Projects of National and Regional Significance
2007 Report to Congress
Project Information
Printable Version [PDF 319KB]
You will need the Adobe Reader to view this PDF.
Contact Information: FreightFeedback@dot.gov
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
February 11, 2008
The Honorable James L. Oberstar
Chairman
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
This letter transmits the 2007 Report to Congress on Section 1301, Projects of National and Regional Significance of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Section 1301(k) requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report each year to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The enclosed report includes a funding table that shows the allocation amounts that have been made available for grants under this section.
Section 1301(m) requires that, notwithstanding any other provision of Section 1301, the Secretary shall allocate amounts in this section for grants to carry out the 25 projects designated in the table of "Projects of National and Regional Significance" incorporated under Section 1301. As Section 1301(m) obviates the need for any funding allocation proposals or recommendations, the enclosed project information will serve to inform the committees on progress made in funding the designated projects and on progress made in establishing the regulatory framework called for in Section 1301(f)(6) for evaluating and rating projects.
I recommend that the project funding proceed in accordance with the following distribution plan set forth in Section 1301(m). The directive stipulates allocating the total of all funds in this section to the 25 projects identified in this section, and the requirement that this allocation be distributed for each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at 10 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent, and 20 percent, respectively.
The Department also wishes to convey to Congress several concerns about the Projects of National and Regional Significance. You will note that of the 25 Projects, there are 13 projects that have not obligated any funds as of December 2007, and six projects have never submitted project descriptions or requested the release of funds. The total amount of Projects of National and Regional Significance funding for the six earmarked projects that have not requested release of funds is $238 million. This is incongruous for projects that are intended to be of the highest national priority.
There are a number of explanations for this situation that will likely persist for some time to come, and which have been reported to us by transportation professionals in the States and localities where these projects are located. In most cases the project funding authorized under the Projects of National and Regional Significance is far less than the estimated full cost of project completion. In many of these cases, States and localities have not been able to identify funding sources to fill these gaps, and the project cannot move forward until these additional funding sources are identified. In some cases, the projects are considered to be inconsistent with the investment priorities of the States or local governments in the areas where they are located, so that State and local funds would have to be shifted from what are viewed as higher priority projects, and there is resistance to making such a funding allocation shift. Finally, in some cases the project is so early in the planning process that the full cost of the project has not even been estimated. Even if funding sources can be found to complete the funding for these projects, it is likely to be years before the Federal funds designated for these projects can be obligated. Meanwhile, projects that are ready to move forward languish for lack of funding.
The Department believes, moreover, that a number of these projects may not reflect projects that are truly of National and Regional Significance, but in fact are projects which reflect local interests, and would have been more appropriately funded from other categorically specific funds such as the Surface Transportation Program or National Highway System. Because no common metrics were utilized to declare these projects either nationally or regionally "significant", one can have little confidence that these earmarked projects produce higher returns for Federal taxpayers than other potentially "significant" projects.
Looking ahead, the Department will be developing and promulgating the Final Rule evaluation criteria for Projects of National and Regional Significance. Such criteria are essential so that we can work closely with future project sponsors and managers to ensure that funding under this important program is applied to well-planned and defensible projects that address nationally and regionally significant needs.
Identical letters have been sent to the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sincerely yours,
Mary E. Peters
Enclosure
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
February 11, 2008
The Honorable John L. Mica
Ranking Member
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Mica:
This letter transmits the 2007 Report to Congress on Section 1301, Projects of National and Regional Significance of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Section 1301(k) requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report each year to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The enclosed report includes a funding table that shows the allocation amounts that have been made available for grants under this section.
Section 1301(m) requires that, notwithstanding any other provision of Section 1301, the Secretary shall allocate amounts in this section for grants to carry out the 25 projects designated in the table of "Projects of National and Regional Significance" incorporated under Section 1301. As Section 1301(m) obviates the need for any funding allocation proposals or recommendations, the enclosed project information will serve to inform the committees on progress made in funding the designated projects and on progress made in establishing the regulatory framework called for in Section 1301(f)(6) for evaluating and rating projects.
I recommend that the project funding proceed in accordance with the following distribution plan set forth in Section 1301(m). The directive stipulates allocating the total of all funds in this section to the 25 projects identified in this section, and the requirement that this allocation be distributed for each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at 10 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent, and 20 percent, respectively.
The Department also wishes to convey to Congress several concerns about the Projects of National and Regional Significance. You will note that of the 25 Projects, there are 13 projects that have not obligated any funds as of December 2007, and six projects have never submitted project descriptions or requested the release of funds. The total amount of Projects of National and Regional Significance funding for the six earmarked projects that have not requested release of funds is $238 million. This is incongruous for projects that are intended to be of the highest national priority.
There are a number of explanations for this situation that will likely persist for some time to come, and which have been reported to us by transportation professionals in the States and localities where these projects are located. In most cases the project funding authorized under the Projects of National and Regional Significance is far less than the estimated full cost of project completion. In many of these cases, States and localities have not been able to identify funding sources to fill these gaps, and the project cannot move forward until these additional funding sources are identified. In some cases, the projects are considered to be inconsistent with the investment priorities of the States or local governments in the areas where they are located, so that State and local funds would have to be shifted from what are viewed as higher priority projects, and there is resistance to making such a funding allocation shift. Finally, in some cases the project is so early in the planning process that the full cost of the project has not even been estimated. Even if funding sources can be found to complete the funding for these projects, it is likely to be years before the Federal funds designated for these projects can be obligated. Meanwhile, projects that are ready to move forward languish for lack of funding.
