OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEXT GENERATION TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS

(Competitively Awarded Funding)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is pleased to solicit applications for the Next Generation Transit Partnership Program’s Innovative New Service Starts funding. The Department believes this new funding source gives Ohio’s public transit agencies a prospect to grow in these challenging economic times when the systems have not had the opportunityto expand ridership and revenue. Despite these challenges, transit ridership is growing on existing routes throughout Ohio and the benefits of transit are clear. Public transit is the cleanest, most fuel efficient, environmentally friendly mode of transportation, it offers an alternative for those who do not drive, and Ohio’s employers depend on it for workforce mobility. Consequently, ODOT is committed to supporting an effort for transit to be all it can be. This new funding program is the first step.

Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality program funds totalingten million dollars ($10 million) for each of the next three State Fiscal Years ($30 million total) beginning in SFY 2011 are available for new, innovative public transit services connecting job centers in both rural and urban areas and new services. Service should beresponsive to workforce needs, accommodating young professionals and university students, or other targeted ridership such as seniors or those with disabilities. This investment will complement the work of Ohio’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC), which adopted new criteria to prioritize transit projects more than $5 million in cost that add new service capacity.

The Office of Transit will accept applications for innovative new service that will start before June 1, 2011which have not received previous funding through other federal programs. Applications must be submitted according to the instructions included in the Innovative New Service Starts Overview by 5:00 P.M on Friday, December 17, 2010. Applications not submitted accordingly will not be reviewed or scored.

All applications submitted according to criteria will be reviewed to determine applicant and project eligibility. Eligible projects will be evaluated and scored based on program criteria. Projects that do not meet all eligibility criteria will be deemed ineligible and will not be evaluated or scored.

Second and third year funding will require an updated application each year.

APPLICANT ELIGIBLITY:

  • Applicant must be a public transit system operating in Ohio that receives Federal Section 5307 or Federal Section 5311 funds.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY:

  • Projects must
  • provide connections to job centers; or
  • be aimed at younger populations; or
  • support workforce retention; or
  • target a specific ridership
  • Projects must be CMAQ eligible

EVALUATION CRITERIA: Total Maximum Points = 110

  • 20 Points –Targeted Populations, Businesses, and Healthcare and Higher Learning Institutions
  • 15 Points –Air Quality Emission Reduction Cost Benefit
  • 20 Points –Project Innovation
  • 20 Points – Financial Continuation Plan
  • 20 Points – Partnerships

BONUS POINTS –15 POINTS MAXIMUM

  • Environmental Benefits
  • Ridership Increase
  • Congestion Mitigation

NOTE:ODOT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AWARD PROJECTS BASED

ON BOTH SCORE AND GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND

WAIVE SPECIFIC CRITERIA AS APPLICABLE

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

  • Applications must be submitted electronically, no later than 5:00 P.M on Friday, December 17, 2010 to Juana Hostin at .

If you have any questions, please contact Marianne Freed in the ODOT Office of Transit at 614-466-7084.

NEXT GENERATION TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS

PROJECT SCORING CRITERIA

Targeted Populations and Businesses: 20 Points Maximum

Project applications must provide a detailed description of the proposed Innovative New Service. Documentation should identify the service type, location, and frequency. Documentation should also identify a targeted population (service demand) and the trip purpose (service attraction). Project proposals must includeannual cost and daily ridership estimates. Projects focused on providing a targeted population access to employment, healthcare facilities and/or institutions of higher learning can receive up to 20 points.

Air Quality Emission Reduction Cost Benefit: 15 Points Maximum

Project applications must include a mobile source emission reduction analysis. Emission analyses will quantify the mobile source emission reductions resulting from new transit riders switching from automobile travel, to the new transit service.

ODOT will calculate an air quality cost benefit ratio (project cost/emission reduction) for each project. The projects will then be rank ordered from greatest to least cost benefit ratio. Projects in the upper 3rd of the ranking will receive 15 points, the second 3rd 5 points, and the final 3rd will receive 0 points.

