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New Starts/Small Starts Program APTA Rail Conference APTA Rail Conference San Francisco, CA San Francisco, CA June 5, 2008 June 5, 2008

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New Starts/Small Starts Program. APTA Rail Conference San Francisco, CA June 5, 2008. Topics. Overview of the Program New/Small Starts Project Planning & Development New/Small Starts Evaluation and Funding Outreach. FTA Aspirations the Program. Goal: Fund meritorious projects - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: New Starts/Small Starts Program

New Starts/Small Starts Program

APTA Rail ConferenceAPTA Rail ConferenceSan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA

June 5, 2008June 5, 2008

Page 2: New Starts/Small Starts Program

2

Topics

• Overview of the Program • New/Small Starts Project Planning &

Development• New/Small Starts Evaluation and Funding• Outreach

Page 3: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Aspirations the Program

• Goal: Fund meritorious projects

• Management objectives:– Make decisions with

reliable information on project benefits and costs

– Treat all projects equitably across the US

– Facilitate communication between FTA, transit industry and Congress

Page 4: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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How FTA Meets Its Goals

• Sound and rigorous management of the program• Promote - and assist in - the development of

reliable information on costs and benefits• Transparent evaluation process • Local decisions, project ratings, and funding

recommendations are based on the best information available to both the public and decision-makers

Page 5: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Long-standing Legislative Requirements for Funding

• Alternative analysis• Cost effectiveness• Local financial commitment

Page 6: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Key Program Principles

• Information used evaluations must properly reflect costs and benefits of the project - THIS IS HARD!

• FTA evaluations are mode-neutral• Purpose of each project development phase

should be accomplished before progressing to the next

• Projects accepted into PE/PD are worthy of funding

Page 7: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Principle: Proper Identification of Project Benefits and Costs

• Maintain policy variables between project and baseline alternative with respect to:– Land use– Parking costs– Transit service frequencies and coverage– Transit fare– Transit service levels outside study corridor– Highway networks

Page 8: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Principle: Mode-neutral

• Credit ridership attractiveness to those attributes that riders value, not mode per se

• Credit likelihood of economic development to those factors associated with it: developability of land, economic climate, plans and policies and accessibility.

Page 9: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Principle: Accomplish Purpose of Development Phase Before Progressing

• Systems planning: corridor identification• Alternatives analysis: mode and alignment• PE: final scope/cost, completion of NEPA,

financial plan commitments• Final design: construction documents

Page 10: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Principle: Projects Accepted into PE Are Worthy of Funding

At completion of AA minimize uncertainties that affect:

• Alignment or mode• Capital cost• Transportation benefits• Financial plan• Others that could significantly affect project

viability

Page 11: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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New Starts/Small Starts Funding: Supply and Demand

• Demand:– 18 New Starts projects in PE and Final Design– 16 Small Starts projects in PD– Total cost of pipeline: >$22.6 billion, $10.3 billion in

New Starts funding– FTA tracking >100 planning studies considering major

transit capital investments

• Annual funding– New Starts: $1.4+ billion – Small Starts: $200 million

Page 12: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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SAFETEA-LU Highlights for Alternatives Analyses

• Before and After Study– Required for both New Starts and Small Starts project – compares

cost and ridership forecasts with actual numbers 2 years after revenue operations begins

• Before and After Study Report– Required annually to Congress documenting results of B&A studies

• Contractor Performance Assessment Report– Required annually to Congress citing contractor forecasts

• Incentives awards – Allows more federal funding if actual ridership is at least 90% and

cost no more than 110% of forecasts made during alternatives analysis

Page 13: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Eligibility: New Starts

• New fixed guideway systems and extensions • New Starts funding > $75M or costs ≥ $250m• Fixed guideway is established by any of the

following characteristics:– Rail; – Separate right-of-way for the use of public

transportation or high occupancy vehicles; or – Catenary

Page 14: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Eligibility: Small Starts