The Department believes, moreover, that a number of these projects may not reflect projects that are truly of National and Regional Significance, but in fact are projects which reflect local interests, and would have been more appropriately funded from other categorically specific funds such as the Surface Transportation Program or National Highway System. Because no common metrics were utilized to declare these projects either nationally or regionally "significant", one can have little confidence that these earmarked projects produce higher returns for Federal taxpayers than other potentially "significant" projects.
Looking ahead, the Department will be developing and promulgating the Final Rule evaluation criteria for Projects of National and Regional Significance. Such criteria are essential so that we can work closely with future project sponsors and managers to ensure that funding under this important program is applied to well-planned and defensible projects that address nationally and regionally significant needs.
Identical letters have been sent to the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sincerely yours,
Mary E. Peters
Enclosure
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
February 11, 2008
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
Chairwoman
Committee on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Madam Chairwoman:
This letter transmits the 2007 Report to Congress on Section 1301, Projects of National and Regional Significance of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Section 1301(k) requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report each year to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The enclosed report includes a funding table that shows the allocation amounts that have been made available for grants under this section.
Section 1301(m) requires that, notwithstanding any other provision of Section 1301, the Secretary shall allocate amounts in this section for grants to carry out the 25 projects designated in the table of "Projects of National and Regional Significance" incorporated under Section 1301. As Section 1301(m) obviates the need for any funding allocation proposals or recommendations, the enclosed project information will serve to inform the committees on progress made in funding the designated projects and on progress made in establishing the regulatory framework called for in Section 1301(f)(6) for evaluating and rating projects.
I recommend that the project funding proceed in accordance with the following distribution plan set forth in Section 1301(m). The directive stipulates allocating the total of all funds in this section to the 25 projects identified in this section, and the requirement that this allocation be distributed for each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at 10 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent, and 20 percent, respectively.
The Department also wishes to convey to Congress several concerns about the Projects of National and Regional Significance. You will note that of the 25 Projects, there are 13 projects that have not obligated any funds as of December 2007, and six projects have never submitted project descriptions or requested the release of funds. The total amount of Projects of National and Regional Significance funding for the six earmarked projects that have not requested release of funds is $238 million. This is incongruous for projects that are intended to be of the highest national priority.
There are a number of explanations for this situation that will likely persist for some time to come, and which have been reported to us by transportation professionals in the States and localities where these projects are located. In most cases the project funding authorized under the Projects of National and Regional Significance is far less than the estimated full cost of project completion. In many of these cases, States and localities have not been able to identify funding sources to fill these gaps, and the project cannot move forward until these additional funding sources are identified. In some cases, the projects are considered to be inconsistent with the investment priorities of the States or local governments in the areas where they are located, so that State and local funds would have to be shifted from what are viewed as higher priority projects, and there is resistance to making such a funding allocation shift. Finally, in some cases the project is so early in the planning process that the full cost of the project has not even been estimated. Even if funding sources can be found to complete the funding for these projects, it is likely to be years before the Federal funds designated for these projects can be obligated. Meanwhile, projects that are ready to move forward languish for lack of funding.
The Department believes, moreover, that a number of these projects may not reflect projects that are truly of National and Regional Significance, but in fact are projects which reflect local interests, and would have been more appropriately funded from other categorically specific funds such as the Surface Transportation Program or National Highway System. Because no common metrics were utilized to declare these projects either nationally or regionally "significant", one can have little confidence that these earmarked projects produce higher returns for Federal taxpayers than other potentially "significant" projects.
Looking ahead, the Department will be developing and promulgating the Final Rule evaluation criteria for Projects of National and Regional Significance. Such criteria are essential so that we can work closely with future project sponsors and managers to ensure that funding under this important program is applied to well-planned and defensible projects that address nationally and regionally significant needs.
Identical letters have been sent to the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sincerely yours,
Mary E. Peters
Enclosure
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20590
February 11, 2008
The Honorable James M. Inhofe
Ranking Member
Committee on Environment and Public Works
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Inhofe:
This letter transmits the 2007 Report to Congress on Section 1301, Projects of National and Regional Significance of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
Section 1301(k) requires the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report each year to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The enclosed report includes a funding table that shows the allocation amounts that have been made available for grants under this section.
Section 1301(m) requires that, notwithstanding any other provision of Section 1301, the Secretary shall allocate amounts in this section for grants to carry out the 25 projects designated in the table of "Projects of National and Regional Significance" incorporated under Section 1301. As Section 1301(m) obviates the need for any funding allocation proposals or recommendations, the enclosed project information will serve to inform the committees on progress made in funding the designated projects and on progress made in establishing the regulatory framework called for in Section 1301(f)(6) for evaluating and rating projects.
I recommend that the project funding proceed in accordance with the following distribution plan set forth in Section 1301(m). The directive stipulates allocating the total of all funds in this section to the 25 projects identified in this section, and the requirement that this allocation be distributed for each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at 10 percent, 20 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent, and 20 percent, respectively.