Project Innovation: 20 Points Maximum

Project applications must describe the innovative/unique attributes of the proposed new service for advancing regional mobility and accessibility and/or economic vitality. Descriptions should be specific and quantified where possible.

Financial Continuation Plan: 20 Points Maximum

Project applications must include the project sponsor’s fiscal plan(s) for continuing the service after the initial three year infusion of ODOT Next Generation funding is expended. The Next Generation Program is being financed with federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. The federal CMAQ funds are “to help start up viable new transportation services that can demonstrate air quality benefits and eventually cover their costs as much as possible.” Responding to this guidance, project scoring will reflect the strength of the project sponsor’s service fiscal continuation plan. Plans identifying and providing documentation of future funding commitments and funding sources, beyond the initial three years, will receive maximum points.

Partnerships: 20 Points Maximum

Projects must demonstrate and document substantive public or private partnership participation to achieve points in this area. Commitment letters documenting partnership roles and responsibilities from employers, developers, universities, healthcare providers, local governments or other important partners will be reviewed in assigning scoring points.

BONUS POINTS: 15 POINTS MAXIMUM

Environmental Benefits: 5 Points Maximum

Projects that can demonstrate a realistic link between implementation of the new service and enhancement of a region’s social, natural, economic development and environmental conditions or demonstrates population retention/growth will receive up to 5 bonus points.

Ridership Increase: 5 Points Maximum

Projects that are estimated to grow system ridership will receive up to 5 bonus points.

Congestion Mitigation: 5 Points Maximum

Projects that can demonstrate a quantitative reduction in vehicular congestion measures will receive up to 5 bonus points.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEXT GENERATION TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS

(Competitively Awarded Funding)

The application is designed to be downloaded and completed using Microsoft Word. Note that no more than one project may be requested per application.

Applications must be submitted electronically, no later than 5:00 P.M on Friday, December 17, 2010, to Juana Hostin at . Use the following instructions to complete the application.

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS APPLICATION:

CONTACT INFORMATION:

  1. Project Sponsor – Enter Transit System Name.
  2. Project Manager Name/Title/Street Address/City/State/Zip/Phone/Fax//E-mail:

Enter the Project Manager information in the appropriate fields. The Project Manager assigned will be the contact person responsible for project oversight, project delivery, and project reporting to ODOT. Enter the remaining information for the Project Manager.

TOTAL PROJECT INFORMATION:

I.PROJECT ELIGIBILITY – Place an “X” in the space to the left of each eligibility criteria your project supports.

  1. Provide Connections to Job Centers, Health Care Facilities and Institutions of Higher Learning –ADD DESCRIPTION FOR EACH
  2. Aimed at Younger Populations –
  3. Support Workforce Retention –
  4. Target a Specific Ridership -

II.FUNDING INFORMATION–Enter the dollar amount and source of funding available for this specific project for the first 12 month period.

  1. Total Project Cost – Enter the total project cost associated with this specific service.
  2. Anticipated Revenue – Enter the amount of expected revenue this project will generate.
  3. Other Funding Sources– Enter each additional funding source and the associated amount.
  4. ODOT Funds Requested–Enter the total amount of funding requested from ODOT to support this project for the first 12 month period.

III.AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL SIGNATURE AND TITLE: DATE / / - Enter the name and title of the official authorized to sign the application. Enter the date the application is signed by the Authorized Official.

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  1. PROJECT SPONSOR – Enter the Project Sponsor as entered in the Contact Information section.
  1. TARGETED POPULATION AND BUSINESSES– Please enter sufficient information to quantify the projected service this project will provide. Information provided in this section will be used to evaluate and score the proposed project.

1.Service Provider – Enter the name of the entity that will provide the service.