• Cost criteria– Total cost <$250 million– Small Starts share < $75 million

• Scope criteria– Project has a fixed guideway for 50 percent or more of its

length during peak periods, or– Non-fixed guideway project in a corridor including ALL of the

following:- Significant transit stations- Traffic signal priority or pre-emption- Low floor buses or level boarding- Premium service branding- 10 min peak/15 min off-peak headways at least 14 hours a

day

“Exempt” projects exist only until a new rule is published

Page 15: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Eligibility: Very Small Starts

• Small Starts criteria for cost and scope• Plus additional eligibility criteria:

– Total cost under $50 million– Cost per mile < $3 million per mile, excluding rolling

stock– (Existing weekday riders over 3,000)

Page 16: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Small Starts/Very Small StartsEligible Applicants

• Any public body is eligible to apply for Small Starts funds

• If the applicant is not the operator:– The small starts application must demonstrate how the

project will be operated and maintained– Project sponsor must provide an executed operating

agreement before a PCGA can be finalized

Page 17: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA

Senate AuthorizingMajority/Minority

Senate AppropriationsMajority/Minority

House AuthorizingMajority/Minority

House AppropriationsMajority/Minority

Office of the Secretary OMB

White House

The New Starts Environment

Individual Senate and House Members

150Projects15 FFGAs, 34 FD/PE/PD, 100 AA

InspectorGeneral

Govt Accountability

Office

Press

Page 18: New Starts/Small Starts Program

New Starts Planning and Project Development

Page 19: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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New Starts Project Development Process

• Project Development: Typically 6-12 Years

Alternatives Analysis 1-2 years

Preliminary Engineering

2-3 years 3-7 years

Operation

FTA Approval Required for

Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)

~ 100 AA Studies

12 PE Projects

6 FD Projects

FTA Approval Required

FTA Approval Required

15 FFGA Projects

ConstructionFinal Design

Page 20: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Length of Project Development – LPA to Opening

R2 = 0.0002

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year of Opening

Pro

ject

Dev

elo

pm

ent

Per

iod

(Y

ears

)

Page 21: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Key Decisions for Each Phase of Project Development

• Systems planning: priority corridor• Alternatives analysis: mode and alignment• Preliminary engineering: final scope/cost,

completion of NEPA, financial plan• Final design: construction documents• Full Funding Grant Agreement

– FTA: funding– Project sponsor: delivery of the project

Page 22: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Planning and Project Development

Alternatives Analysis

Preliminary Engineering

Select LPA

FTA Approval to Start PE

FTA Approval to Start Final Design

System Planning

Decisions

• Mode, general alignment• Financial plan

Decisions

• Needs• Policies• Priority corridor(s)

Decisions

• Refinements to LPA• Final scope and cost• Complete NEPA• Implement financial plan

Page 23: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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History of Alternatives Analysis

1970s • Initial UMTA Policy Statements

1980s • Rating system and technical guidance created• AA became statutory requirement• FTA staff closely involved in AAs• FTA had grasp of issues at decision-points

1990s • Major Investment Study (MIS) era• FTA had little involvement in or awareness of AA studies• FTA focused on projects in PE and Final Design

2000s • FTA, Congress focus on funding best projects• Emphasis is on settling planning questions before PE• FTA involvement in AA renewed

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Alternatives Analysis:Guiding Principles

• Local process, local decisions• Early and ongoing participation by a wide range of

stakeholders• Sufficient level of analysis is necessary to select a mode

and general alignment• Documentation and presentation of key study

components• Development of alternatives that isolate the costs and

benefits of capital investment in guideways

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Alternatives Analysis: Key Elements

• Identification of corridor problems, project “purpose and need,” and goals and objectives

• Development of a range of alternatives that address causes of transportation problems

• Analysis of costs, benefits, and impacts of alternatives• Refinement of Alternatives• Evaluation of alternatives

Page 26: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Useful FTA Reviews during AA

• Scope of work• Initiation package• Technical framework• Technical results• Final report (AA report or AA/DEIS)

Page 27: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Requirements for FTA Approval into Preliminary Engineering (New Starts)

• Completed alternatives analysis• No outstanding planning issues remain• Locally preferred alternative adopted into fiscally

constrained long range plan• Projected New Starts evaluation measures confirmed• “Medium” or higher rating for project

