Today the Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation and the Metro Council voted to approve policy direction for the 2014-15 regional flexible fund allocation program. This program allocates a limited amount of federal transportation dollars to a set of regional programs and local projects with the aim of supporting livable communities, sustaining economic growth and enhancing safety throughout the region.
The policy framework includes a two-step funding program. Step one supports initial funding targets for existing regional programs that are essential to the development of compact urban communities, such as transit-oriented development, high-capacity transit development, transportation systems management and operations and related technological improvements, regional travel options that encourage alternatives to single-occupant driving, and corridor and systems planning.
Step one also includes a $1 million allocation to provide seed money so the region can compete for additional federal and state resources that can enhance mobility throughout the region.
Step two provides essential community investment funds for three main areas:
- It provides $500,000 for electric vehicle acquisition and related infrastructure development so that this region can become a leader in promoting the use of electric vehicles.
- Of the remaining funds under step two, the policy framework targets 25 percent initiatives that support the development of the region's economy through investment in green infrastructure and key freight projects.
- The remaining 75 percent is targeted for active transportation and complete streets projects.
JPACT further amended the policy framework to require that step two projects address environmental justice issues and the needs and impacts of underserved communities. The policy framework also requires projects to demonstrate their anticipated return on investment and meet stated performance target outcomes.
Next steps
The Metro Council, with consultation from JPACT, will appoint a joint task force of business/freight and active transportation experts to look more holistically at the broad range of projects under step two. The task force will work with county coordinating committees to present a more balanced set of projects that considers the needs of all users. The task force is expected to be appointed before the end of September with project proposals to be solicited through the county coordinating committees in the fall and winter.
Formal decisions by JPACT and the Metro Council on the projects to be funded through the 2014-15 regional flexible fund allocations are expected to be made in spring 2011.