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Transportation for Communities - Advancing Projects Through Partnerships



Decision Guide Basics

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LRP-5
Approve Financial Assumptions

Description: At this key decision information from the Programming / Fiscal Constraint Phase is introduced into the LRTP decision making process. This information includes potential revenue sources, a methodology for identifying costs of individual projects, and acknowledgement of restrictions and requirements associated with each funding source. In order for the adopted LRTP to meet the fiscal constraint requirement, this information must be approved by the decision makers as the basis for the LRTP development.

There is information developed in prior key decisions that informs this step. There is essential information provided from PRO-1 and PRO-2 at this key decision.



  • Basics
  • Integration
  • Decision Making Questions
  • Case Study Examples
  • Technical Support
  • Special Topics

Purpose

To reach agreement on potential revenue source, the restrictions and requirements for allocating revenue and the methodology for identifying costs so that scenarios can be fully considered.

Outcome

Approved project cost methodology and revenue sources for evaluation and comparison of scenarios.


Partner Roles

MPO

Decision Maker

Approves revenue sources and project costs that are reasonable and reflect fiscal constraint

FHWA

Advisor

Ensures the fiscal constraint requirement is met and funding is used appropriately

State DOT

Advisor

Ensures assumptions of anticipated revenue is consistent with state perspective

Resource Agency

Advisor

Advise that data on funding and long-term management options and cost data associated with ecosystem crediting is considered. Advise if conservation and mitigation spending is planned for in the LRTP and STIP.


Process

Integration Type

Integration Description

Land UseNone.None.
Air QualityNone.None.
Natural EnvironmentData Between IEF Step 1 - Build & Strengthen Collaborative Partnerships & Vision and LRP-5 IEF Sub-step 1f is "Initially explore funding and long-term management options, how conservation and restoration actions can be funded in advance of transportation projects, as well as for long-term management." Data generated through this process should inform the financial assumptions in the LRP. How will advance mitigation be paid for? This data was collected at LRP-1 and will also be used at PRO-1.
Data From IEF Step 6 - Develop Crediting StrategyIf a crediting strategy has been developed, there could be data available associated with the costs of mitigation credits. This data should inform financial assumptions in long range planning.
Capital ImprovementDataInfrastructure plans and financial resources that have been identified for specific capital improvements in order to validate consistency with restrictions and requirements established in the capital improvement plan.
Safety and SecurityNone.None.
Human EnvironmentNone.None.

Linkages to other Phases of Transportation Decision Making

Key Decision

What is Linked?

Purpose of Linkage

To Corridor Planning Studies

COR-5 - Approve Evaluation Criteria, Methods and Measures

Financial assumptions

To inform the evaluation criteria, methods and measures in corridor planning.

From Integrated Programming and Fiscal Constraint

PRO-1 - Approve Revenue Sources

Identified revenue sources with requirements and restrictions

To support fiscal constraint assumptions for the LRTP

PRO-2 - Approve Methodology for Identifying Project Costs and Criteria for Allocating Revenue

Methodology for developing project costs and revenue allocation

• To support fiscal constraint assumptions
• To provide financial assumptions for consideration in scenario analysis


Policy Questions

Questions about purpose and roles

Does the consideration of specific funding resources require additional sharing of decision making that is not currently in place? For example, with a private partner.

Questions about stakeholders

No specific questions.

Questions about the transportation process supporting the decision

Are formal agreements (for example MOA/MOU, contracts, loan agreements, etc.) necessary to ensure funding availability?

Are the methodology and documentation clearly stated so that it can be easily understood by all?

Do any of the funding resources require action outside of the transportation decision making process?

Have all reasonably foreseeable funding sources and associated requirements and restrictions been identified?

Questions about other phases

No specific questions.

Questions about non-transportation sectors/processes

Are the proposed GHG reduction strategies expected to generate new sources of revenue to support plan improvements? If so, how will these revenues be shared between partner agencies?

Are the revenue sources broad enough to allow consideration of transportation and non-transportation solutions to address our vision and goals?

Are there funding programs that target GHG-reduction strategies?

Does the methodology take into consideration the cost of ecological conservation, restoration and mitigation?

Is there information associated with an ecological crediting strategy that can inform the cost of mitigation?

What would be the impact of GHG reduction strategies that involve financial incentives (e.g., for use of alternative fueled vehicles, higher density development supporting smart growth, etc.)?

Questions to Gather Stakeholder Interests

None.

Questions to Incorporate Stakeholder Interests

Are the identified revenue sources; funding restrictions and requirements; and project cost methodology presented so that stakeholders can clearly understand this information?


Supporting Data for the Key Decision

InfoThe following is a list of data needed to support the key decision. Practitioners collect this information for decision makers to consider. You may add to this list using the comment box at the bottom of the page.

From other phases of transportation decision making

Long Range Planning

No Specific Data

Programming

PRO-1: Identified revenue sources with requirements and restrictions

PRO-2: Methodology for developing project costs and revenue allocation

Potential partners that may support/provide funding

Outside agreements that impact resource availability

Budget and revenue information within jurisdictions

Analysis associated with potential revenue from outside sources including taxes and partnerships

Methods used for cost estimation at the state level and from previous studies

Data from research on similar regions to inform methodology approaches

Trend line data on cost estimating and cost over-runs where available.

Inflation adjustments to consider

Operating and maintenance cost for system (other than public transportation)

Corridor Planning

No Specific Data

Environmental Review

No Specific Data

From other sectors and processes

Land Use

No Specific Data

Air Quality

No Specific Data

Natural Environment

Data generated through the ecological planning process around how conservation and restoration actions can be funded in advance of transportation projects, as well as for long-term management.

Capital Improvement

Infrastructure plans and financial resources that have been identified for specific capital improvements in order to validate consistency with restrictions and requirements established in the capital improvement plan.

Safety and Security

No Specific Data

Human Environment

No Specific Data

From the transportation technical process supporting this key decision

Per lane mile cost for highway improvements

Bridge / culvert replacement costs

Operating and capital costs for public transportation

Right of way costs

Functional classification of roads in the region related to preliminary design parameters

List of funding sources and eligibility criteria

Estimates of revenues expected from proposed strategies or projects (e.g., revenues from toll roads)

From stakeholder collaboration

No Specific Data

Supporting Tools and Technology

Category

Detail

Gathering

Financial Planning Tools: Used to gather data on available funding sources, as well as projected future sources. Searchable by MPOs, others, to locate financing opportunities.




Key Decision Relationship to Other Topics

Topic Description
Visioning and Transportation
Approve Indicators and Commitments - Identify commitments made in visioning and their relevance to the long range plan
Data Transfer - Relevant commitments to PRO 1.
Integrating Greenhouse Gas into Transportation Planning
Define Goals and Measures - Determine the financial assumptions that support the comparison of scenarios with respect to GHG.
Data Transfer - Related to potential funding sources and eligibility criteria or partners who may provide funding and be responsible for costs. This is relevant to the benefit/cost analysis during scenario evaluation.


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