– at least medium rating for both project justification and local financial commitment

• Sponsor demonstration of technical capacity

Page 28: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Suggestions to Expedite PE Approval Process

• Involve FTA in the alternatives analysis study early on• Permit FTA to review AA study products• Develop a defensible TSM alternative (and get FTA

concurrence) as part of the study; don’t wait until the end to seek approval for what will become New Starts baseline alternative

• Inform FTA of intent to request entry into PE well in advance of formal request

• Do not submit formal request until all readiness thresholds and FTA approvals/findings have been met

Page 29: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Preliminary Engineering

What It Is

Work necessary to develop a firm scope and cost estimate with appropriate contingencies: Finalize station locations and configuration Yard and shop location Alignment Park and ride size and configuration Number of vehicles and peak capacity needs

Work necessary to complete the environmental requirements

Work necessary to firm up funding commitments

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Preliminary Engineering

What It Is NOT

Just engineering

Work necessary to complete 30% of design

Work necessary to develop a preliminary cost estimate that likely will increase during final design as project is better defined

An indication of likely New Starts funding

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Responsibilities of Project Management Oversight Contractors (PMOCs)

Serve as extension of FTA staff: - project management - construction management - project sponsor technical capacity

Monitor project progress: - schedule and budget - conformance with design criteria - construction to approved specifications

Provide technical guidance to grantee

Page 32: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Requirements for FTA Approval into Final Design

• Completed NEPA process (ROD or FONSI)• Approved Project Management Plan (PMP)• Approved Rail and Bus Fleet Management Plan• Address Railroad Right-of-Way (ROW) Issues• Establish Process for Real Estate and ROW

Acquisition• “Medium” or Higher Project Rating

– At least Medium rating for both Project Justification and Finance (including commitment of 50% of non-5309 funds)

Page 33: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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What is a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) ?

• Formal Agreement signed by FTA and Grantee following detailed review by DOT, OMB and Congress

• Agreement on Project Scope, Budget, and Schedule

• Terms and Conditions of Federal Participation• Multi-year Funding Commitment (subject to

Congressional Appropriations)• Caps Federal Section 5309 New Starts funds

Page 34: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Full Funding Grant Agreement

• To receive an FFGA a project must:– Be Authorized in Law– Complete the Planning, Project Development, and

NEPA Processes– Meet Project Readiness Requirements (techinical

capacity, firm and final cost estimate and funding)– Receive a “Medium” or higher overall rating– Receive a “Medium” or higher cost effectiveness rating– Meet all other Federal Requirements

Page 35: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Significance of FFGA

Historically, 85% of New Starts Funds Appropriated for FFGAs and Projects with “Medium” or Higher Ratings

All Projects Eventually Receive 100% of Total New Starts Funding in FFGA

Majority of Projects Receive New Starts Funding according to Annual Schedule in FFGA

Practical Limits on Total New Starts Funding and Annual Schedule for Individual Projects

Page 36: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Practical Limits for New Starts Funds

• Consider other projects in the region and their request for New Starts funds

• Assume no more than 50 percent in New Starts funding

• Historical maximum New Starts funds per project: $700M total, $100M per year (NYC region is exception)

Page 37: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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What is a Project Construction Grant Agreement (PCGA)? (Small Starts)

• Formal Agreement signed by FTA and Grantee following detailed review by DOT, OMB and Congress

• Agreement on Project Scope, Budget, and Schedule

• Terms and Conditions of Federal Participation• Multi-year Funding Commitment (subject to

Congressional Appropriations)• Caps Federal Section 5309 Small Starts funds

Page 38: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Project Construction Grant Agreement

• To receive a PCGA a project must:– Be Authorized in Law– Complete the Planning, Project Development, and NEPA

Processes– Meet Project Readiness Requirements (technical capacity, firm

and final cost estimate and funding)– Receive a “Medium” or higher overall rating– Receive a “Medium” or higher cost effectiveness rating– Meet all other Federal requirements

