Sneak Preview: FTA Seeks Comments on CIG Proposal Evaluation Measures
(The following was excerpted from a recent Thompson Grants 360 article.) The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is requesting that transit stakeholders submit comments through Oct. 13 on specific improvements the agency can make to the evaluation process for projects seeking funding under the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, according to a recent request for information (RFI). In particular, FTA seeks input on evaluation measures and data sources available to better determine the benefits and costs of transit projects, as well as how the CIG program can maximize those benefits.
The CIG program provides about $2.3 billion to fund light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, streetcar and bus rapid transit projects. Federal transit law requires transit agencies seeking CIG funding to complete a series of steps over several years. For New Starts and Core Capacity Improvement projects under the program, the law requires completion of two phases prior to receiving a construction grant agreement ― project development and engineering. For Small Starts projects, the law requires completion of one phase before receiving a construction grant agreement ― project development.
The program also requires FTA to assess specific evaluation criteria covering project justification and local financial commitment to develop a project rating on a five-point scale, from low to high. Upon approval, New Starts and Core Capacity Improvement projects receive CIG construction funds through a full funding grant agreement for a multi-year project. Small Starts projects receive construction funds through a single-year grant.
There are six statutory project justification criteria (e.g., economic development, land use, environmental benefits, etc.) that FTA must evaluate and rate individually for projects seeking CIG funding. The RFI sought stakeholder input related to certain questions involving these evaluation criteria “to inform the development of proposed changes to the existing CIG policy guidance that would undergo formal notice and comment in the future.”
While the program currently specifies that the project development phase for New Starts and Core Capacity Improvement projects must be completed within two years to encourage the expeditious pace of projects, the program does allow project sponsors to seek, and FTA to approve, an extension past the two-year timeframe. FTA is seeking input on whether there is a maximum amount of time beyond two years that the agency should allow a project sponsor to extend project development to remain consistent with the program’s statutory intent.
(The full version of this story has now been made available to all for a limited time here.)
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