FTA’s Small Starts Program

Denver, ColoradoDenver, ColoradoSeptember 27, 2007September 27, 2007

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Small Starts Program Overview

• Program funding at $200m/yr• Simplified Process

Alternatives AnalysisProject DevelopmentConstruction

Simplified Project Construction Grant AgreementScopeCostScheduleFederal Funding Maximum Amount and ScheduleLocal Funding Sources

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Eligibility - Costs

• Total cost < $250 million• Small Starts share < $75 million• Exempt projects (<$25 million New Starts share)

may:– Remain exempt until Final Rule – then be evaluated

and rated if construction not started, or– Be evaluated and rated now as Small Starts

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Program Goal

Fund meritorious projects• Develop reliable information on project benefits

and costs• Ensure projects treated equitably nationally• Facilitate communication between FTA, transit

industry and Congress

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Guiding Principles for Development of Small Starts Interim Guidance

• Evaluation process should not change dramatically from existing process to minimize rating changes given those anticipated in the NPRM

• Requirements should ensure level playing field for all projects

• Requirements should be mode-neutral• Costs, benefits and impacts should be developed

using established methodologies

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Eligibility – Project Definition

• Project a fixed guideway for 50% or more of its length during peak, or

• Project a corridor bus project including at least:– 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

hrs/day

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Eligibility – Additional Features for Very Small Starts

• Simple, low-cost projects that qualify for streamlined process

• Very Small Starts eligibility criteria:– Existing daily riders over 3,000– Total cost under $50 million– Under $3 million per mile, excluding rolling stock

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Interim GuidanceEvaluation of Small Starts Project Justification

Subset of Existing New Starts Criteria:– Land-use– Cost-effectiveness– Other factors, including economic

development, congestion and pricing strategies, and the case for the project

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Interim GuidanceEvaluation of Local Financial Commitment

• Projects receive “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 the conditions above 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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Simplification of Small Starts Program Requirements Compared to New Starts

Very Small Starts– AA could contain two alternatives and require no more information

than developed for a project funded only with local funds– Project justification evaluation requires meeting easily developed

information on costs and existing ridership– Local financial commitment evaluation could require meeting 3

easily demonstrated conditions; otherwise financial plan extendsonly to opening year

– No final design approval– Simplified PMP and cost reviews– Simplified PCGA

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Simplification of Small Starts Program Requirements Compared to New Starts

Small Starts– AA could contain few alternatives, use forecasts of transportation

benefits with simplified methods and address project opening, not 20-year forecasts

– Land use submission reduced for project justification– Local financial commitment evaluation could require meeting 3

easily demonstrated conditions; otherwise financial plan extendsonly to opening year

– No final design approval– Simplified PMP and cost reviews– Simplified PCGA

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Projects in Project Development

• Los Angeles Metro Rapid Bus Closure• Kansas City Troost Corridor BRT• Springfield (OR) Pioneer Parkway BRT• King Co (WA) Pacific Highway South BRT• Portland Streetcar Loop

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Pending Project Development RequestsProjects• Mason (CO) Transportation Corridor BRT• Fitchburg (MA) Commuter Rail• South Corridor BRT in Grand Rapids, MI• Perris Valley (CA) Metrolink Commuter Rail Extension• Others in St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Tucson, San Diego,

San Francisco, Oakland, Reno, Des Moines, and AspenCommon Issues• AA not completed• Finances not identified• Project not in metro plan

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Planned Schedule for Rulemaking

• August 2007: Publication of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for New and Small Starts

• August 2007: Publication of Measures document for NPRM

• Summer 2008: Publication of the Final Rule for New and Small Starts

• Summer 2008: Publication of Weights and Measures document for Final Rule