• Execution of the PCGA will be subject to a 60 day congressional review

Page 39: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Before/After Study

• New requirement introduced in final rule• Plan for data collection and analysis developed

during FD/PD • FTA approved plan required prior to FFGA/PCGA• Data collection and analysis costs must be

included in project cost estimate• Activities are eligible for federal funding

Page 40: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Before/After Study

• Analyze before-predicted-after data on:– Project scope– Service levels – Capital costs– Operating and maintenance costs– Ridership patterns

Page 41: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Before/After Study

• Data collected at three key milestones:- Predictions developed at conclusion of AA, PE/PD and any changes made during Final Design

- Prior Conditions immediately before service impacts caused by construction or opening

- After Conditions collected two years after project opens for revenue service

Page 42: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Actual Capital Cost vs. Inflation-Adjusted AA Estimate for Projects Completed 2003-2007

Page 43: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Actual Ridership versus AA Forecast for Projects Completed 2003-2007

Average = 74.5%

50th Percentile = 63.8%

Page 44: New Starts/Small Starts Program

New Starts Evaluation and Funding

Page 45: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Documents Related to SAFETEA-LU Requirements

• FTA must publish policy guidance for the New/Small Starts review and evaluation process and criteria each time significant changes are made, and not less than every two years– Guidance issued in Spring of 2006 and 2007, and planned for

2008

• FTA must prepare new regulation for New and Small Starts– NPRM issued August 3, 2007– Current appropriation bill prohibits issuance of final rule

Page 46: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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New Starts Evaluation and Oversight

• Among most rigorous in government • Increasingly credible and important to Congress

and local communities

• Program Management Oversight recommended by GAO and OIG

Page 47: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Ratings: New Starts

Summary Rating

Project Justification Rating

Financial Rating

Non-Section5309 Share

Capital Finances

Operating Finances

Other Factors

Low Income Households

User Benefits

Mobility Improvements

Environmental Benefits

Operating Efficiencies

Cost Effectiveness

Land Use

Minimum Project Development Requirements:

Employment

Capital Cost

O&MCost

User Benefits

Metropolitan Planning and Programming Requirements

Project Management Technical Capability

Other Considerations

NEPA Approvals

Page 48: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Ratings: New Starts

• Existing New Starts Criteria– Project Justification

- Land-use (transit friendliness of the setting)- Cost-effectiveness (costs in scale with benefits)- Other factors, including economic development, congestion

and pricing strategies, and make-the-case

– Local Financial Commitment

Page 49: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Cost Effectiveness

• Dollars per hour of “user benefits” =

• Benefits and costs computed in relation to a “Baseline Alternative”

annualized capital cost + annual O&M cost

user benefits

Cost Effectiveness

Capital Cost

O&MCost

User Benefits

Page 50: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Cost Effectiveness

• Used instead of cost/benefit due to the difficulties in monetizing all transit benefits

• Effectiveness measure represents either most of the benefits of projects or is highly correlated to other benefits

• Allows a meaningful comparison of projects nationally of different modes with significant differences in costs and benefits

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Cost Effectiveness

• Potential sources of transportation benefits – Highway users: benefits from less congestion due to

travelers changing from driving to riding on the project– Current transit users: benefits from faster travel times

using project compared to their previous transit mode– New transit users: benefits from faster travel times

using project

Page 52: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Cost Effectiveness

• Current measurement of transportation benefits– Highway users: not included because of serious

travel model difficulties in quantifying degree of congestion relief

– Transit users: benefits from faster travel times for New Starts project for all travelers in the region

- In-vehicle time

- Walk and wait time

- Number of transfers

- Capacity constraints

- Reliability, comfort, security, branding

Page 53: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA values for Non-Travel Time Benefits

Maximum benefit“Other” attribute Guideway only Guideway + local

Guideway-like characteristics 8.0 3.0- reliability of vehicle arrival 4.0 2.0- branding/visibility/learnability 2.0 1.0- schedule-free service 2.0 0.0

Span of good service 3.0 0.0

Passenger amenities 4.0 3.0- stations/stops 3.0 2.0- dynamic schedule information 1.0 1.0

