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Volume 5 | Issue 2

Director's Message: FDOT's Local Programs - Foster Knowledge and Compliance

Local Programs are pivotal in managing and enhancing transportation facilities across our state. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) proudly administers several grant funding initiatives designed specifically for our local agencies. These agencies, including municipalities, counties, expressways, transportation authorities, special districts, and regional governmental units, have jurisdiction over crucial transportation infrastructure that directly impacts our communities.

FDOT and the Florida LTAP Center are committed to supporting local agencies. We believe in equipping our transportation community with the necessary resources, including fostering knowledge and compliance with essential regulations such as the LAP Title VI and Sub-Recipient Compliance Assessment Tool (SCAT) and the LAP Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in-person training. I am particularly proud of the Florida LTAP Center's assistance to FDOT, by helping to facilitate eight trainings statewide from November 2023 to June 2024. These sessions were not just informative, but transformative, enlightening individuals within local agencies on the intricacies of Title VI and ADA compliance, empowering them to navigate these regulations effectively and ensure equitable access and services.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Samantha Samford, FDOT State Local Programs Administrator; Brad Bradley, FDOT State ADA Coordinator; Stefan Kulakowski, FDOT State Title VI Coordinator; Carey Shepard, FHWA Civil Rights Officer; and all of the FDOT District LAP Administrators and Coordinators for coordinating and facilitating these trainings. Their work and effort not only enhance connectivity and partnership with different local and state agencies but also bolster economic development and ensure the safety and efficiency of our roadways.

Any individual interested in learning more about FDOT's Local Programs can find information on the Florida LTAP Center's dedicated Local Programs page: https://floridaltap.org/localprograms/. The page also offers future in-person and on-demand training opportunities to continue your local program education. Together, we will continue to build upon our successes, foster innovation, and uphold the highest standards of transportation excellence across Florida. Thank you for your dedication and for considering our center as a resource for your agency's needs.

Sincerely,

Pei-Sung Lin, Ph.D., P.E., PTOE, FITE

Florida LTAP Center Director

News

2024 Florida Build A Better Mousetrap Competition - Winner Announced!

The Florida LTAP Center is pleased to announce the Hillsborough County – Community and Infrastructure Planning Department as the recipient of the 2024 Florida Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) Award in the Innovative Project category and the overall winner of the 2024 Florida LTAP BABM competition cycle. This recognition highlights the work of Dr. Lama Alfaseeh, Principal Planner, and John Patrick, Division Director, of Hillsborough County - Community and Infrastructure Planning Department, for their exceptional contributions and development of Hillsborough County’s User-Friendly Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Estimation Tools.

Estimating GHG emissions in existing and future scenarios is a significant contribution, which will inform decision-making processes in transportation and infrastructure-related projects and save governments money and effort in various ways. Including GHG emissions in decision-making will allow for comprehensive decisions that benefit human health and the environment and ultimately lead to a sustainable transportation system. This achievement underscores the vital role of local government agencies and state officials in driving positive change and innovation within our communities.

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, we invite other local leaders and innovators to participate in the 2025 competition cycle. This is an opportunity to showcase your achievements and contribute to the continued growth and success of the transportation sector.

For more information about the BABM competition, visit https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/clas/babm/. Join us in congratulating Hillsborough County on this remarkable achievement and celebrating excellence in transportation.

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2024 Florida Hurricane Preparedness

As we approach the peak of hurricane season, it's important that all organizations across Florida ensure preparedness plans are in place. Being proactive can mitigate risks and provide swift responses in times of emergency.

Tax-Free Holiday Reminder:

■ Florida's annual disaster preparedness sales tax holiday runs from August 24 through September 6. During this period, qualifying items such as generators, batteries, and storm shutters are exempt from sales tax. Take advantage of this opportunity to stock up on essential supplies.

Key Points for Preparedness:

■ Develop and Review Emergency Plans: Ensure all agency-specific emergency plans are up-to-date and accessible.

■ Communication Protocols: Establish clear communication channels both internally and externally.

■ Training and Drills: Conduct regular drills and training exercises to familiarize personnel with emergency procedures.

■ Resource Management: Check inventory and maintain adequate supplies, equipment, and resources for response and recovery.

■ Collaboration: Coordinate with local, regional, and state partners to enhance response capabilities and resource sharing.

For comprehensive guidance on preparing for hurricanes and other emergencies, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management website. This site offers valuable resources, including planning tools, evacuation routes, and real-time updates during emergencies.

Remember, preparedness is a shared responsibility. By working together and staying proactive, we can better safeguard our communities and ensure resilience during adversity.

Upcoming Trainings

Overview of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

This webinar will provide an overview of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) SS4A program provides grants to local, regional, and Tribal communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration activities as part of a systematic approach to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. This session will provide an overview of the SS4A discretionary program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with $5 billion in appropriated funds over five years (2022-2026).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ An overview of the SS4A program and its alignment with the U.S. DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.

■ Insights into the funding opportunities available for FY24, including the current Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for Planning and Demonstration Grants and key deadlines.

■ Guidance on how to apply for SS4A grants, including registration processes and eligibility criteria.

■ Answers to commonly asked questions regarding the application process and post-award administration.

This webinar is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing Professional Development Hour (PDH) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance.

Multimodal Transportation Site Impact

In this webinar, attendees will gain invaluable insights into the FDOT Multimodal Transportation Site Impact Handbook’s (MTSIH) latest updates and explore the resources available on the FDOT Systems Implementation Website. The session will also cover the goals and objectives of the Multimodal Transportation Impact Assessment (MTIA), delve into its process, and address related topics such as Comprehensive Plan Amendments, driveway permits, and mitigation strategies.

FDOT’s Systems Implementation Office website provides the MTSIH and Applications Guide as well as documents covering a variety of topics, including access management, interchange access requests, managed lanes, multimodal quality/level of service, lane repurposing, traffic analysis, transportation alternatives program, and site impact.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Explain the updated FDOT Multimodal Site Impact Handbook and other resources.

■ Describe the MTIA goals and objectives.

■ Describe the MTIA process and other topics, such as Comprehensive Plan Amendments, driveway permits, and mitigation.

This webinar is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance.

Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP), 7-Part Webinar Series

The RSCP is a nationally recognized certificate program designed to build a knowledgeable, safety minded workforce, responsible for operating, maintaining, and designing local roads. Road Safety Champions prioritize safety and are motivated to implement safety improvements that reduce fatalities and serious injuries on rural and local roadways. The RSCP is open to all staff from transportation, public health, and law enforcement agencies who have an interest in roadway safety but are not safety experts. Think of it as a “Roadway Safety 101” course.

This 7-part webinar series includes the Level 1

Core Modules (CM) required for all Career Pathways.

The RSCP includes core modules and career focused pathways:

■ The core modules provide an overall foundation of roadway safety knowledge through seven modules. All participants who take these modules will learn the basics they need to know.

■ The career focused pathways are based on your career field and provide more targeted information. Pick one of the four pathways*, complete the modules, and voila – you’re a road safety champion!

*Note: the Road Safety Champion Program (RSCP) certificate is not a degree or professional certification. The Career Focused Pathways are still under development and will be offered in the future.

This webinar series is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance.

Basic Highway Plan Reading, 3-Part Webinar Series

The series is divided into three two-hour webinars designed to provide street or road superintendents, supervisors, maintenance workers, and entry-level construction, utility, permits, and planning employees the knowledge to read highway construction plans.

The series will cover the various types of plans used at road departments. Participants will discover how to read and interpret the different symbol and abbreviation standards, the features and details within plans, how to define and identify scales and dimensions found on plans, and how to read plans utilizing a sample set of highway plans. Local agency street maintenance crews and road departments will find the highway plans valuable tools to assist in right-of-way determination, easements, and the location of drainage features.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Measure using scale and stationing.

■ Discuss the three basic views, symbols and abbreviations used in plans.

■ Identify components of the layout sheet.

■ Recognize information contained in the typical sections and the summary of quantities sheets.

■ Identify information found in plan, profile, Right of Way (ROW), erosion control, pipe, and cross section sheets.

This webinar series is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance.

Leveraging AI to Foster a Sustainable Future for Local Agencies

The Florida LTAP Center is pleased to partner with the American Public Works Association (APWA) Florida Chapter to bring you this webinar. Local agencies and utility departments face daily challenges in maintaining infrastructure and providing high-quality public services, where every decision must be based on sound financial management. The Utilities Department of the City of Fort Myers has been working to leverage technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address some of the challenges the City faces due to a consent order to improve its sewer and water system performance. Factors such as aging infrastructure, climate change, and population growth all need to be addressed with limited resources.

Attendees will learn how the City of Fort Myers has used the principles of asset management, capital planning and AI to support informed, data-driven decision making. This transformative strategy has enhanced resiliency and sustainability while reducing lifecycle costs within acceptable risk levels.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Discover how technology can play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future.

■ Explore the practical AI applications in the field of Public Works and Utilities Management.

■ Learn how to inspire innovation and establish new industry standards through sharing the City’s success story and lessons learned.

This webinar is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance.

Modeling for Planners and Decision Makers

Travel demand models are developed for both engineering and planning applications, and different applications have different requirements for sophistication and accuracy. This webinar will explore travel demand models specifically for planners and decision-makers in Florida. It will provide an overview of travel demand models, including explaining what a travel demand model is, differences in modeling approaches, data needed to run a model, why they are important, and how they are used.

Modeling is a valuable resource in the transportation planning process and practical applications shown in this webinar provide insights into the connection between planning and travel demand modeling. With understanding of this connection, participants can better anticipate and address the evolving needs of transportation planning in the state and their region.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of travel demand models and their implications for planning and decision-makers in Florida.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ Receive an overview of travel demand models

■ Learn practical applications in a transportation planning context

■ Understand the resources available and how to access them

This webinar is provided at no cost and will award a certificate of training listing Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or a certificate of completion verifying your attendance. AICP CMs (1.5) have been requested.

