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BMTS UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
2010-2011 DRAFT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
The Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) spells out how the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study intends to spend federal resources to support the transportation planning process. Money is used to support the BMTS Central Staff , and sometimes for consultant services.
s Where does the funding come from? Congress created programs many years ago to support metropolitan transportation planning. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding is a 1¼% takedown off the top of the core construction programs, recognizing that project decisions begin with planning. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding is a line item in the annual appropriations bill. While this offers less certainty than a takedown, it has proven to be a stable revenue source. Typically the FTA program provides between 15 and 20% of the BMTS budget, FHWA the remainder. Like the federal construction programs, the federal dollars must be matched. The ratio is 80% federal, 15% state, and 5% local. The state and local shares are provided through in-kind services rather than cash.
s On what does the money get spent? Each year, the BMTS Planning Committee and BMTS Policy Committee create and approve a set of tasks that both meet federal requirements and respond to regional and local needs. We categorize the work into:
o Long Range Planning: This works looks more than five years into the future to determine needs and set policy. It may include periodic updates of the regional transportation plan as well as corridor studies and modal plans.
o Plan Implementation and Transportation Systems Management: These tasks are oriented to current conditions. They may include studies to support Broome County’s and Tioga County’s public transit operations, traffic operations and safety investigations, and special programs like Safe Routes to School.
o Program Development and Management: One of BMTS’ prime responsibilities is to select projects for FHWA or FTA funding. Development and oversight of the Transportation Improvement Program is the primary means of doing so.
o Transportation Systems Monitoring and Information Management: All of our planning work must be supported by credible data and information. This task area includes data collection: traffic counts, pavement conditions, transit ridership. It also includes work on the Binghamton Regional Travel Model, which is used to forecast travel demand for all projects; and the BMTS Geographic Information System, which uses maps to display information.
o Program Administration: in addition to staff oversight, this task area includes meeting our public outreach objectives, and making sure BMTS meets the requirements of federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the Executive Order on Environmental Justice.
s What constitutes BMTS’ year? While the funding is federal, it flows through the New York State Department of Transportation. As such, BMTS operates on a state fiscal year, which begins on April 1. The 2010-2011 UPWP covers the period April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE DRAFT 2010 – 2011 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM, AND SEND US YOUR COMMENTS.
PROGRESS BEING MADE ON PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT.
As reported on this page earlier, the BMTS Policy Committee in February selected nine locally sponsored projects to be funded through the transportation infrastructure portion of ARRA, then known as the Stimulus program. In addition, New York State DOT selected eight projects that are entirely or in part with the Binghamton metropolitan area. [link to project lists] All project sponsors have been making great progress on these projects, working through both the standard design process and the special requirements of ARRA that provide greater accountability and report on job retention and creation.
Here is where we stand as of mid-September.
s Broome County Route 48 over Susquehanna River (Vestal-Endicott bridge)
o Sponsor: Broome County
o Scope of work: Bridge painting
o Status: Bids came in well over estimate. To be rebid this fall for spring 2010 construction
s Arch Street over Norfolk Southern Railroad
o Sponsor: Village of Johnson City
o Scope of work: Critical bridge repairs
o Status: Contract awarded by Village Board 9/15/09
s Barlow Road over Acre Creek
o Sponsor: Town of Kirkwood
o Scope of work: Large culvert replacement
o Status: Bid opening week of 9/22/09
s Southside Drive over Pumpelly Creek
o Sponsor: Tioga County
o Scope of work: Bridge replacement
o Status: Contract awarded
s Mason Road over Tracy Creek
o Sponsor: Town of Vestal
o Scope of work: Bridge replacement
o Status: Design approval; expect authorization to advertise bid by the end of 2009 for 2010 construction
s Broome County Route 44 (Vestal Road)
o Sponsor: Broome County
o Scope of work: Pavement rehabilitation, Jensen Rd to African Rd
o Status: Bid advertisement pending
s Main Street
o Sponsor: City of Binghamton
o Scope: Pavement rehabilitation, Front Street to City line
o Status: Contract awarded, construction start 9/22/09
s Vestal Avenue
o Sponsor: Village of Endicott
o Scope: Pavement rehabilitation, Main Street to Endicott bridge
o Status:
s Bus purchase
o Sponsor: Broome County Department of Public Transportation
o Scope: Purchase up to 7 hybrid buses for BC Transit service
o Status: Contract awarded, delivery expected late 2010
NYSDOT projects:
s NY Route 17 and NY Route 434, Town of Owego
o Scope: Pavement rehabilitation, Route 17 Broome-Tioga County line to Marshland Road; Route 434, Marshland Road to NY Route 96
o Status: Under construction
s NY Route 17, Town of Windsor
o Scope: Pavement rehabilitation, Occanum to Damascus
o Status: Under construction
s Bridge Painting
o Scope: Block contract, various bridges throughout Region 9
o Status: Underconstruction
s Americans With Disabilities Act
o Scope: Block contract, various locations; to bring facilities into compliance with ADA requirements
o Status: Contract awarded; construction began 8/20/09
s Bridge Maintenance
o Scope: Job order contract, various locations in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga Counties
o Status: Under construction
s NY Route 17, Towns of Nichols, Barton
o Scope: Pavement rehabilitation, Nichols to Tioga-Chemung County line
o Status: Under construction
s Highway-Railroad Grade Crossings
o Scope: Repair concrete grade crossings, 5 locations
o Status: Project removed from program
PRESENTATION ON TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND FUNDING TO THE BMTS POLICY COMMITTEE
On August 19, BMTS Executive Director Steven Gayle and New York State Department of Transportation Regional Director Jack Williams made a joint presentation to the BMTS Policy Committee on transportation needs in the Binghamton metropolitan area and funding challenges.
