Notice of Funding Opportunity for Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds |
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Brandye Hendrickson
Federal Highway Administration
21 September 2017
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44243-44249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20111]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2017-0021]
Notice of Funding Opportunity for Tribal Transportation Program
Safety Funds
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces a funding opportunity and requests grant
applications for FHWA's Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds
(TTPSF) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 and FY 2018 funding, subject to
future appropriations. In addition, this notice identifies selection
criteria, application requirements, and technical assistance during the
grant solicitation period for the TTPSF.
The TTPSF is authorized within the Tribal Transportation Program
(TTP) under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The
FHWA will distribute these funds as described in this notice on a
competitive basis in a manner consistent with the selection criteria.
DATES: Applications must be submitted electronically no later than
11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 11, 2017 (the ``application deadline'').
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications in advance of the
application deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated, and
awards will not be made until after the application deadline. The FHWA
plans to conduct outreach regarding the TTPSF in the form of a Webinar
on October 17, 2017, 2 p.m., e.t. To join the webinar, follow the
directions found at https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. The audio portion of the Webinar can be accessed from this
teleconference line: TOLL FREE 1-888-251-2909; ACCESS CODE 4442306. The
Webinar will be recorded and posted on FHWA's Web site at: http://www.flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/. A TDD is available for
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-3993.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically through the
Web site: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning
this notice please contact Russell Garcia, TTPSF Program Manager, via
email at russell.garcia@dot.gov; by telephone at (202) 366-9815; or by
mail at Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. For legal
questions, please contact Ms. Vivian Philbin, Office of the Chief
Counsel, by telephone at (720) 963-3445; by email at
vivian.philbin@dot.gov; or by mail at Federal Highway Administration,
Central Federal Lands Highway Division, 12300 West Dakota Avenue,
Lakewood, CO 80228. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. m.t.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 5, 2013, FHWA published the first notice of funding
availability for the TTPSF (78 FR 47480). On November 13, 2013, FHWA
awarded 183 Tribes a total of $8.6 million for 193 safety projects. On
May 14, 2014, FHWA published the second notice of funding availability
for the TTPSF (79 FR 27676). On March 10, 2015, FHWA awarded 82 Tribes
a total of $8.5 million for 94 projects to improve transportation
safety on Tribal lands. On June 26, 2015, FHWA published the third
notice of funding availability for the TTPSF (80 FR 36885). On December
9, 2015, FHWA awarded 36 Tribes a total of $449,500 for 36 projects for
developing Tribal safety plans. On April 26, 2016, FHWA awarded 35
Tribes a total of $8 million for 54 projects. On July 18, 2016, FHWA
published the fourth notice of funding opportunity for the TTPSF (81 FR
46758). On April 10, 2017, FHWA awarded 74 Tribes a total of $9 million
for 77 projects. The FHWA is publishing this fifth notice to announce
an additional round of funding and request grant applications for
FY2017 and FY 2018.
Table of Contents
A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management
(SAM)
4. Submission Dates and Time
5. Intergovernmental Review
6. Funding Restrictions
7. Other Submission Requirements
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
i. Safety Plans
ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities
2. Review and Selection Process
i. Safety Plans
ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notice
2. Administrative and National Policy
3. Reporting
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
H. Other Information
1. Protection of Confidential Business Information
[[Page 44244]]
A. Program Description
Since the TTPSF was created under Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century Act (MAP-21), FHWA has awarded approximately $34.5 million
to 410 Indian Tribes for 454 projects, including development of safety
plans, to address safety issues in Indian country over four rounds of
competitive grants. The intent of the TTPSF is to prevent and reduce
deaths or serious injuries in transportation-related crashes on Tribal
lands where statistics are consistently higher than the rest of the
Nation as a whole.
The TTPSF emphasizes the development of strategic Transportation
Safety Plans using a data-driven process as a means for Tribes to
determine how transportation safety needs will be addressed in Tribal
communities. Tribal Transportation Safety Plans are a tool used to
identify risk factors that lead to serious injury or death and organize
various entities to strategically reduce risk; projects submitted must
be data-driven, must be consistent with a comprehensive safety
strategy, and must correct or improve a hazardous road location or
feature or address a highway safety problem.
Because safety data is considered critical for informed
transportation safety decisions, the TTPSF also places an emphasis on
assessment and improvement of traffic records systems (primarily crash
data systems). Guidelines for conducting a traffic records assessment
can be found in the Guide for Effective Tribal Crash Reporting,
National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 788, published by
the Transportation Research Board at http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171540.aspx.
Successful TTPSF projects leverage resources, encourage
partnership, and have the data to support the applicants' approach in
addressing the prevention and reduction of death or serious injuries in
transportation-related crashes. A listing of the TTPSF projects/
activities that Tribes were previously awarded, answers to frequently
asked questions, and additional safety-related information can be found
on the TTP Safety Web site at http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. However, the FAST Act made changes to the types of
projects and activities that are now eligible for TTPSF grants.
Under MAP-21, the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
included a range of eligible HSIP projects. The list of eligible
projects was non-exhaustive, and a State could use HSIP funds on any
safety project (infrastructure-related or non-infrastructure) that met
the overarching requirements that the project be consistent with the
State's Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) and correct or improve a
hazardous road location or feature or address a highway safety problem.
Although the FAST Act continued these overarching requirements under
HSIP, it limited eligibility to the projects and activities listed in
23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4), most of which are infrastructure-safety related.
As a result of the FAST Act, the TTPSF will only fund highway
safety improvement projects eligible under the HSIP as listed in 23
U.S.C. 148(a)(4). For purposes of awarding funds under this program in
FY 2017, FHWA has identified three eligibility categories: Safety
plans; data assessment, improvement, and analysis activities; and
infrastructure improvements and other eligible activities as listed in
23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4).
B. Federal Award Information
The FAST Act authorized TTPSF as a set aside of not more than 2
percent of the funds made available under the TTP for each fiscal year.
This notice of funding opportunity solicits proposals under the TTPSF
for FY 2017 and FY 2018 funding, subject to future appropriations.
Section 202(e) of title 23, United States Code, provides that the
Secretary shall allocate funds based on an identification and analysis
of highway safety issues and opportunities on Tribal lands, as
determined by the Secretary, on application of the Indian Tribal
governments for HSIP eligible projects described in 23 U.S.C.
148(a)(4). Eligible projects described in section 148(a)(4) include
strategies, activities, and projects on a public road that are
consistent with a transportation safety plan; safety study; road safety
audit; or systemic safety study and correct or improve a hazardous road
location or feature, or address a highway safety problem.
Under 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4), eligible projects are limited to the
following:
(i) An intersection safety improvement.
(ii) Pavement and shoulder widening (including addition of a
passing lane to remedy an unsafe condition).
(iii) Installation of rumble strips or another warning device, if
the rumble strips or other warning devices do not adversely affect the
safety or mobility of bicyclists and pedestrians, including persons
with disabilities.
(iv) Installation of a skid-resistant surface at an intersection or
other location with a high frequency of crashes.
(v) An improvement for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or safety of
persons with disabilities.
(vi) Construction and improvement of a railway-highway grade
crossing safety feature, including installation of protective devices.
(vii) The conduct of a model traffic enforcement activity at a
railway-highway crossing.
(viii) Construction of a traffic calming feature.
(ix) Elimination of a roadside hazard.
(x) Installation, replacement, and other improvement of highway
signage and pavement markings, or a project to maintain minimum levels
of retroreflectivity, that addresses a highway safety problem
consistent with an SHSP.
(xi) Installation of a priority control system for emergency
vehicles at signalized intersections.
(xii) Installation of a traffic control or other warning device at
a location with high crash potential.
(xiii) Transportation safety planning.
(xiv) Collection, analysis, and improvement of safety data.
(xv) Planning integrated interoperable emergency communications
equipment, operational activities, or traffic enforcement activities
(including police assistance) relating to work zone safety.
