Effective Delivery of Small-Scale Federal-Aid Projects (2011)

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50 APPENDIX A Survey Questionnaire NCHRP Synthesis Topic 41-02: Effective Delivery of Small-Scale Federal-aid Projects INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND The purpose of this questionnaire is to gather information on approaches used to promote effective delivery of small-scale federal-aid projects. It seeks to organize documented experience with streamlining practices that encourage more efficient use of federal-aid programs. It is anticipated that the synthesis will help transportation agencies address the challenges in effectively administering the Local Public Agencies (LPA) program. Some streamlining techniques may include innovative approaches related to environmental commitments, right-of-way concerns, time-sensitive stakeholder issues and concurrence, permitting, certifying local agencies, etc. Ten state departments of transportation (DOTs) that represent a variety of LPA pro- gram features were selected for the survey. The states identified were California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The results of the study will be a synthesis of highway, resource, and local agency experience with streamlining practices that have produced successful LPA project delivery. DEFINITIONS Small-Scale: Any local agency, or other applicant, project with federal fund participation up to $300,000. Federal-aid projects: Any projects that use federal-aid highway program funds, both on and off the federal-aid system, on and off the National Highway System (NHS), on and off highway right-of-way (ROW); including all phases of project delivery (planning through project close-out and reimbursement). Please identify your contact information. If you are not the appropriate person to complete the survey, please forward it on to the right staff with a cc. to Dr. Leslie McCarthy (leslie.mccarthy@villanova.edu). Name: ______________________________________ Title, Agency: ________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________ City: __________________________________ State: _______________________ ZIP: ______________________________________ Tel: _________________________________E-mail: _______________________

51 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ADA—Americans with Disabilities Act ADHS — Appalachian Development Highway System Program ARRA—American Recovery and Reinvestment Act CE— Categorical Exclusion CFR—Code of Federal Regulations CMAQ—Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program DBE—Disadvantaged Business Enterprise DEP—State Department of Environmental Protection DNR— Department of Natural Resources, state park and recreation agency, or equivalent agency responsible for the Recre- ational Trails Program or recreation-related programs funded in part through other federal agencies. DOT—State Department of Transportation (state highway agency) EA—Environmental Assessment EIS—Environmental Impact Statement FBFT — Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminals Program FHWA—Federal Highway Administration F&W—State Department of Fish and Wildlife; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service HPP— High Priority Projects HRRR— High Risk Rural Roads Program HSIP—Highway Safety Improvement Program LPA— Local Public Agency (county, township, city, town, village, etc.) LTAP—Local Technical Assistant Program MOT—Maintenance of Traffic MPO—Metropolitan planning organization NEPA—National Environmental Policy Act NHS—National Highway System NSB— National Scenic Byways Program NPS— National Park Service NTPP— Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (instituted in CA, MN, MO, and WI) OSB—Off-system bridges ROW— Right-of-Way RSTP— Regional Surface Transportation Program RTP— Recreational Trails Program SEP— Special Experimental Project SHPO— State Historic Preservation Officer

52 SRTS— Safe Routes to School Program STIP— Statewide Transportation Improvement Program TCSP—Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program TE—Transportation Enhancements Activities TIP—Transportation Improvement Program USCG—U.S. Coast Guard USCOE— U.S. Corps of Engineers USDA-FS—U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service WMD— State or regional Water Management District The following survey questionnaire is intended to establish a baseline regarding current practices for the efficient delivery of small-scale federal-aid projects. The questions address current practice. Administration of LPA Program The questions in this section relate to the administration of the local public agency (LPA) program in your state:

53 Training The following questions relate to LPA program training provided by your state DOT:

54 Certification Process The following questions pertain to measures taken by the state DOT to administer and monitor a certification or prequalifica- tion process for local agencies or other participating groups applying for federal-aid funds. A certification or prequalification process may describe a state DOT’s organizational effort to speed up portions of the approval process by prequalifying LPA applicants and/or reducing DOT oversight on those applicants on future projects:

55 Project Selection and Oversight The following questions relate to any project selection and oversight practices currently executed by your state DOT. Questions in this section will also seek to address measures taken for the application of risk assessment in LPA program:

56 The survey is complete. Thank you very much for your contribution. At the conclusion of the study, you will be provided a link to the final report. Leslie McCarthy, Ph.D., P.E. Principal Investigator Villanova University (610) 519-7917 leslie.mccarthy@villanova.edu