They pointed out that this is a critical time for transportation in New York. There are two primary sources of funding for transportation projects, and both are set to expire. Programs of the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration are authorized under the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), passed by Congress in 2005. It will expire on September 30, 2009; Congress is currently entertaining legislation for an 18 month extension, which will permit all programs to proceed at current (2009) funding levels.
The New York State DOT 5 Year Capital Program expires on March 31, 2010. A renewal requires approval by the State Legislature and Governor. The program includes a list of all the projects expected to be accomplished over the five year period with both state and federal funds. However, many of these projects are delayed or deferred due to lack of funds or a variety of project development issues.
There are significant challenges on the revenue side as well. The U.S. Highway Trust Fund was created in 1956, along with the original authorization to build the Interstate Highway System. It receives revenues from motor fuel taxes and excise taxes on the sales of heavy trucks and tires. It is “firewalled”, meaning it cannot be raided; it can only be used to pay for surface transportation projects. The challenge comes from the fact that people are buying less gasoline, truckers are buying less diesel and fewer trucks. At the same time, the tax rate (18.4¢/gal for gas, 24.4¢/gal diesel) has not increased since 1993. Inflation of construction costs, for a number of years much higher than for consumer goods, has reduced the buying power of the tax by more than half. In order to keep the Fund afloat, Congress had to transfer $8 billion from the Treasury in 2008, and another $7 billion in August 2009.
The status of the New York State Dedicated Highway and Bridge Fund is actually worse. Created in 1991 as a primarily pay-as-you-go fund for capital projects, in 1993 the Legislature converted it to primarily debt financing through selling bonds. The result is that, according to an analysis by the NYS Comptroller’s Office, in the current state budget year 52.5% of the expenditures from this fund will go for debt service (bond payments). By the 2013-14 state budget year, nearly 73% of the fund will be paying bonds. That will leave little if anything left for actual transportation projects.
At the same time, our infrastructure needs are skyrocketing. Nearly half of our bridges were built in the Interstate construction boom of the 1960’s and 1970’s. That means they are rapidly approaching the end of a typical 50 year design life. New York State DOT and BMTS are committed to keeping our bridges safe, but some may be load-posted or closed. And there will be precious little money left over to maintain pavement conditions. There is a similar story in transit, where buses are expected to last 12 years; Broome County has kept BC Transit buses in service for as long as 20 years, while trying to find the money to replace them.
“BMTS is considering the following amendment to the 2008-2012 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The public is welcome to comment on this action. The comment period closes on October 8, 2009
These actions relate to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- The approved TIP includes a project sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to improve highway-grade crossings in the BMTS metropolitan area. The total cost was $1.010 million for construction and construction inspection. Because of programmatic issues with the proposed work, NYSDOT is requesting that this project be deleted from the TIP.
- The approved TIP includes a project sponsored by Broome County to clean and paint the County Road 48 bridge over the Susquehanna River (Vestal-Endicott Bridge). Bids were received, and the low bid is $640,000 over the engineer’s estimate. This amendment will add that amount of money to the project, taken form the savings in Action 1. “
BMTS POLICY COMMITTEE APPROVES PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT
The BMTS Policy Committee met on February 11 to take action on selecting the final list of highway, bridge, and transit projects in the metropolitan area that will be eligible for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As you may know, President Barack Obama signed the act into law on February 17.
Beginning with a list of more than 60 candidate projects, priorities had been established by the BMTS TIP Subcommittee and refined by the BMTS Planning Committee. The Policy Committee, comprising local officials and representatives of state agencies, had to do even more, as we were given a final dollar target of $6.2 million, less than we had hoped for. The Policy Committee continued to focus priority on bridge projects, and retained 5 of the 9 projects on the original priority list. There was only enough money left for the top 3 pavement projects, which are very important local streets, including Main Street in the City of Binghamton. The Committee also selected for transit funding the purchase of hybrid buses for BC Transit, which will replace buses that are near the end of their useful life.
While there are many more basic infrastructure needs, the BMTS Policy Committee is appreciative of being able to fund these projects, to sustain both the local transportation network and the local economy.
Click for the full project list.
BMTS American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Projects
BMTS American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Illustrative Project List
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