(xvi) Installation of guardrails, barriers (including barriers
between construction work zones and traffic lanes for the safety of
road users and workers), and crash attenuators.
(xvii) The addition or retrofitting of structures or other measures
to eliminate or reduce crashes involving vehicles and wildlife.
(xviii) Installation of yellow-green signs and signals at
pedestrian and bicycle crossings and in school zones.
(xix) Construction and operational improvements on high risk rural
roads.
(xx) Geometric improvements to a road for safety purposes that
improve safety.
(xxi) A road safety audit.
(xxii) Roadway safety infrastructure improvements consistent with
the recommendations included in the publication of the Federal Highway
Administration entitled ``Highway Design Handbook for Older Drivers and
Pedestrians'' (FHWA-RD-01-103), dated May 2001 or as subsequently
revised and updated.
(xxiii) Truck parking facilities eligible for funding under section
1401 of the MAP-21.
(xxiv) Systemic safety improvements.
(xxv) Installation of vehicle-to-infrastructure communication
equipment.
(xxvi) Pedestrian hybrid beacons.
[[Page 44245]]
(xxvii) Roadway improvements that provide separation between
pedestrians and motor vehicles, including medians and pedestrian
crossing islands.
(xxviii) A physical infrastructure safety project not described in
clauses (i) through (xxvii).
For more information regarding eligible activities under HSIP,
please see FHWA guidance at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/legislationandpolicy/fast/guidance.cfm http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/rulemaking/docs/hsip_ig42216_final.pdf.
Upon award, successful applicants will receive the TTPSF funds
through their existing TTP contracting methodology with either the FHWA
or Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Upon completion of a TTPSF project,
funds that are not expended are to be recovered and returned to the
FHWA to be made available for the following year's TTPSF grant cycle.
C. Eligibility Information
To be selected for a TTPSF award, an applicant must be a federally
recognized Indian Tribe and the project must be an eligible project.
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for TTPSF discretionary grants are federally
recognized Tribes identified on the list of ``Indian Entities
Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the Bureau of Indian
Affairs'' (published at 81 FR 26826). Other entities may partner with a
Tribal government to submit an application, but the eligible applicant
must be a federally recognized Indian Tribe. A Tribe may submit more
than one application; however, only one project may be included in each
application.
Recipients of prior TTPSF funds may submit applications during this
current round according to the selection criteria. However, to be
competitive, the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which the
previously funded project or projects has been able to meet estimated
project schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the
outcomes for previous awards.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
There is no matching requirement for the TTPSF. However, if the
total amount of funding requested for applications rated ``highly
qualified'' or ``qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding,
FHWA will give priority consideration to those projects that show a
commitment of other funding sources to complement the TTPSF funding
request. Therefore, leveraging a TTPSF request with other funding
sources identified in Section E is encouraged. Additional information
about leveraging funds can be found in the frequently asked questions
section of the TTPSF Web site: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
Application package can be downloaded from the TTPSF Web site:
http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. For a Telephone
Device for the Deaf (TDD) please call 202-366-3993. The applications
must be submitted electronically through the following Web site: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm. Applicants are
encouraged to submit applications in advance of the application
deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated, and awards will
not be made until after the application deadline.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
The FHWA may request additional information, including additional
data, to clarify an application, but FHWA encourages applicants to
submit the most relevant and complete information they can provide. The
FHWA also encourages applicants, to the extent practicable, to provide
data and evidence of project merits in a form that is publicly
available or verifiable.
The applicants must include the following information in their
online application package:
i. Online Form
Fill out an online form similar to SF-424 at: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm.
A preview of the online application can also be found on the Web
site.
ii. Letter of Support
For projects located on a facility not owned by BIA or a Tribe a
letter of support for the project is required.
iii. Cost Breakdown
An estimate of the costs in the project should be clearly
identified in the project narrative or as an attachment to the project
narrative.
iv. Narrative
Applicants must attach project narrative to their online
application form to successfully complete the application process.