TOTAL constant 15.0 6.0

IVT coefficient 0.75*Civt 0.75*Civt

Page 54: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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User Benefits: Example #1

TSM

BLD

Local bus

Train

On

On Off

OffWait time = 5 min; run time = 20 min

Wait time = 5 min; run time = 15 min

100 transit trips

110 transit trips

User benefits = 100 trips x 5 minutes/trip (existing trips)

+ 10 trips x 5/2 minutes/trip (new trips)

User benefits = 500 minutes + 25 minutes = 525 minutes

Page 55: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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User Benefits: Example #2

TSM

BLD

Local bus

Train

On

On Off

OffWait time = 5 min; transfer time = 4 min; total run time = 40 min

Wait time = 3 min; run time = 30 min

100 transit trips

120 transit trips

User benefits = 100 trips x (2.0 x 6 + 10) minutes/trip (existing trips)

+ 20 trips x (2.0 x 6 + 10)/2 minutes/trip (new trips)

User benefits = 2,200 minutes + 440 minutes = 2,640 minutes

Train

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Cost-Effectiveness

• Current breakpoints* for ratings:– Low >$30 per hour– Medium-low $24 - $29.99 per hour– Medium $15.50 - $23.99 per hour– Medium-high $12 - $15.49 per hour– High < $11.99 per hour

* Adjusted annually using the GDP deflator

Page 57: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Determination of Cost Effectiveness Breakpoints

Based on the Value of Time• 50% of median income per DOT policy ($10.54

when breakpoints established) plus• 20% assumed for highway user benefits ($2.11)

plus• Indirect benefits such as economic development,

safety improvements, pollutant reductions ($12.65)

• Result ($25.30 rounded to $25.00)

Page 58: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Breakpoints and Funding

• Projects with cost effectiveness over $25.00 should not be funded

• FTA established the breakpoint for “Low” rating at $25.00 “Low” rated projects cannot be funded

• April 2005 - FTA announced more stringent standards – Projects with “Medium-Low” rating would not be

recommended for funding

Page 59: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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What’s a Baseline Alternative?

• Low capital cost relative to fixed guideway• Includes service frequencies, coverage, p&r lots

comparable to the build alternatives• “Best you can do to improve transit without

building a new guideway”

Page 60: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Why Use a Baseline Alternative?

• Illuminates project’s benefits and costs– Allows for identification of the additional project

benefits due to significantly larger additional capital costs

– Addresses concerns of critics that lower cost options are just as effective

• Ensures consistent evaluations nationally– Enables FTA to fairly assess project benefits in areas

with good current transit service and areas with poor service

Page 61: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Land Use

Based on strength of:– Transit supportive

existing land use– Transit supportive

plans and policies– Demonstrated local

performance of transit supportive policies

Land Use

Page 62: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Mobility Improvements

• User benefits per project passenger mile for all users and for transit dependents

• Number of all users of project and transit dependent riders

• Share of user benefits for transit dependents compared to the share of transit dependents in the Region

Page 63: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Environmental Benefits

EPA air quality designation for region

Page 64: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Other Factors

Considerations not captured in other criteria:• Project part of a pricing strategy in congestion

management plan• “Case” for the project • Economic development• Other

Other factors

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Case for the Project

• Make-the-Case document– Guide to project benefits and “justification”

- For FTA staff- For FTA briefing papers, talking points- For the Annual Report on New Starts

– Element of project “justification” rating

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Case for the Project - Outline

• No more than “five pages”– Project identification– Setting– Purpose– Current conditions in the corridor– Anticipated conditions in 2030– The case for the proposed project– Risk– Summary

Page 67: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Case for the Project - Some Not-Useful Elements

• Topics relevant elsewhere (not here)– History of project development– Detailed project description– Financial feasibility– Public support; other support– “Importance”– Pictures

Page 68: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Case - Thoughts on Good Practice

• Focus– All discussion sections should help explain the

benefits of the project– A strategy

1. Figure out the principal benefits (markets: geography, trip purposes, etc.) that make the case

2. Focus the introductory sections (setting, current and future conditions) on those markets

Page 69: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Case - Thoughts on Good Practice

• Quantification– Forecasts have numbers for ≈ everything– Use them to avoid hand-waving.