Upcoming Events

NLTAPA 2024 Annual Conference

July 21 -25, 2024

Formed in 1991, the National Local & Tribal Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) represents the LTAP and TTAP member centers across the country and Puerto Rico. LTAP recently celebrated 40 years – and counting! Watch the LTAP 40 highlight video .

We invite you to explore the NLTAPA website for resources and events provided by the Association’s Executive Committee, national partners, and member centers.

Check out the latest information about the National LTAP TTAP Annual Conference , being held July 21-25, 2024 in Albuquerque, NM.

FDOT Roadside Safety - Barrier Design Training

August 12 - 15, 2024 | 12:30 - 4:30 PM (ET)

Come join us for this all-new webinar series dedicated to enhancing knowledge of roadside safety design, specifically tailored for FDOT projects! This comprehensive training covers the wide range of topics needed for the successful deployment of guardrails, concrete barriers, pier protection barriers, and crash cushions. You’ll learn the fundamentals of barrier usage as described by the FDOT Design Manual and Standard Plans Instructions, including the “length of need” design process to shield roadside hazards and help improve safety for the traveling public.

These webinars are provided at no cost. Each day offers up to 3.5 PDHs, for a total of up to 14 PDHs if you attend all four days.

■ Instructor: Todd Morrison, P.E.

■ Moderator: Richard Stepp, P.E., FDOT

Funding Opportunities

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program

Deadline: August 28, 2024

The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) is a competitive grant program created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work – urban and rural areas alike – in addition to along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). CFI Program investments will make modern and sustainable infrastructure accessible to all drivers of electric, hydrogen, propane, and natural gas vehicles. This program provides two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program) and (2) Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $2.5 billion over five years for this program to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities.

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Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Deadline: August 29, 2024 - Planning and Demonstration Grants. NOFO closes.

The USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity is now open for applications. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways. Funds for the fiscal year 2024 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructural, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators. The SS4A program supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and our goal of zero roadway deaths using a Safe System Approach.

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FTA Announces FY 2024 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Enhancing Mobility Innovation

Deadline: August 30, 2024

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for a total of $1,936,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Public Transportation Innovation funds in competitive cooperative agreement awards for projects that enhance mobility innovations for transit. Funds will be awarded for projects that advance emerging technologies, strategies, and innovations in traveler-centered mobility in two distinct areas. Of the total available funds, $968,000 is available for projects to accelerate innovations that improve mobility and enhance the rider experience with a focus on innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions. Another $968,000 is available for projects to develop software solutions that facilitate the provision of integrated demand-response public transportation service that dispatches public transportation fleet vehicles through riders’ mobile devices or other means.

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FHWA Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program

Deadline: September 4, 2024

The application period is now open for up to $145 million in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 funding, under the Fiscal Year 2024- 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. The program helps carry out projects by certain Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments, including municipalities, counties, and others to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. The funding may be used for construction and non-construction projects and the maximum share of project costs that may be funded with grant funds will typically be 80 percent of project costs, as is standard for Federal-aid projects.

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National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grants NOFO and Webinar Announcement

Deadline: September 23, 2024

FHWA announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity with an availability of up to $784 million of FY 2023 through 2026 funding for the National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program (Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) program). This program funds projects that would improve anadromous fish passage by mitigating AOP barriers posed by transportation-related facilities such as culverts.

FHWA will also host the following webinar to discuss the program on Monday, July 15, 1:00 to 2:30 PM (ET) - National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grants FY 2023 – FY 2026: General Overview.

■ This webinar is intended to provide an overview of updates to the Culvert AOP Program for FY 2023 – FY 2026, provide applicants with knowledge for applying to program, and clarify any questions associated with the application process. This webinar is free and open to the public. It is intended for a broad range of attendees, including representatives of organizations eligible to receive funds under the Culvert AOP program, which are States, units of local governments, and Indian Tribes. Please contact the webinar host for questions.

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Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program

Deadline: September 30, 2024

The RCP Program aims to advance and support the reconnection of communities divided by transportation infrastructure – with a priority on helping disadvantaged communities improve access to daily needs (jobs, schools, healthcare, grocery stores, and recreation). Funds for the fiscal years (FY) 2024, 2025, and 2026 RCP grant program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning and capital construction activities that aim to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation or replacement of highways, roadways, or other infrastructure facilities that create barriers to mobility, access or economic development.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifies that the maximum Community Planning Grant award funded with RCP funds is $2 million and that the minimum Capital Construction Grant award funded with RCP funds is $5 million.

Learn More

For additional funding opportunities, visit the Florida LTAP Funding News page.

What is Target Zero?

Target Zero is a statewide initiative to reduce the number of transportation-related serious injuries and deaths across Florida to ZERO. Florida’s Target Zero initiative is working toward zero fatalities on our roadways, because even one fatality is too many.

Learn more at TargetZeroFL.com