With the recent passage of the current surface transportation bill, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), many of the transportation programs in the bill were funded at much higher levels than in the previous bill, including the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set Aside Program. In previous years large urbanized areas have not been eligible for this funding through Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). However, with the implementation of the IIJA, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced a one-time change in procedures to allow large urbanized areas to apply for this funding, but Metropolitan Planning Organizations are not eligible to apply. The TA Set Aside Program must award projects related to bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and/or micro-mobility modes. The projects also must be principally for transportation rather than recreation, have a direct relationship to the surface transportation system or create benefits for the general public, and be publicly accessible. The immediate focus of the call for projects was to program pedestrian facilities that connect to existing transportation facilities. On December 2, 2022, TxDOT issued a call for projects to be programmed in the TxDOT TA Set Aside Program for 2023 through 2025. Citibus, the City of Lubbock, Texas Tech University, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) new Lubbock VA Clinic have co-authored a joint application that meets the requirements outlined in the TxDOT 2023 TA Set Aside Guidance. The application is for sidewalk improvements, ADA ramps, lighting, and transit amenity installation and improvements, to include bus shelters and bike racks, in the areas of 4th Street and Indiana Avenue, and 4th Street and Texas Tech Parkway. A map of the area is attached to this item. This project would enhance and connect the pedestrian access for the Arnett Benson neighborhood, the VA Clinic, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the University Medical Center. As part of the application submittal, a resolution from the project sponsors governing board is required. Therefore, we are asking for support of the application and for assistance in identifying local match options. The City of Lubbock would be responsible for the local match on City infrastructure only. |
TA Set Aside Program grant is and 80/20 match, with a total estimated project cost of $1,500,000, so the local match requirement would be $300,000. It is possible that Transportation Development Credits could be available to use for the local match, and the applicants are asking that City staff work to identify funding for the local match for the project, if needed. |