• Clarity– “To write well is to think clearly. That’s why it’s

so hard.” – David McCollough, 2003

– Assign someone who can do both.

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Case - Thoughts on Good Practice

• Resources– Basic summaries often not enough– Subtask: extract information from forecasts– Preservation of resources for this work

• FTA assistance• Ethics

– Reliable numbers for decision-making– Bringing project benefits to the discussion

Page 71: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Local Financial Commitment

Based on:– Current capital and

operating financing condition

– Commitment of capital and operating funds

– Cost estimates/planning assumptions/capacity

Local Financial Commitment Rating

Non-Section5309 Share

(20%)

Capital Finances

(50%)

Operating Finances

(30%)

Page 72: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Financial Ratings In Project Development

• PE Approval – Reasonable financial plan; Funding sources identified; Good non-federal funding history

• FD Approval – At least 50 percent of non-5309 New Starts funding committed; Firm cost estimates; Ability to address funding shortfalls

• FFGA – 100% non-New Starts funding committed; Funding shortfalls covered

Page 73: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Ratings: Small Starts

Summary Rating

Project Justification Rating

Financial Rating

Non-Section5309 Share

Capital Finances

Operating Finances

Other Factors

Cost Effectiveness

Land Use

Minimum Project Development Requirements:

Capital Cost

O&MCost

User Benefits

Metropolitan Planning and Programming Requirements

Project Management Technical Capability

Other Considerations

NEPA Approvals

Page 74: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Ratings: Small Starts

• Existing New Starts framework• Simplifications

– Fewer criteria– Simpler evaluation measures for land use criterion– Opening year forecasts only– Simpler travel forecasting procedures possible– Simpler financial documentation possible

Page 75: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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FTA Ratings: Small Starts (continued)

• Simpler financial documentation possible– Rating of “medium” for local financial commitment if:

- Reasonable plan to secure local share (all non-New Starts funding committed for PCGA)

- Project O&M under 5 percent of agency operating budget- Agency in solid financial condition

– Projects that cannot meet these conditions submit a financial plan- According to FTA guidance- Covering period up to and including opening year- Evaluated based on criteria used for New Starts

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76

FTA Ratings: Very Small Starts

Summary Rating

Project Justification Rating

Financial Rating

Non-Section5309 Share

Capital Finances

Operating Finances

Other Factors

Cost Effectiveness

Land Use

Minimum Project Development Requirements:

Capital Cost

Benefiting Riders

Metropolitan Planning and Programming Requirements

Project Management Technical Capability

Other Considerations

NEPA Approvals

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77

FTA Ratings: Very Small Starts

• Existing New Starts framework• Simplifications

– Fewer criteria– “Warrants” approach for project justification

- Benefiting riders > 3,000/day- Capital cost (excl. vehicles) < $3M/mi.- Total capital cost < $50M

– Simpler financial documentation possible (as with Small Starts)

Demonstrate consistency with characteristics of “justified” projects

Page 78: New Starts/Small Starts Program

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Summary Ratings

• Rating categories:– High– Medium-high– Medium– Medium-low– Low

• Decision Rule:– Must have at least “Medium” on both

justification and finance to receive “Medium” overall

Summary Rating

Project Justification Rating (50%)

Local Financial Commitment Rating

(50%)

Page 79: New Starts/Small Starts Program

79

Project Ratings and Decisionmaking

• Ratings guide FTA approvals of PE/PD, Final Design, and FFGA/PCGAs

• “Medium” or better overall rating required to advance

• Once in PE/PD, rating reported each year in Annual Report on Funding Recommendations

Page 80: New Starts/Small Starts Program

Planned Outreach Activities

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81

Workshops and Training Courses

• TBD, Alternative Analysis Courses• March, 2009, New/Small Starts Workshop at

APTA Legislative Conf • March, 2009, Travel Forecasting Workshops for

New/Small Starts • Spring 2009, New/Small Starts Roundtables (by

invitation)• June 2009, New/Small Starts Workshop at APTA

Rail Conf