The Department also wishes to convey to Congress several concerns about the Projects of National and Regional Significance. You will note that of the 25 Projects, there are 13 projects that have not obligated any funds as of December 2007, and six projects have never submitted project descriptions or requested the release of funds. The total amount of Projects of National and Regional Significance funding for the six earmarked projects that have not requested release of funds is $238 million. This is incongruous for projects that are intended to be of the highest national priority.
There are a number of explanations for this situation that will likely persist for some time to come, and which have been reported to us by transportation professionals in the States and localities where these projects are located. In most cases the project funding authorized under the Projects of National and Regional Significance is far less than the estimated full cost of project completion. In many of these cases, States and localities have not been able to identify funding sources to fill these gaps, and the project cannot move forward until these additional funding sources are identified. In some cases, the projects are considered to be inconsistent with the investment priorities of the States or local governments in the areas where they are located, so that State and local funds would have to be shifted from what are viewed as higher priority projects, and there is resistance to making such a funding allocation shift. Finally, in some cases the project is so early in the planning process that the full cost of the project has not even been estimated. Even if funding sources can be found to complete the funding for these projects, it is likely to be years before the Federal funds designated for these projects can be obligated. Meanwhile, projects that are ready to move forward languish for lack of funding.
The Department believes, moreover, that a number of these projects may not reflect projects that are truly of National and Regional Significance, but in fact are projects which reflect local interests, and would have been more appropriately funded from other categorically specific funds such as the Surface Transportation Program or National Highway System. Because no common metrics were utilized to declare these projects either nationally or regionally "significant", one can have little confidence that these earmarked projects produce higher returns for Federal taxpayers than other potentially "significant" projects.
Looking ahead, the Department will be developing and promulgating the Final Rule evaluation criteria for Projects of National and Regional Significance. Such criteria are essential so that we can work closely with future project sponsors and managers to ensure that funding under this important program is applied to well-planned and defensible projects that address nationally and regionally significant needs.
Identical letters have been sent to the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sincerely yours,
Mary E. Peters
Enclosure
Projects of National and Regional Significance
2007 Report to Congress
Project Information
December 2007
United States Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Table of Contents
Project Status and Funding
Project Descriptions
Promulgation of Project Evaluation and Rating Regulations
Project Status
The FHWA has received project descriptions and funding allocation requests for 19 of the 25 projects designated under SAFETEA-LU Section 1301(m). Fifteen of these projects have received funding allocations, while four are currently pending final review and congressional notification. The tables on the following pages summarize the status and funding of the 25 projects.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed implementing guidance for Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS) grantees and posted it on the Internet in early 2006. All grant recipients for projects designated under PNRS are asked to submit project descriptions to the FHWA in order to initiate the release of designated funds. The project description, which includes information on project purpose, scope, cost, planning, and finance is submitted to the FHWA Division Office through the Department of Transportation in the State where the project is located. (Only one project description is required to be submitted for the 5 years of funding authorized by SAFETEA-LU).
The FHWA Division Office reviews and comments on the project description and
forwards the description to the FHWA Headquarters where USDOT staff from the
relevant modal agencies, along with the Office of the Secretary, review the
proposal. This review is to insure that the proposed work is aligned with the
congressionally designated project and to determine where and how the Department
could assist in project implementation.
| State | Project | 5-Year Authorized Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Bakersfield Beltway System | $140 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| CA | Inland Empire Goods Movement (Norton AFB) | $55 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| CA | Alameda Corridor East | $125 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| CA | Transbay Terminal | $27 m | Project Description Received |
| CA | Gerald Desmond Bridge/I-710 | $100 m | Project Description Received |
| CA | Sacramento Intermodal Station | $3 m | No Project Description Received |
| CO | Union Station (Denver) | $50 m | No Project Description Received |
| IL | O'Hare Bypass | $140 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| IL | CREATE | $100 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| IL | Miss River Bridge | $150 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| MI | Blue Water Bridge Border Plaza (Port Huron) | $20 m | No Project Description Received |
| MN | Union Depot Multimodal Transit Facility | $50 m | No Project Description Received |
| NJ | Liberty Corridor | $100 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| NM | Relocate El Paso, TX Rail Yard to Santa Teresa | $14 m | Project Description Received |
| NY | Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project | $100 m | No Project Description Received |
| OR | I-5 Bridge Repair | $160 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| PA | US 422 Widening and Interchange Improvements (Montgomery County) | $20 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| PA | Rt 28 Widening and Improvements (Allegheny County) | $15 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| PA | I-80 Improvements (Monroe County) | $15 m | No Project Description Received |
| SC | I-73 Construction (Myrtle Beach to NC State Line) | $40 m | Project Description Received |
| VA | Portsmouth Rail Relocation | $15 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| WA | Alaska Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement | $100 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| WA | Replacement of Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall (Seattle) | $120 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| WI | Marquette Interchange Reconstruction (Milwaukee) | $30 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| VA,WV, OH,[KY] | Heartland Corridor | $90 m | FY05/FY06/FY07 Funding Allocated |
| State | Demo ID | Project List | Total Authorized Funding* | Estimated Total Project Cost | FY 05/06 Distribution Amount | FY 05/06 Distribution Date | FY 07 Distribution Amount | FY 07 Distribution Date | Total FY05/ FY06/ FY07 Distribution Amount | Amount Obligated as of 12/20/07 |
Amount Expended as of 12/20/07 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | CA743 | Bakersfield Beltway | $140,000,000 | $336,454,000 | $38,086,400 | 8/3/2007 | $32,225,054 | 8/3/2007 | $70,311,454 | $6,160,000.00 | $0.00 |
| CA | CA744 | Inland Empire Goods Movement (Norton AFB) | $55,000,000 | $598,914,000 | $14,176,800 | 2/5/2007 | $12,659,843 | 4/18/2007 | $26,836,643 | $23,907,000.00 | $0.00 |
| CA | CA745 | Alameda Corridor East | $125,000,000 | $4,600,000,000 | $32,220,000 | 3/16/2007 | $28,772,370 | 4/18/2007 | $60,992,370 | $12,642,685.00 | |
| CA | CA746 | Transbay Terminal | $27,000,000 | Under Review | |||||||
| CA | CA747 | Gerald Desmond Bridge/I-710 | $100,000,000 | Under Review | |||||||
| CA | CA748 | Sacramento Intermodal | $3,000,000 | $0 | |||||||
| CO | CO112 | Union Station (Denver) | $50,000,000 | $0 | |||||||
| IL | IL524 | O-Hare Bypass | $140,000,000 | $2,171,000,000 | $36,086,400 | 12/8/2006 | $32,225,054 | 4/18/2007 | $68,311,454 | $4,262,976.00 | $0.00 |
| IL | IL525 | CREATE | $100,000,000 | $1,500,000,000 | $25,776,000 | 1/31/2007 | $23,017,897 | 4/18/2007 | $48,793,897 | $2,980,117.00 | $0.00 |
| IL | IL526 | Miss River Bridge | $150,000,000 | $910,000,000 | $38,664,000 | 2/22/2007 | $34,526,844 | 4/18/2007 | $73,190,844 | ||
| MI | MI274 | Blue Water Bridge Border Plaza (Port Huron) | $20,000,000 | $0 | |||||||
| MN | MN238 | Union Depot Multimodal Transit Facility | $50,000,000 | $0 | |||||||
| NJ | NJ272 | Liberty Corridor | $100,000,000 | $601,480,000 | $25,776,000 | 12/26/2007 | 23017897 | 12/26/2007 | $48,793,897 | ||
| NM | NM077 | Relocate El Paso, TX Rail Yard to Santa Teresa | $14,000,000 | Under Review | |||||||
| NY | NY693 | Cross Harbor Freight Movement Project | $100,000,000 | $0 | |||||||
| OR | OR174 | I-5 Bridge Repair | $160,000,000 | $863,479,000 | $41,241,600 | 8/29/2006 | $36,828,634 | 4/18/2007 | $78,070,234 | $44,694,147.00 | $14,305,233.00 |
| PA | PA672 | US422 Widening and Interchange Improvements (Montgomery County) | $20,000,000 | $168,950,000 | $5,155,200 | 8/29/2006 | $4,603,579 | 4/18/2007 | $9,758,779 | $9,758,779.00 | $2,327.00 |
| PA | PA673 | Rte 28 Widening and Improvements (Allegheny County) | $15,000,000 | $120,000,000 | $3,866,400 | 8/29/2006 | $3,452,685 | 4/18/2007 | $7,319,085 | $7,319,085.00 | $0.00 |
| PA | PA674 | I-80 Improvements (Monroe County) | $15,000,000 | $0 | |||||||
| SC | SC120 | I-73 Construction (Myrtle Beach to NC State Line) | $40,000,000 | $2,525,500,000 | Under Review | ||||||
| VA | VA239 | Portsmouth Rail Relocation | $15,000,000 | $59,600,000 | $3,866,400 | 11/30/2006 | $3,452,685 | 4/18/2007 | $7,319,085 | $3,866,400.00 | $0.00 |
| WA | WA270 | Alaska Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement | $100,000,000 | $2,800,000,000 | $25,776,000 | 5/19/2006 | $23,017,897 | 4/18/2007 | $48,793,897 | $48,793,897.00 | $35,555,513.00 |
| WA | WA271 | Replacement of Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall (Seattle) | $120,000,000 | See Above | $30,931,200 | 5/19/2006 | $27,621,475 | 4/18/2007 | $58,552,675 | $58,552,675.00 | $44,270,275.00 |
| WI | WI140 | Marquette Interchange Reconstruction (Milwaukee) | $30,000,000 | $890,000,000 | $7,732,800 | 8/29/2006 | $6,905,369 | 4/18/2007 | $14,638,169 | $14,638,169.00 | $14,638,169.00 |
| VA, WV, OH, [KY] | N/A | Heartland Corridor | $90,000,000 | $150,000,000 | $23,198,400 | 1/8/2007 | $20,716,107 | 5/10/2007 | $43,914,507 | $20,603,075.35 | $3,117,655.78 |
| Total | $1,779,000,000 | $352,553,600.00 | $313,043,390.00 | $665,596,990 | $258,179,005.35 | $111,889,172.78 |
* The total authorized funding levels in this table equal the totals authorized in SAFETEA-LU sections 1301, however, the funding is subject to obligation limitation and other "take-downs" designated in the Appropriations Acts.
