycle-sensitive signal actuation devices, pedestrian countdown signals, vehicle speed feedback signs, and pedestrian activated signal upgrades), and sight distance improvements.
• On-street bicycle facilities: new or upgraded bicycle lanes, widened outside lanes or roadway shoulders, geometric improvements, traffic signs, and pavement markings.
• Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities: exclusive shared-use bicycle and pedestrian trails and pathways that are separated from a roadway.
• Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements: bulb-outs, speed humps*, raised crossings*, raised intersections*, median refuges, narrowed traffic lanes, lane reductions, automated speed enforcement, and variable speed limits.
• Traffic diversion improvements: separation of pedestrians and bicycles from vehicular traffic adjacent to school facilities, and traffic diversion away from school zones or designated routes to a school.

*Speed humps, raised crossings, and raised intersections may only be installed on roads that are not state-maintained.

The above list is not exhaustive; other types of projects that are not on this list may also be eligible if they meet the objectives of improving pedestrian and bicycle safety and access and the purpose of the SRTS program.

2.2 Project Locations

Funds must be spent on projects that are within 2 miles of a school serving K-8 grades within the public right-of-way or on a permanent easement.  This may include projects on private land with public access easements.  Public property includes lands that are owned by a public entity, including those lands owned by public school districts. 

For projects on private land, there must be a written legal easement or other written legally binding agreement that ensures public access to the project.  There must be an easement filed on record, which specifies a minimum of at least 25 years for the agreement to maximize the public investment in the project.  The project agreement should clearly state in writing:

• The purpose of the project.
• The minimum timeframe for the easement or lease (must be at least 25 years.)
• The duties and responsibilities of the parties involved.
• How the property will be used and maintained in the future.

The project must remain open for general public access for the use for which the funds were intended and for the timeframe specified in the easement or lease agreement.  The public access should be comparable to the nature and magnitude of the investment of public funds.

Reversionary clauses may be appropriate in some instances.  These clauses would assure that if the property is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was acquired, it would revert to the original owner.

2.3 Other Project Requirements

Infrastructure projects must be designed to meet American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), NCDOT’s own design guidelines for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and all other appropriate professional design standards.  Infrastructure projects must also comply with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and projects constructed with these funds must be accessible to persons with disabilities, per the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).  A detailed engineering estimate of the cost of the proposed infrastructure improvements must be prepared and included in the application. 

Project sponsors (i.e. the lead agency) must agree to accept all maintenance responsibilities for any facilities constructed, which will be specified in the reimbursement agreement between the sponsoring agency and NCDOT. 

The lead sponsoring agency is also responsible for complying with all applicable environmental and other local, state, and federal laws and regulations.  Infrastructure projects must conform to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  In many cases, a programmatic categorical exclusion will apply. 

Grant recipients must have a registered Professional Engineer or registered Landscape Architect hired or on staff for the design and construction phase of the project.  Before construction may begin, the grant recipient must receive an authorization to proceed from NCDOT.  Projects initiated by local authorities or advertised before authorization is received from NCDOT are not eligible for reimbursement. 

3. Non-Infrastructure Program and Activity Recommendations

Non-infrastructure projects consist of programs and activities that, when implemented, aim to shift community behavior, attitudes and social norms through education, encouragement and enforcement strategies.  These projects should also support increased safety and convenience for children to walk and/or bicycle to school.  Per the federal guidelines, FHWA recommends that SRTS efforts incorporate both infrastructure and non-infrastructure, regardless of whether the applicant is requesting one type of funding or both.  Therefore, it is strongly recommended that infrastructure grant applicants demonstrate that non-infrastructure components are currently underway or are planned. 

At a minimum, an evaluation component is required of all projects funded through the SRTS Program.  It is important to gather, analyze, and evaluate current conditions and behaviors; conduct walkability and bikeability checklists; and ultimately evaluate the effectiveness of the SRTS infrastructure project.  Therefore, grant recipients will be expected to collect baseline data and follow-up data using the Student In-Class Travel Tally and the Parent Survey developed by the National Center for Safe Routes to School. 

Please note that any non-infrastructure programs or activities identified by an applicant are not eligible for reimbursement through the Infrastructure Grant Reimbursement Program.  Please see the SRTS Non-Infrastructure Grant Reimbursement Program if seeking funds for these components. 