Applicants must include the project narrative in the attachments
section of the online application form.
Applicants must identify the eligibility category for which they
are seeking funds in the project narrative. In addition, applicants
should address each question or statement in their applications. It is
recommended that applicants use standard formatting (e.g., a single-
spaced document, using a standard 12-point font, such as Times New
Roman, with 1-inch margins) to prepare their application narratives. An
application must include any information needed to verify that the
project meets the statutory eligibility criteria in order for the FHWA
to evaluate the application against TTPSF rating criteria.
Applicants should demonstrate the responsiveness of their proposals
to any pertinent selection criteria with the most relevant information
that applicants can provide, and substantiated by data, regardless of
whether such information is specifically requested, or identified, in
the final notice. Applicants should provide evidence of the feasibility
of achieving certain project milestones, financial capacity, and
commitment in order to support project readiness.
Consistent with the requirements for an eligible highway safety
improvement project under 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4), applicants must describe
clearly how their project would correct or improve a hazardous road
location or feature, or would address a highway safety problem. The
application must include supporting data. Formal safety data is limited
in many Tribal areas; applicants should support their application with
documentation summarizing the best available data that demonstrates a
history or risk of transportation incidents which are expected to be
reduced by the proposed activity. The optimal data is a summary of
police crash reports. However, where police crash reports are not
available, news articles, written testimonies, a letter from local law
enforcement describing safety performance, health data on injuries, and
other documentation of incident history can be accepted. Average daily
traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, traffic citation statistics,
public surveys, and sign inventories are examples of alternative safety
data sources which could be used to supplement incident history.
If police crash reports are not available to support a project
application, then-FHWA strongly encourages federally recognized Tribes
to conduct an assessment of traffic records (which is an eligible
activity for TTPSF). Applicants that do not provide
[[Page 44246]]
formal crash data are encouraged to attach documentation to their
application showing that a traffic records assessment has been
conducted or is planned. Guidelines for conducting a traffic records
assessment can be found in the Guide for Effective Tribal Crash
Reporting, National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 788,
published by the Transportation Research Board in 2015 at http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171540.aspx.
The data that should support an application varies by project type,
as follows:
For safety plans: There is no requirement to submit data
with the application. However, development of safety plans should
include and be based on an analysis of incident history.
For traffic records assessments and improvements:
Supporting data should be an estimate of the data to be collected (such
as approximate number of crashes per year) and a description of any
process currently used to collect that data.
For Road Safety Audits (RSA): Site specific data should be
submitted which demonstrates an incident history or propensity on the
specific roadway to be analyzed.
For Systemic Safety Studies: Data should be provided which
demonstrates an incident history associated with the risk factor to be
studied.
For Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible
Activities: Good data is site specific data that describes the crash
history and directly demonstrates the safety need. When site specific
incident data is not available, some data must still be provided which
demonstrates the safety risk to be mitigated; this data could be an
area-wide incident history (such as the results of a systemic safety
study) or an explanation that an incident history is not available
along with some supporting data from an alternative safety data source
as described above.
The FHWA recommends that the project narrative generally adhere to
the following basic outline, and include a table of contents, project
abstract, maps, and graphics:
a. Project Abstract: Describe project work that would be completed
under the project, the hazardous road location or feature or the
highway safety problem that the project would address, and whether the
project is a complete project or part of a larger project with prior
investment (maximum five sentences). The project abstract must
succinctly describe how this specific request for TTPSF would be used
to complete the project;
b. Project Description: Include information on the expected users
of the project, a description of the hazardous road location or feature
or the highway safety problem that the project would address, and how
the project would address these challenges;
c. Applicant information and coordination with other entities:
Identify the Indian Tribal government applying for TTPSF, a description
of cooperation with other entities in selecting projects from the TIP
as required under 23 U.S.C. 202(e)(2), and information regarding any
other entities involved in the project;
d. Grant Funds and Sources/Uses of Project Funds: Include
information about the amount of grant funding requested for the
project, availability/commitment of funds sources and uses of all
project funds, total project costs, percentage of project costs that
would be paid for with the TTPSF, and the identity and percentage
shares of all parties providing funds for the project (including
Federal funds provided under other programs); and
e. Include a description of how the proposal meets the Selection
Criteria identified in Section E, Subsection 1 Criteria.