Project Descriptions
The following summarizes project information submitted as part of the project description for the above listed projects. There are a total of thirteen projects with fourteen funding allocations.
Bakersfield Beltway System (CA)
Summary: The proposed Bakersfield Beltway System consists of three limited access expressway or freeway facilities on three different alignments:
- West Beltway – extends north-south from SR 58 to SR 119 along the western part of the metropolitan Bakersfield area
- South Beltway – extends east-west from SR 58 to I-5 along the southern part of the metropolitan Bakersfield area
- North Beltway – extends east-west from SR 99 to SR 43 along the northern part of the metropolitan Bakersfield area.
The proposed Beltway System will ultimately provide direct connections to I-5, SR 43, SR 99, and SR 119 bypassing the metropolitan Bakersfield area. The PNRS funding will go toward conducting environmental studies, planning, preliminary engineering, design, right-of-way acquisition and construction for various segments.
Roadway improvements in and around the former Norton Air Force Base as part
of the Inland Empire Goods Movement Gateway Project (CA)
Summary: The Inland Empire Goods Movement Gateway (IEGMG) is a regional effort to facilitate goods movement through the County of San Bernardino, particularly in and around the former Norton Air Force Base (NAFB). This project includes several transportation improvement projects that will greatly enhance mobility throughout the region and help speed the flow of commerce. The area in and around the former NAFB in San Bernardino is becoming a major distribution center for goods movement from the Los Angeles and Long Beach port areas and transcontinental freeways which go through the area. Reconstruction and improvements to these freeways will contribute to enhanced goods movement. There are two subprojects in the (IEGMG) which comprise this PNRS application: the I-215 corridor reconstruction and the I-10/Tippecanoe interchange reconstruction.
The I-215 corridor is one of two freeway corridors in the immediate area, both of which are currently at or near capacity. The I-215 corridor connects to I-15, a major north-south cross country corridor, which then intersects with I-40 and I-70, major east-west cross country freeway corridors. Millions of tons of maritime cargo are shipped by truck along these cross country corridors. This project will reconstruct I-215 by adding an HOV and mixed flow lane in each direction on the corridor and other operational improvements. These projects are vital to improving regional goods movement and increasing safety in this area and improving this vital link between the area distribution centers and the major cross country trucking corridors.
Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino is one of the main arterials that connect the distribution center area around the former NAFB and the I-10 transcontinental corridor. The I-10 corridor extends from Los Angeles to Florida with connections to other transcontinental freeway corridors along the way. The existing I-10 access to and from Tippecanoe at the interchange needs improvement due to four closely spaced signalized intersections around the interchange causing queuing problems on the streets and onto the mainline. This project will construct an added auxiliary lane in the eastbound direction, widen streets and ramps, and reconfigure a westbound ramp to eliminate a signalized intersection.
Alameda Corridor East (CA)
Summary: In 2001, the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority, San Bernardino Associated Governments, Orange County Transportation Authority/City of Placentia and the Riverside County Transportation Commission developed the comprehensive Alameda Corridor East (ACE) Trade Corridor Plan. The ACE Trade Corridor Improvement Plan proposes highway/rail grade separations at 131 crossings, plus 61 additional crossing improvements. The ACE Trade Corridor extends the public infrastructure necessary to connect the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the Alameda Corridor to the transcontinental rail network through the nation's second largest metropolitan area.
Eliminating vehicle conflicts at the 131 highest volume crossings will improve rail system reliability, significantly reduce the frequency of crossing accidents and railroad liability exposure and further enhance the competitive position of Southern California in attracting international trade. The areas through which the ACE Trade Corridor passes account for approximately 6.7 million jobs today; that number is expected to grow to 9.7 million by 2020. The virtual gridlock that will result from unmitigated freight train growth will stifle both the existing economic base and the prospects for future growth. The vitality of the state's trade corridor sector, and the future competitiveness of the region, state, and nation in a just-in-time economy, increasing depends upon its global gateways – its international seaports and airports – and the major trade corridors which serve as strategic intermodal linkages and provide needed goods movement mobility throughout the region state and nation. Improving major trade corridors such as the ACE Trade Corridor, which serve the San Pedro Bay ports, is seen as essential to preserving California and the nation's global competitiveness.
By 2020, almost 13,000 vehicle hours of delay would be eliminated with these improvements, as would an estimated 370 accidents per year. The congestion avoided by the 131 grade separations will eliminate approximately 288 tons per year of combined reactive organic gas, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide annually in 2010, the attainment deadline for the most polluted air basin in the nation.
The estimated cost of the total improvement program is $4.6 billion. Currently the 4 counties have 25 projects funded and completed 7 projects. At least 10 projects will be funded by the PNRS funds.
CREATE (IL)
Summary: The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program involves improvements to both railroad infrastructure and the local road system in Chicago. This project will invest $1.5 billion in capital projects to reduce train delays and congestion throughout in the Chicago area along five rail corridors. Private and public contributions will fund the program, with the six railroad partners providing $212 million (an amount equal to the potential economic benefits of the improvements to the rail industry). The remaining funds will come from Federal, State and local governments. The key projects are:
- Grade separation of six railroad-railroad crossings (rail-rail "flyovers"), to eliminate train interference and associated delay, primarily between passenger and freight trains;
- Grade separation of 25 highway-rail crossings, to reduce motorist delay, improve safety, eliminate crossing accidents, decrease energy consumption, and reduce air pollution; and
- Additional rail connections, crossovers, trackage, and other improvements to expedite train movements in five rail corridors traversing the Chicago region.