Selection Criteria and Review Process

The NCDOT staff will conduct a preliminary review of all applications for eligibility, completeness and general appropriateness.  Applications that pass the initial screening will then be forwarded to the Review Committee for evaluation.  This group will include Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (DBPT) staff, Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) staff, and individuals with professional experience related to developing, administering and/or implementing bicycle and pedestrian projects, programs and activities.  These individuals will represent MPO’s, RPO’s, COG’s, municipalities and other appropriate transportation-related agencies and organizations.  The Review Committee will examine each application and evaluate it based on how well the proposal meets the selection criteria outlined below and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding guidelines.  The Review Committee will forward their recommendations to NCDOT for final approval.  All selected projects must also be approved by FHWA and the NC Board of Transportation.

Because infrastructure funding is available at varying geographic levels, applicants will only compete with other applicants proposing projects and activities at the same level.  These levels are described as follows:

• Individual school-based programs and activities:  Applicants from this level include an individual school or a cluster of schools in close proximity.  Clusters should be no more than five schools, and will typically be two to three schools.  School clusters will typically share similar characteristics, such as a neighborhood or pool of students, similar problems or needs that can be address through similar SRTS strategies, etc.

• Community-wide projects:  This category includes school district-, municipal-, or county-based projects.  Projects in these geographic areas may target “hot spots” or prioritize needs within its boundary, but projects should generally benefit the entire area. 

Proposed infrastructure projects should aim to reduce child injuries and fatalities while increasing the number of children walking and bicycling to school.  Successful applications will:

• Exemplify the purpose of the SRTS Program.

• Clearly identify a necessary cost-effective, distinctive infrastructure improvement and identify the safety hazards that will be mitigated through implementation.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the needs of the particular modal user (child bicyclist or pedestrian).

• Demonstrate an understanding of the value in developing, planning, or continuing education, enforcement, and encouragement initiatives.

• Assure assignment of an appropriate contact person within the sponsoring agency to oversee development of the project and/or activity.

• Identify realistic tasks, budget, and timeline to implement the project.

• Demonstrate widespread local support:

  • Include Resolution of Support and Administration from lead sponsoring agency and/or the local authorizing body (required)

  • Include Letter of Support from each school directly benefiting from the infrastructure project (required)

  • Include Letter of Support/Resolution from all financially contributing partners (required)

  • Include resolution from MPO (required) or RPO (encouraged)

  • Include Letter of Support from school district (encouraged)

  • Include letters of support and endorsements from other stakeholders and partners (encouraged)

• Identify valid partnerships with local stakeholders and/or address the need to develop a SRTS committee or task force.

Conditions of Grant Reimbursement Award

Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis to the agency responsible for the administration of the funds.  The contracting agency must execute a legal agreement with NCDOT prior to receiving funding authorization.  This agreement will outline the responsibilities of each party, the terms of reimbursement, and the deliverables.  The lead agency must execute this agreement within 90 days of being notified of the grant award.  Grant recipients will receive a formal Notice to Proceed for any preliminary engineering and design work from NCDOT once the following conditions are met:

1. The reimbursement agreement is fully executed

2. FHWA has authorized the use of funds

Costs incurred before receipt of a Notice to Proceed are not a reimbursable expense and any such costs must be absorbed by the contracting agency. 

Recipients will receive a formal Authorization to Proceed with construction from NCDOT once the following conditions are met:

1. All plans and design are submitted and approved by NCDOT

2. Documentation of environmental compliance is submitted to NCDOT

3. Right-of-way certification is submitted to NCDOT

4. FHWA has authorized the use of funds for construction

Projects initiated by local authorities or advertised before construction authorization is received from NCDOT are not eligible for reimbursement.  Invoices for partial project completion will be allowed; conditions will be defined in the reimbursement agreement.  A portion of the total NCDOT allocation will be withheld until the project is completed, including evaluation tasks, and all relevant materials are submitted to and approved by NCDOT. 

Grant recipients are expected to complete their proposed infrastructure project, including planning, design, construction, and evaluation activities within 18 months of the date of execution of the reimbursement agreement. 

Baseline evaluation data must be collected at each school that will be directly involved in or affected by the infrastructure project using the Student In-Class Travel Tally and the Parent Survey.  The time period for collecting this data will be defined in the reimbursement agreement.  A percentage of the final reimbursement payment will also be contingent upon the lead agency conducting a closing evaluation of projects and/or activities implemented through this infrastructure project.  Periodic progress reports describing accomplishments and expenditures will be required.  Changes in project schedules must be approved by NCDOT.  Unspent funds may be withdrawn from grant recipients that fail to meet timely benchmarks in their project implementation.

NCDOT and FHWA must be credited for project participation in all documents, materials, press releases and other announcements and promotional materials related to the infrastructure project.

All electronic files, maps, technical illustrations, promotional or advertising materials, etc. produced with these funds will become the property of NCDOT and the grant recipient.