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant must: (1) Be registered in SAM before submitting its
application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its
application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration
with current information at all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a
Federal awarding agency. The USDOT may not make an TTPSF grant to an
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique
entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not
fully complied with the requirements by the time USDOT is ready to make
an TTPSF grant, USDOT may determine that the applicant is not qualified
to receive an TTPSF grant and use that determination as a basis for
making an TTPSF grant to another applicant. Information on SAM can be
found at https://www.sam.gov. It typically takes 7-10 business days for
the SAM registration process to be completed.
4. Submission Dates and Time
i. Deadline--Applications must be submitted electronically no later
than 11:59 p.m., e.t. on December 11, 2017 (the ``application
deadline'').
ii. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications in advance of
the application deadline; however, applications will not be evaluated,
and awards will not be made until after the application deadline.
iii. Upon submission of the applications electronically through the
following Web site: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/ttpsf.htm, the applicants will be sent an automatic reply by email
confirming transmittal of the application to the FHWA. Please contact
Russell Garcia at (202) 366-9815, should you not receive any
confirmation from the FHWA.
iv. Late Applications--Applications received after the deadline
will not be considered except in the case of unforeseen technical
difficulties that are beyond the applicant's control. The FHWA will
consider late applications on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are
encouraged to submit additional information documenting the technical
difficulties experienced, including a screen capture of any error
messages received.
5. Intergovernmental Review
The TTPSF is not subject to the Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.
6. Funding Restrictions
There are no funding restrictions on any applications. However,
FHWA anticipates high demand for this limited amount of funding and
encourages applications with scalable requests that allow more Tribes
to receive funding and for requests that identify a commitment of other
funding sources to complement the TTPSF funding request. Applicants
should clearly demonstrate the independent components of each project
that can be completed if only partial funding is provided. Applicants
should demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed
request in a timely manner, and ensure that cost estimates and
timelines to complete deliverables are included in their applications.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
The FHWA will award TTPSF funds based on the selection criteria and
policy considerations as outlined below. However, to be competitive,
the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which a previously
funded project or projects has been able to meet estimated project
schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the outcomes
for previous awards.
The FHWA intends to allocate the TTPSF between three categories as
follows: (1) Safety plans; (2) data
[[Page 44247]]
assessment, improvement, and analysis activities; and (3)
infrastructure improvement and other eligible activities as listed in
23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4).
i. Safety Plans
The development of a Tribal safety plan that is data-driven,
identifies transportation safety issues, prioritizes activities, is
coordinated with the State SHSP (all State SHSPs can be found at:
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip/shsp/state_links.cfm), and promotes a
comprehensive approach to addressing safety needs by including all 4Es,
is a critical step in improving highway safety. Additional information
on developing a Tribal safety plan can be found at: http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/. Accordingly, FHWA will award
TTPSF for developing and updating Tribal safety plans. The FHWA will
use the following criteria in the evaluation of TTPSF funding requests
for Tribal safety plans: (1) Development of a Tribal safety plan where
none currently exists, and (2) age or status of an existing Tribal
safety plan.
ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
The FHWA will use the following criteria in the evaluation of TTPSF
funding requests for data assessment, improvement, and analysis
activities: (1) Inclusion of the activity in a completed State SHSP or
Tribal transportation safety plan; (2) submission of supporting data
that demonstrates the need for the activity; (3) leveraging of private
or other public funding; or (4) the project is part of a comprehensive
approach to safety which includes other safety efforts.
Examples of eligible data assessment, improvement, and analysis
activities include:
Collection, analysis, and improvement of safety data;
Systemic safety studies; and
Road safety audits/assessments.
iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities as Listed
in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)
The FHWA will use the following criteria in the evaluation of
funding requests under this category: (1) Inclusion of the project or
activity in a completed State SHSP or Tribal transportation safety
plan, or inclusion of the activity in a completed road safety audit,
engineering study, impact assessment or other engineering document; (2)
submission of supporting data that demonstrates the need for the
project; (3) ownership of the facility, if applicable; (4) leveraging
of private or other public funding; (5) time elapsed since the Tribe
has last received funding for a TTPSF engineering improvement project,
if applicable; or (6) the project is part of a comprehensive approach
to safety which includes other safety efforts.
Examples of infrastructure improvement and other eligible
activities:
An intersection safety improvement;
Pavement and shoulder widening (including addition of a
passing lane to remedy an unsafe condition);
Installation of rumble strips or another warning device,
if the rumble strips or other warning devices do not adversely affect
the safety or mobility of bicyclists and pedestrians, including persons
with disabilities;
Installation of a skid-resistant surface at an
intersection or other location with a high frequency of crashes;
An improvement for pedestrian or bicyclist safety or
safety of persons with disabilities;
Construction and improvement of a railway-highway grade
crossing safety feature, including installation of protective devices;
The conduct of a model traffic enforcement activity at a
railway-highway crossing;
Construction of a traffic calming feature;
Elimination of a roadside hazard;
Installation, replacement, and other improvement of
highway signage and pavement markings, or a project to maintain minimum
levels of retroreflectivity that addresses a highway safety problem
consistent with a Tribal or State strategic highway safety plan;
Installation of a priority control system for emergency
vehicles at signalized intersections;
Installation of a traffic control or other warning device
at a location with high crash potential;
Planning integrated interoperable emergency communications
equipment, operational activities, or traffic enforcement activities
(including police assistance) relating to work zone safety;
Installation of guardrails, barriers (including barriers
between construction work zones and traffic lanes for the safety of
road users and workers), and crash attenuators;
The addition or retrofitting of structures or other
measures to eliminate or reduce crashes involving vehicles and
wildlife;
Installation of yellow-green signs and signals at
pedestrian and bicycle crossings and in school zones;
Construction and operational improvements on high risk
rural roads;
Geometric improvements to a road for safety purposes that
improve safety;
Roadway safety infrastructure improvements consistent with
the recommendations included in the FHWA publication entitled ``Highway
Design Handbook for Older Drivers and Pedestrians'' (FHWA-RD-01-103,
dated May 2001 or as subsequently revised and updated;
Truck parking facilities eligible for funding under
section 1401 of MAP-21;
Systemic safety improvements;
Installation of a vehicle to infrastructure communication
equipment;
Pedestrian hybrid beacons;
Roadway improvements that provide separation between
pedestrians and motor vehicles, including medians and pedestrian
crossing islands; and
Other physical infrastructure safety projects.
2. Review and Selection Process
The TTPSF grant applications will be evaluated in accordance with
evaluation process discussed below. The FHWA will establish an
evaluation team to review each application received by FHWA prior to
the application deadline. The FHWA will lead the evaluation team, which
will include members from the BIA. The evaluation team will include
technical and professional staff with relevant experience and expertise
in Tribal transportation safety issues. The evaluation team will be
responsible for evaluating and rating all eligible projects. The
evaluation team will review each application against the evaluation
criteria in each of the categories and assign a rating of ``Highly
Qualified,'' ``Qualified,'' or ``Not Qualified'' to each application
for the FHWA Administrator's review. The FHWA Administrator will
forward funding recommendations to the Office of the Secretary. The
final funding decisions will be made by the Secretary of
Transportation.
All applications will be evaluated and assigned a rating of
``Highly Qualified,'' ``Qualified,'' or ``Not Qualified.'' The ratings,
as defined below, are proposed within each priority funding category as
follows:
i. Safety Plans \1\
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\1\ The development of a Tribal safety plan is the cornerstone
for all future Tribal safety activities. Because of the importance
of developing, completing, or updating a Tribal safety plan and for
this one category only, applications will be deemed either ``highly
qualified'' or ``not qualified.'' All applications to develop a new
Tribal safety plan, update an incomplete safety plan, or update an
existing Tribal safety plan that is at least 3 years old are deemed
to be highly qualified. Applications not directed to developing,
updating or completing existing a Tribal safety plan or which
address a plan not 3 years old or older are deemed ``Not
Qualified.''
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a. Highly Qualified: Requests (up to a maximum of $12,500) for
development
[[Page 44248]]
of new Tribal safety plans or to update incomplete Tribal safety plans;
and requests (up to a maximum of $7,500) to update existing Tribal
safety plans that are at least 3 years old.
b. Not Qualified: Projects that do not meet the eligibility
requirements; any request to update an existing Tribal safety plan that
is less than 3 years old.
ii. Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
a. Highly Qualified: Requests for Data Assessment, Improvement, and
Analysis Activities that are in a current State SHSP or Tribal safety
plan that is not more than 5 years old; submission of data that
demonstrates the need for the activities; and significant leveraging of
TTPSF fund with private or public funding or are part of a
comprehensive approach to safety which includes other safety efforts.
If the total amount of funding requested for applications rated as
``highly qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, FHWA will
give priority funding consideration to one or more independent
components of a highly qualified project. To be eligible, a component
must meet eligibility criteria and must be a transportation safety
project that has independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable
expenditure of Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in
the area). In other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a
project, instead of the full project described in the application, only
if that component provides transportation benefits and will be ready
for its intended use upon completion of that component.
Applicants should be aware that while it is anticipated that most
of these projects will be categorical exclusions because they do not
lead to construction or have potentially significant traffic or other
impacts, depending on the relationship between the overall project and
the independent component, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
review for the independent component may have to include evaluation of
all project components as connected, similar, or cumulative actions, as
detailed at 40 CFR 1508.25. Priority consideration will also be given
to funding requests that include a commitment of other funding sources
to complement the TTPSF, and those requests where the applicants
demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project
in a timely manner.
b. Qualified: Requests for Data Assessment, Improvement, and
Analysis Activities that are in a current State SHSP or Tribal safety
plan; submission of some data that demonstrates the need for the
activity; and some leveraging of TTPSF funds with private or public
funding or is part of a comprehensive approach to safety which includes
other safety efforts.
If the total amount of funding requested for applications rated as
``qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, FHWA will give
priority funding consideration to one or more independent components of
a qualified project. To be eligible, a component must meet eligibility
criteria and must be a transportation safety project that has
independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable expenditure of
Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in the area). In
other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a project,
instead of the full project described in the application, only if that
component provides transportation benefits and will be ready for its
intended use upon completion of that component. Applicants should be
aware that while it is anticipated that most of these projects will be
categorical exclusions because they do not lead to construction or have
potentially significant traffic or other impacts, depending on the
relationship between the overall project and the independent component,
the NEPA review for the independent component may have to include
evaluation of all project components as connected, similar, or
cumulative actions, as detailed at 40 CFR 1508.25. Priority
consideration will also be given to funding requests that include a
commitment of other funding sources to complement the TTPSF, and those
requests where the applicants demonstrate the capacity to successfully
implement the proposed project in a timely manner.
c. Not Qualified: Projects that do not meet the eligibility
requirements; or projects that are not included in a State SHSP or
Tribal safety plan.
iii. Infrastructure Improvement and Other Eligible Activities as Listed
in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)
a. Highly Qualified: Efforts that are in a current State SHSP or
Tribal safety plan that is less than 5 years old, or road safety audit,
or impact assessment, or other safety engineering study; data included
in the application that directly supports the project; projects located
on a BIA or Tribal facility; significant leveraging of TTPSF funds with
other funding; and the Tribe has not received funding for a TTPSF
transportation safety construction project in more than 5 years or the
project is part of a comprehensive approach to safety which includes
three or more other safety efforts.