The CREATE Program is a first-of-its-kind public/private partnership that provides a multi-modal program (freight rail, passenger rail and highway) capitalizing on a spirit of collaboration among competitors to provide significant benefits to the Chicago region and the nation. The FHWA Illinois Division Office, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Department of Transportation, developed the Systematic, Project Expediting, Environmental Decision-making (SPEED) Strategy to address the CREATE Program in total. The SPEED Strategy supports systematic decision-making, provides an expeditious method of moving low risk component projects forward, and assesses potential environmental impacts in a proportional, graduated way.
- In all, CREATE will bring benefits to the Chicago region valued at:
- $595 million related to safety improvements and reduced delays for motorists and rail passengers;
- $1.1 billion related to air quality improvements; and
- $2.2 billion related to construction.
- During its construction period, CREATE will generate an annual average of more than 2,700 full-time construction-related jobs and $365 million in purchases of materials and services.
- By decreasing shipping times, CREATE will boost the competitiveness of manufacturers and businesses and encourage long-term job growth in Illinois and nationwide. Shippers will save an estimated $40 million annually in reduced inventory costs.
- Reductions in highway needs and user costs will yield more than $10 billion in savings for the Nation over 20 years.
- For area residents, CREATE means reduced traffic congestion, shorter commuting times, better air quality, and increased public safety.
Mississippi River Bridge and related roads (IL)
Summary: The New Mississippi River Crossing project includes a new eight lane river bridge, the relocation of Interstate 70 on a new alignment from east of IL 203 in Illinois to existing Interstate 70 north of downtown St. Louis and the partial construction of Relocated I-70/I-64 interchange.
This project will serve the Heart of America where one out of five industrial jobs are located, and 40 percent of US exports originate. The bridge location will facilitate national east-west traffic, and assist in the north-south goods movement important to NAFTA trade relations, which support 27 percent of US agricultural exports. Construction of this project will greatly improve traffic efficiency and access in Illinois and Missouri by correcting the existing transportation bottleneck that relies on a single crossing for three vital Interstates. This project will also strengthen the Nation's defense, communication, and economic infrastructure by providing an additional Mississippi River crossing in America's heartland.
Construction of O'Hare Bypass/Elgin O'Hare Extension (IL)
Summary: This project is comprised of: (1) the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway Extension (including the reconstruction and upgrade of Thorndale Avenue) and investigation of a western access interchange at the proposed Western O'Hare Bypass, to access the O'Hare International Airport; (2) Construction of an access controlled facility around the western and southern boundaries of O'Hare International Airport from Interstate 294 to Interstate 90 (including investigation of interchange access at cross routes). This project will result in improved mobility for motorists in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Liberty Corridor (NJ)
Summary: The Liberty Corridor currently encompasses eight counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Passaic and Union counties), with 232 municipalities. It contains nine of the State's ten largest cities and towns. The Liberty Corridor takes a comprehensive look at the transportation issues facing the region and improves the transportation system connecting the largest seaport on the East Coast and the 13th largest airport in the nation to the national and global economy and the trans-continental rail network.
The Liberty Corridor Phase I proposal includes 10 projects (6 highway, 2 freight rail, and 2 public transit projects). These projects include:
- Wittpenn Bridge Replacement – replaces the existing Wittpenn bridge with a new vertical-lift bridge on a new alignment.
- North Jersey Railroad Doublestack Clearance/National Docks – improves vertical clearances on two tunnels on the Conrail railroad route between the Port of New York and New Jersey and the CSX mainline serving the US rail network. The Bergen and Waldo tunnels currently limit the height of Intermodal container trains to 19-ft. 2-in. The improvements will allow passage of industry standard intermodal container trains of 20-ft. 2-in. in height.
- Port Reading Junction – addresses a major choke point in the region's rail system by reconfiguring the Port Reading Junction to provide double track train operations between CSX–West Trenton line and Norfolk Southern–Lehigh line. This improves the efficiency of train operation and optimizes the current Lehigh line double tracking project.
- Tremley Point Connector Road Provides access from the New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 12 through Carteret, NJ, over the Rahway River, and into Tremley Point in Linden, NJ.
- North Avenue Corridor Project – Phase I – separates truck traffic for the Port and Airport from passenger traffic for retail, hotel and other land uses in the area.
- Route 35/36 Eatontown – improves access to Fort Monmouth and other locations via Route 35/36.
- Route 1, Section 6V, North of Ryders Lane to South of Milltown Road – improves access by replacing a deficient bridge, road improvements and additional signals.
- Route 18/Interstate 287 Connection – upgrades access via Hoes Lane from Interstate 287 to the Busch Campus of Rutgers University. Hoes Lane will be upgraded to be part of State Route 18, with four lanes, pavement replacement, signal replacement and various pedestrian safety improvements (including sidewalks, multi-use paths and two new pedestrian bridges).
- Liberty Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Service – Creates a bus rapid transit (BRT) line connecting Newark's neighborhoods and workforce to the downtown, employers at the Port of Newark/Elizabeth, Newark Liberty International Airport, the Newark Innovation Zone and University Heights Science Park.
- New Brunswick/Northeast Corridor Transit Connection Initiative – develops a direct connection from the westbound station platform to the University Research Tower ("URT") and provides access to the North East Corridor and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Phase I projects are intended to:
- Clear chokepoints in the surface transportation system, which will assist the competitiveness of one of the nation's largest ports as an efficient and effective means of moving goods internationally, nationally and regionally.
- Make critical connections and separate traffic flows, enabling underutilized and brownfield properties to be brought back to productive use.
- Separate freight and passenger traffic to allow diverse land uses, such as ports, warehouses, retail complexes, and hotels, to coexist and thrive.
- Enhance access to sites of innovation, assisting research institutions and firms focused on emerging technologies to attract workers and develop products that both benefit the US and can be exported to the global marketplace.
The Liberty Corridor is fully integrated into the State, NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT, and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Turnpike Authority's planning and all of these entities have embraced the Liberty Corridor's concept and project selection. Given the larger planning context, more than 20 public and private organizations have come together to agree on the Liberty Corridor's priorities. The $100M Liberty Corridor funds will be leveraged to produce $601M in transportation projects.
I-5 Bridge repair, replacement and associated improvements in the I-5 corridor (OR)
Summary: This project makes a large number of individual improvements to bridges in the I-5 corridor. In all, a total of 25 bridges have been identified for improvement. The State's recommended allocation of the available funding is proposed as follows: widening of bridges, replacing bridges, reconstruction of interchanges around bridges, and modification of bridges with limited vertical clearance.
I-5 is one of the Nation's High Priority Corridors. It is the third most heavily traveled truck corridor in the Nation, and directly connects the U.S. to Canada and Mexico. This corridor carries a large portion of the freight traffic in and through the State. Oregon's existing transportation system is struggling to provide viable freight routes due to vertical clearance pinch points. In particular, the movement of mobile homes, construction material, construction equipment, and many other types of freight critical to Oregon's economy are greatly restricted due to insufficient vertical clearance on many routes. The PNRS project provides for the elimination of 13 vertical clearance obstructions that currently impede successful transport within the State of Oregon and between the Western States, Canada and Mexico. Improving vertical clearance on freight routes is essential to the economic health of the State.
Additionally, several of the bridges identified require widening in anticipation of the need for additional travel-lanes on the Interstate over the next 20 years due to increasing traffic volumes. In particular, the Oregon Department of Transportation identified two mainline segments of I-5 (Albany-Columbia River and Creswell-Coburg), 10 interchanges, and 4 climbing lane segments that were forecast to be congested or extremely congested by 2020. The PNRS project will help fund the widening of six bridges (or bridge pairs) that will help alleviate future congestion, without increasing future costs, by providing sufficient structure width in bridges currently being replaced to accommodate a 20-year forecast of congestion conditions.
Route 23/US 422 Interchange modernization and Route 363/US 422 interchange Improvement Project and US 422 widening, Montgomery County (PA)
Summary: This project involves improvements to US 422 in Montgomery County, PA around Valley Forge National Historical Park. The project's aim is to provide safety and operational improvements to US 422 and the surrounding area. The funds will go towards an early action project that will add a third auxiliary lane along US 422 West between the PA 23 and PA 363 interchanges (SR 0422, Section ITM project). The funding will also go towards three additional projects along US 422.
Route 28 Widening and Improvements, Allegheny County (PA)
Summary: This project is located along Route 28 from the connection with Interstates 279 and 579 to the Millvale Interchange in the city of Pittsburgh and the Borough of Millvale. The scope of work includes widening of the road to provide four standard lanes, construction of a median barrier, grade separations of roads, channelization and signal improvement. To accommodate the proposed improvements, right-of-way acquisition, railroad relocation, and utility relocation will also be included in the project. This project will result in improved mobility and safety for motorists in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Alaska Way Viaduct and Seawall Replacement/Replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and Seawall in Seattle (WA)
Summary: This project proposes to improve the existing SR 99 corridor now served by the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, Washington. The Viaduct and the Seattle Seawall are at risk of failure from earthquakes or irreversible loss of use from age and deterioration. The project will provide facilities with improved earthquake resistance that maintains or improves mobility for people and goods along the existing SR 99 corridor. The project would also improve the Alaskan Way Seawall, which supports surface streets and the viaduct's foundations. Specifically a 6-lane facility between Spokane Street and the Battery Street Tunnel will be constructed to replace the existing viaduct and seawall and reconnect the city street grid over SR-99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel.
The SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct, along with Interstate 5, are the primary north-south limited access routes through downtown Seattle. One quarter of all north-south traffic through Seattle (103,000 vehicles) use the Viaduct every day. Closure of the viaduct following the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake resulted in extreme congestion on I-5 and in the downtown city street grid clearly demonstrating that this is a critical route that needs to be replaced, due to the effect its closure would have on I-5 traffic. Washington State Department of Transportation estimates that if the Viaduct is no longer usable, travel time through the downtown Seattle area will double. Washington State Department of Transportation also believes that if the Viaduct were to collapse, container traffic through the International Port of Seattle ($32 billion worth of goods each year) would grind to a halt, cutting off container traffic between Seattle and the Mid-West. This makes the Alaskan Way Viaduct a vital link in the region's highway and freight mobility system, and thus critical to the region's economy.
Reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange, Milwaukee (WI)
Summary: This project involves rebuilding the Marquette Interchange and adjacent sections of I-94, I-43, and I-794. The Marquette Interchange and the Zoo Interchange are the linchpins of the southeastern Wisconsin freeway system. The freeway system affects a significant portion of the State's residents. Besides serving the transportation needs of individuals and businesses in the Milwaukee area, approximately 62 percent of the State's jobs are influenced by the southeastern Wisconsin freeway system. Additionally, almost two-thirds of all goods shipped from the Fox Valley area travel on the southeastern Wisconsin freeway system; and with its connections to major markets, the freeway system serves as a gateway for tourists to Wisconsin, fueling an $11.7 billion industry statewide.
Rail Relocation to Route 164/I-664 rail corridor, Portsmouth (VA)
Summary: The Portsmouth rail relocation to the Route 164 (Western Freeway) and I-664 median ("Median Rail Project") is a project to relocate the existing Commonwealth Railway rail line that runs through the cities of Portsmouth and Chesapeake with a new rail line that will run through the medians of the existing Western Freeway. The Median Rail Corridor will extend approximately 4.5 miles and will link the APM Marine Terminal currently under construction (as well as the future Virginia Port Authority (VPA) Craney Island Marine Terminal) with the Commonwealth Railway main rail line at a point near Bowers Hill.
The Median Rail Project will be a component of the "Heartland Corridor". The Heartland Corridor defines improvements necessary to permit the safe and efficient rail handling of increasing volumes of imported container shipments from The Port of Virginia into the Midwest region. The Median Rail Project will allow for improvements in the efficient and safe movement, as well as a significant increase in intermodal rail traffic associated with the new APM/Maersk facility and the proposed Craney Island Marine Terminal. The new APM/Maersk marine terminal is a $600 million project (to be opened in July, 2007). The VPA is planning a $2.4 billion marine terminal adjacent to APM/Maersk (to be opened in 2017). Together this $3 billion investment in the national marine transportation system is planned to handle nearly 5 million TEU. Both terminals will be served by the proposed Median Rail line.
With adequate capacity in the system, over 30 percent (nearly 1 million containers) of this cargo is planned to move by rail. The Median Rail Project will provide the ability to keep 1 million trucks off the highways while also removing 14 at-grade crossings from the urban areas of Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
Heartland Corridor Project including multiple intermodal facility improvements and improvements to facilitate the movement of intermodal freight from VA to OH (VA, WV, OH)
Summary: This project is designed to create an efficient intermodal rail route that will start at The Port of Virginia, cross West Virginia and terminate in Columbus, Ohio. In Columbus, Heartland Corridor trains will link up with western rail networks and/or the existing Norfolk Southern network that is double-stack cleared to Chicago. The funds will be used to link existing rail systems, build new rail line where needed and raise tunnel and bridge heights to allow for passage of Norfolk Southern's double-stack trains.
The Heartland Corridor Project provides the opportunity to open up a significant portion of Appalachia currently excluded from international intermodal markets, connecting to a center of existing domestic and international distribution in the Midwest, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of the entire region and enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the Nation's transportation network. The Heartland Corridor Project will result in opportunities for shippers throughout the Midwest, from central Ohio through the Chicago and Detroit regions, to move their inbound and outbound product more effectively via rail. Provisions of the Heartland Corridor Project will also allow for the future development of intermodal facilities along the corridor, which will enable areas like western Virginia, West Virginia, northeast Kentucky, or southern Ohio to benefit from rail intermodal.
To the extent that this Project is able to attract freight from highways to rail, there will be benefits through greater mobility for both motorists and those trucks which will continue to carry goods over the road. Current rail service, connecting Midwest points to maritime port facilities Portsmouth, Virginia, or Norfolk, Virginia, is restricted to single stack trains reducing the volume of freight that can move within a given time. To use double-stack trains freight must either travel via Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and then south, or via Danville, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee, and then east. The provision for double-stack via the Heartland Corridor will reduce the rail mileage for those containers moving from port terminals in Virginia to the Midwest by over 200 miles, making rail service more efficient and effective (increasing the volume of freight moved) and making rail a more attractive option for shippers. This project can result in a number of public benefits including but not limited to: 1) contributing to the reduction of congestion, 2) improving public safety, and 3) enabling States to stretch their highway dollars further.
Promulgation of Project Evaluation and Rating Regulations
In the summer of 2006 FHWA published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the Federal Register to implement the requirements of SAFETEA-LU Section 1301(f)(6). The original comment period closed on September 22, 2006. During the initial analysis of comments the FHWA recognized that a number of subject areas were not commented upon, and significant segments of the transportation stakeholder community did not respond. The FHWA believes that others interested in commenting on this important program may not have had the opportunity to provide comments. The FHWA desires to receive the fullest and most comprehensive comments possible from the broadest group of stakeholders. Therefore, the comment period was reopened until February 9, 2007, to provide those interested in commenting additional time to discuss, evaluate, and submit responses to the docket. The docket is now closed and comments are being reviewed.
