ARRA March 4, 2009 Update

 

Please find below a summary of the information OTO has received regarding American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for Missouri and Ozarks Transportation Organization MPO.

  • Apportionment of Highway Infrastructure Investment Funds pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law Number 111-5 occurred on March 2, 2009. Please see link below to the FHWA website.
  • The Recovery Act provides for a sub-allocation to urbanized areas exceeding a population of 200,000 (TMA’s). OTO’s sub-allocation is $7.3 Million.
  • The Bill requires 100% of OTO sub-allocated funds to be obligated within one year or all unobligated funds will be lost.
  • Ozarks Transportation Organization hosted a meeting on March 4, 2009 to provide guidance to member jurisdictions that receive sub-allocated Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds through the OTO by formula.
  • OTO is committed to work with its member jurisdictions to make sure all of the 7.3 million is obligated for our region.
  • OTO and member jurisdictions along with MoDOT agreed to propose to the Technical Planning Committee and Board of Directors a draft “reasonable progress” policy to obligate the STP Urban funding by September 30, 2009.  This policy is scheduled to be discussed at the March 18, 2009 TPC meeting and at the April 16, 2009 Board of Directors meeting.  
  • Member Jurisdictions Recovery Act TIP Amendments for the March Technical Committee meeting will include projects for City Utilities, City of Springfield, and the City of Battlefield.
  • Other member Jurisdictions Recovery Act TIP Amendments are scheduled to occur at the May Technical Committee meeting that receive sub-allocated STP Urban Funding (Greene County, Christian County, Nixa, and Ozark).
  • The U.S. House of Representatives Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure sent a letter to all Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’S) requesting that we provide “specific certification and transparency and accountability information” within 45 days of the enactment of the Recovery Act (April 4, 2009). Please see the attachments from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee of Transportation and Infrastructure.
  • Certification requirements in the Recovery Act include:

“Section 1511 - For funds made available to State or local governments for infrastructure investments,  the Governor, mayor, or other chief executive, as appropriate, must certify that the infrastructure investment has received the full review and vetting required by law and that the chief executive accepts responsibility that the infrastructure investment is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.  A description of the investment, estimated total cost, and the amount of ARRA funds used shall be provided and published on the ARRA Web site.  Funds may not be provided to State or local agencies until this certification is made and posted on this Web site.”
Important information about the Recovery Act:

  • The Bill also includes Discretionary Grants for the National Surface Transportation System estimated at 1.5 Billion. FHWA guidance has stated this will available by application for projects between 20 and 300 million and will be distributed in a geographically equitable manner.  
  • There is a provision for enhancement funding (3% set aside) in the Recovery Act at approximately 19 million.  At this time, OTO has not received information on how enhancement funding will be utilized or distributed by MoDOT.
  • All federal requirements still apply on all projects – No Waivers. This means the same requirements for environmental clearances, ROW acquisition ,etc.
  • “Maintenance of Effort” is required under the Recovery Act which requires maintaining the same level of spending in current programs under existing funding levels.

Important Links for FHWA Guidance and Information: