The Regional Application for the National Capital Region TA Program outlines selection criteria in a broad manner:
Regional selection criteria will reflect the goals and policies of the TPB. The selection criteria will be used to evaluate whether projects achieve the following: increase transportation options for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-drivers; enhance walkability and accessibility within regional activity centers; promote accessibility for people with disabilities and for disadvantaged communities; enhance safe bicycle and pedestrian access to schools; provide public involvement opportunities; and demonstrate collaboration within and between jurisdictions. NOTE: Applications are not required to meet all of the listed criteria.
The selection criteria are based on a number of TPB policies and programs, including The TPB Vision, the TLC Strategies, the COG Region Forward initiative, and recommendations from the TPB Access for All Advisory Committee. A Selection Panel will conduct the review and selection of projects and will make funding recommendations to the TPB. The Selection Committee will select projects for funding based on the criteria below and develop a ranked list of projects based on how the projects respond to the criteria. Many projects will not meet all of the criteria below. Desirable projects will address one or more criteria extremely well. The selection committee will include local and national experts in the field of transportation, transit, bicycle/pedestrian issues, environmental issues, and human services. The selection criteria are alphabetized below.
Applications will undergo a preliminary review by the state-level departments of transportation for project readiness and eligibility. Please review the TA Program eligibility established by the Federal Highway Administration.
ADA Accessibility and Disadvantaged Communities
The TPB, through the Access for All (AFA) Advisory Committee, provides a forum for discussion on transportation issues, programs, policies, and services that are important to low-income communities, minority communities, and people with disabilities. The mission of this committee is to identify concerns and to determine whether and how these issues might be addressed within the TPB process. The AFA requested that the TPB consider projects that improve access to the transportation system for those with special needs, as well as projects in disadvantaged communities. It is also a goal of Region Forward to minimize economic disparities and enhance the prosperity of each jurisdiction and the Region as a whole through balanced growth and access to high-quality jobs for everyone.
Applicants may provide basic demographic data about residents in a project area and how the demographics related to the regional average.
Interjurisdiction Collaboration
One of the successes of the TPB's Transportation/Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program has been the opportunities for collaboration within and between jurisdictions. While not necessarily feasible for capital projects, the applicant should demonstrate past instances of interjurisdictional collaboration related to the planning phase of the project.
Provide Public Involvement Opportunities
The TPB encourages activities that promote public participation and seeks to fund projects that demonstrate a history of including the public in the planning process. Applicants should provide a synopsis of public outreach related to the projects, including public hearing/meeting dates and a summary of public input received.
Regional Activity Centers
Supporting access within and between Regional Activity Centers is included in several goals within the TPB Vision, including Goal 2, which states "Give high priority to regional planning and funding for transportation facilities that serve the regional core and regional activity centers."
In addition to noting in which activity center the project is located, demonstrate how the project enhances walkability and accessibility within regional activity centers. Demonstrate if the project enhances connection between activity centers.
More information about the COG Regional Activity Centers may be found in this Press Release.
Safe Routes to School
The TA Program includes some eligible activities that were previously included in the Safe Routes to School Program under SAFETEA-LU. Applicants should refer to the TA Program Guidance, but some eligible projects include: infrastructure projects that improve the ability of students to walk or bike to school, noninfrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, and funding for a Safe Routes to School coordinator.
Transportation Options for Non-Drivers
The TPB supports a broad range of transportation choices within the Region which maximize accessibility. Pursuant to the eligibility guidelines of the TA Program, this criterion seeks projects that make the region's transportation facilities safer, more accessible, and less intimidating for pedestrians, bicyclists, and persons with special needs.
Applicants may demonstrate improvements to safety and accessibility in a number of ways, including but not limited to: discussion of current conditions/data (such as regional hot spot data or crash rate data) or impact of the project on mode shift.
Questions?
As noted above, the TPB does not expect projects to meet all of the criteria above. Please address as many as of the criteria as is relevant in the application.
Please contact TPB staff at TAP@mwcog.org with any questions about the regional TA Program application process. Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page to view answers to common questions.
Back to Application Information.