If the total amount of funding requested for applications rated as
``highly qualified'' exceeds the amount of available funding, FHWA will
give priority funding consideration to one or more independent
components of a highly qualified project. To be eligible, a component
must meet eligibility criteria and must be a transportation improvement
that has independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable
expenditure of Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in
the area). In other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a
project, instead of the full project described in the application, only
if that component provides transportation benefits and will be ready
for its intended use upon completion of that component's construction.
Applicants should be aware that, depending on the relationship between
the overall project and the independent component, the NEPA review for
the independent component may have to include evaluation of all project
components as connected, similar, or cumulative actions, as detailed at
40 CFR 1508.25. Priority consideration will also be given to funding
requests that include a commitment of other funding sources to
complement the TTPSF, and those requests where the applicants
demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project
in a timely manner.
b. Qualified: Efforts that are in a current State SHSP or Tribal
safety plan, or a road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other
safety engineering study; some data included in the application that
supports the project; project is located on a transportation facility
not owned by a Tribe or BIA; and some leveraging of TTPSF funds with
other funding; or is part of a coordinated approach with one or two
other safety efforts. If the total amount of funding requested for
applications rated as ``qualified'' exceeds the amount of available
funding, FHWA will give priority funding consideration to funding one
or more independent components of a qualified project. To be eligible,
a component must meet eligibility criteria and must be a transportation
improvement that has
[[Page 44249]]
independent utility (i.e., is usable and a reasonable expenditure of
Federal funds even if no other improvements are made in the area). In
other words, FHWA may fund an independent component of a project,
instead of the full project described in the application, only if that
component provides transportation benefits and will be ready for its
intended use upon completion of that component's construction.
Applicants should be aware that, depending on the relationship between
the overall project and the independent component, the NEPA review for
the independent component may have to include evaluation of all project
components as connected, similar, or cumulative actions, as detailed at
40 CFR 1508.25. Priority consideration will also be given to funding
requests that include a commitment of other funding sources to
complement the TTPSF, and those requests where the applicants
demonstrate the capacity to successfully implement the proposed project
in a timely manner.
c. Not Qualified: Projects that do not meet the eligibility
requirements; are not included in a State SHSP or Tribal safety plan,
or a road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other safety
engineering study; no data provided in the application to support the
request; or do not have a comprehensive approach to safety with other
partners.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notice
The FHWA will announce the awarded projects by posting a list of
selected projects at http://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/ttp/safety/.
Following the announcement, successful applicants and unsuccessful
applicants will be notified separately.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements
for Federal Awards found in 2 CFR part 200. Applicable Federal laws,
rules, and regulations set forth in title 23, U.S.C., and title 23 of
the CFR apply.
The TTPSF will be administered the same way as all TTP funds: FHWA
Agreement Tribes will receive funds in accordance with their Program
Agreement through a Referenced Funding Agreement (RFA); BIA Agreement
Tribes will receive their funds through their BIA Regional Office; and
Compact Tribes will receive their funds through the Department of the
Interior's Office of Self Governance.
3. Reporting
Required reporting follows the requirements for regular TTP funds.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
For further information concerning this notice please contact
Russell Garcia, TTPSF Program Manager, via email at
russell.garcia@dot.gov; by telephone at (202) 366-9815; or by mail at
Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. e.t., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. For legal questions, please
contact Ms. Vivian Philbin, Office of the Chief Counsel, by telephone
at (720) 963-3445; by email at vivian.philbin@dot.gov; or by mail at
Federal Highway Administration, Central Federal Lands Highway Division,
12300 West Dakota Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80228. Office hours are from
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. m.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
H. Other Information
1. Protection of Confidential Business Information
All information submitted as part of or in support of any
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and
standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes
information you consider to be a trade secret or confidential
commercial or financial information, the applicant should do the
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains
Confidential Business Information (CBI),'' (2) mark each affected page
``CBI,'' and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions.
Authority: Section 1118 of Pub. L. 114-94; 23 U.S.C. 202(e).
Issued on: September 14, 2017.
Brandye Hendrickson,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-20111 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
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