  1. Service Type –Place an “X” to the right of the service type that best describes how the service will be provided.
  2. Service Route– Enter the location of the first pickup and last drop off points. Enter the miles of a one way trip from the first pickup to the last drop off points and the number of trips per day.
  3. Peak Vehicles – Enter the number of vehicles that will provide this service during peak times. Attach the method used to calculate the number of peak vehicles.
  4. Vehicle Type – Enter a description of the vehicle to be used to provide the service
  5. Vehicle Capacity – Enter the number of passengers the vehicle will accommodate including wheelchairs.
  6. Daily Ridership – Enter the estimated daily ridership for the service. Attach the method used to calculate the daily ridership.
  7. Population Served – Enter a description of the population that the project targets
  8. Purpose – Enter a description of what this project will accomplish.
  9. Annual Cost – Enter the estimated annual cost to provide this service.
  1. PROJECT INNOVATION– Enter specific and quantifiable details to fully describe the project. Information provided in this section will be used to evaluate and score the proposed project.
  1. ATTACHMENTS – This section includes a list of required and optional attachments. The optional attachments will be used to award bonus points. Each attachment must contain the applicants name and project description.
  1. ODOT USE – ODOT will use this section to evaluate and score each project.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

  1. Submit the application and all attachments electronically to Juana Hostin at .
  2. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, December 17, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.
  3. Attach a copy of CMAQ eligibility determination letter if available.
  4. Projects selected for funding without CMAQ eligibility determination, must have CMAQ eligibility determination submitted prior to contract issuance.
  5. Include STIP reference if available.
  6. Projects selected for funding without a STIP reference must be programmed in the STIP prior to contract issuance.
  7. Attach a copy of the Authorizing Resolution that includes authority to apply for Innovative New Service Starts funding and the official authorized to submit the application.
  8. Attach a copy of the required attachments.
  9. Attach a copy of optional attachments to be considered for bonus points.

NEXT GENERATION TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS APPLICATION

Contact Information
Project Sponsor:
Project Manager Name: Title:
Street Address:
City: State: OH Zip:
Phone: () - Fax: () - Email:
How many years of funding from the Next Generation program will you require for this project:
Total Project Information
Project Eligibility / Funding Information(annual only)
SELECT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA PROJECT SUPPORTS
Provide Connections to Job Centers
Aimed at Younger Populations
Support Workforce Retention
Target a Specific Ridership / Total Project Cost:
Anticipated Revenue:
Other Funding Sources:
ODOT Funds Requested:
Authorized Official Signature and Title:
Date:
(MM/DD/YY)

NEXT GENERATION TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS

INNOVATIVE NEW SERVICE STARTS

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project Sponsor

TARGETED POPULATIONS AND BUSINESSES (annualized information) / PROJECT INNOVATION
Service Provider:
Service Type: Fixed Route:
Demand Response:
Point Deviation:
Service Route: First Pickup Point:
Last Drop Off Point:
Service Route Miles:
Service Route Trips:
Peak Vehicles:
Vehicle Type:
Vehicle Capacity:
Daily Ridership:
Population Served:
Purpose:
Annual Cost: / Describe the innovative/unique attributes that will advance regional mobility and accessibility and/or economic vitality:
ATTACHMENTS / ODOT USE ONLY
Peak Vehicle Calculation:
Daily Ridership Calculation:
Air Quality Emission Reduction Cost Benefit:
Service Continuation Fiscal Plan:
Public and/or Private Participation Commitment Letters:
Environmental Benefit Documentation: (BONUS POINTS)
Ridership Analysis: (BONUS POINTS)
Vehicular Congestion Reduction Documentation: (BONUS POINTS / Targeted Populations and Businesses:
Air Quality Emission Reduction Cost Benefit:
Project Innovation:
Financial Continuation Plan:
Partnerships:
BONUS POINTS
Environmental Benefit Documentation:
Ridership Analysis:
Vehicular Congestion Reduction Documentation:
TOTAL POINTS: