Volume 14, Issue 38 - Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Funding just waiting for collaborative initiatives - available now

Congress has several funding programs designed to incentivize private sector firms to help preserve America’s history, but the historic tax credit (HTC) program is the largest one. This particular program has leveraged more than $102 billion in private investment to rehabilitate older public assets in exchange for tax credits. The doors are currently open for more collaborative initiatives and public officials in many states are working with private sector partners to launch projects with this type of funding.

HTC is administered by the National Park Service and the Internal Revenue Service. The investment revenue preserves historic facilities, generates jobs, and revitalizes communities. It also increases property value, enlarges the tax base, and attracts new businesses. Each year, the program supports approximately 1,200 historic preservation projects and attracts an annual average of $6 billion from private sector investors. 

But…there is even more incentive for investors because many states have their own historic preservation offices that offer additional tax enhancements that can be added to the federal tax credits. The details of the programs vary from state to state but the benefits are substantial. 

History Colorado, the state’s historic tax credit program, offers a 35 percent tax credit to private sector companies that invest in historical rehabilitation projects in rural areas. When consolidated with federal tax credits, the tax reduction enhancement is considerably higher.

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$160M available for SMART/ATTAIN transportation technology

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting applications for two programs that will make approximately $160 million available annually for the next five years. 

The first program is the new Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. The SMART Grants Program will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next five years and will fund projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges. The SMART program will fund purpose-driven innovation and focus on building data and technology capacity and expertise. The program seeks proposals from public sector entities that will carry out demonstration projects in the following domains to address key transportation priorities:  

• Vehicle technology, like automation and connectivity.  
• Systems innovation, like delivery and logistics, traffic signals, smart grid, and data integration.  
• New ways to monitor and manage infrastructure, like sensors and UAS. 

The second program is the Federal Highway Administration’s $60 million Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) program to promote advanced technologies to improve safety and reduce travel times for drivers and transit riders and that can serve as national examples. ATTAIN-eligible projects will be evaluated on how they consider climate change and environmental justice impacts – including how they reduce transportation-related air pollution and address the disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities. In addition, projects are evaluated on their economic impact and potential to create jobs.   

Applications for both programs are due by November 18, 2022. The SMART Program seeks state, local, and tribal governments and agencies. The ATTAIN Program seeks state departments of transportation, local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and other eligible entities.

Notice of Funding announced for State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a Notice of Funding for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. A total of $185 million is available for Fiscal Year 2022 to support state, local, and territorial (SLT) governments across the country. DHS has opened the application process for the grant program, and applicants have 60 days to apply for a grant, which can be used to fund new or existing cybersecurity programs.  

The closing date for applications is November 15, 2022. Eligible entities can form their cybersecurity planning and can create Cybersecurity Plans (in accordance with the minimum requirements as stated in the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act), which are a requirement for receiving grant funds. 

The Cybersecurity Plan is a statewide planning document that must be approved by the Cybersecurity Planning Committee and the chief information officer. The plan will be subsequently updated in FYs 2024 and 2025. It must contain some of the following: 

• Incorporate, to the extent practicable, any existing plans to protect against cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information systems owned or operated by, or on behalf of, SLTs. 
• How input and feedback from local governments and associations of local governments was incorporated. 
• Describe, as appropriate and to the extent practicable, the individual responsibilities of the state and local governments within the state in implementing the Cybersecurity Plan. 
• Assess each of the required elements from an entity-wide perspective. 
• Outline, to the extent practicable, the necessary resources and a timeline for implementing the plan. 
• Summary of associated projects. 
• Metrics that the eligible entity will use to measure progress. 

This State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, made possible thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $1 billion in funding to SLT partners over four years.  

PennDOT revisits environmental reviews for bridge replacement

Pennsylvania - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has resumed planning work and federal environmental reviews for six bridge replacement projects proposed as part of the Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (MBP3). 

The six projects moving forward through the federal environmental process in 2022 are: 

• Interstate 80 Canoe Creek Bridges - estimated cost is $110 million-$135 million and proposed construction start is 2023-2025. 
• I-80 North Fork Bridges - estimated cost is $160 million-$195 million and proposed construction Start is 2024-2025. 
• Interstate 78 Lenhartsville Bridge - estimated cost is $50 million-$60 million and proposed construction start is 2023-2025. 
• I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges - estimated construction cost is $40 million-$45 million and proposed construction start is 2023-2025. 
• I-80 over Lehigh River Bridge project - estimated cost is $60 million-$75 million and proposed construction start is 2023-2025.  
• Interstate 81 Susquehanna project - estimated construction cost is $195 million-$240 million and proposed construction start is 2023-2025. 

PennDOT has entered into a Pre-Development Agreement (PDA) with Bridging Pennsylvania Partners (BPP) to advance preliminary design work. The PDA will lead to separate contracts to finalize design, build, finance, and maintain packages of bridges in the MBP3. PennDOT will repay the amounts financed by the development entity through recurring availability payments over 30 years, beginning when construction is complete. 

In November 2020, the MBP3 was proposed by PennDOT and approved by the Pennsylvania P3 Board, which includes representatives from all four legislative caucuses, to rehabilitate or replace major Interstate bridges using toll revenues, providing PennDOT with a means of addressing the state's growing backlog of needs without using or impacting the funding for PennDOT's larger program. In February 2021, PennDOT announced nine candidate bridge projects for inclusion in the program. 

In July 2022, the General Assembly amended the state's P3 law to remove tolling as a means of funding the MBP3. This means PennDOT will have to reallocate currently programmed state funds and federal funds now available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will result in the deferral or elimination of some projects in the 2023 12-Year Program.  

The path forward for the three remaining MBP3 bridge projects — Interstate 83 South Bridge; Interstate 95 Girard Point Bridge improvement project; and the Interstate 79 widening, bridges, and interchange reconfiguration project — continues to be evaluated. 

Feasibility study recommends $148M transit route for Milwaukee County

Wisconsin - Milwaukee County, along with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, are finalizing a feasibility study that recommends a $148 million, 18-mile north-south route along and near 27th Street, between Bayshore in Glendale and a financial services campus in Franklin. The study also recommends 6.7 miles of new dedicated bike lanes along the route. The recommendation is a result of a series of analyses and public input that considered various transit types and route options. 

It is proposed that the route be made up of nearly 80 percent dedicated transit lanes. It would be about 15 minutes faster than the existing Milwaukee County Transit System’s (MCTS) PurpleLine, with extended service hours and buses every 10 minutes or less. Stations would be located about a half-mile apart. The bus rapid transit (BRT) service would replace the existing PurpleLine, but a traditional MCTS bus route would still serve many existing stops and connect with the BRT service. 

The study also suggested that the additional route would reduce reckless driving by introducing additional pedestrian safety measures, narrowing travel lanes, and using colored pavement and barriers to help prevent drivers from using the established transit lane. 

The route is expected to open to the public by 2027 or 2028. Residents are able to provide feedback on the proposed new route online.  

Alpine School District to present $595M bond in November

Utah - Alpine School District Board of Education approved a bond priorities list for the $595 million bond that will be put before voters on November 8.  

The bond would be used to construct six new schools throughout Saratoga Springs, Lehi, and Eagle Mountain; complete 6 school rebuilds and renovations; and fund three safety, security, and land acquisition projects. 

Alpine is projected to grow by more than 2,500 students by 2027 and will need the following projects to accommodate the growth: 

New builds: 

• Elementary school — Lehi, Saratoga Springs, or Eagle Mountain (2023). 
• Middle school — Eagle Mountain (2023). 
• High school — Saratoga Springs (2023). 
• Elementary school — Lehi, Saratoga Springs, or Eagle Mountain (2024). 
• Elementary school — Lehi, Saratoga Springs, or Eagle Mountain (2025). 
• Elementary school — undesignated high-growth area (2026). 

Rebuilds and renovations: 

• Lone Peak High School — multi-use facility (2023). 
• Pleasant Grove High School — final phase of rebuild (2024). 
• American Fork High School — final phase of rebuild (2025). 
• Timpanogos High School — multi-use facility (2025). 
• Orem High School — multi-use facility (2025). 
• Elementary School — rebuild/merger (2026). 

The school board has also prioritized installing interior classroom door locks in secondary schools, security camera completion for elementary schools, and land acquisition in 2023. 

Manatee County approves billions to assist with Capital Improvement plan

Florida – Manatee County Commissioners have approved a $1.2 billion Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that invests $320 million into projects this year and allocates a total of $2.3 billion overall by the fiscal year 2027. It represents the largest five-year CIP in the county’s history, with $435 million earmarked for transportation, $132 million for parks, and $48 million for public safety. 

One of the projects is to build a larger Manatee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Fleet Facility at a cost of $6.9 million. The current Fleet Services Facility is small, outdated, and is uneconomical to continue to do more than minor repairs to keep vehicles in operation. The property is also too small to allow expansion of the facility and there is not enough area to park vehicles staged for repair. Construction is set to begin in June 2023.  

The MCSO also plans to construct a new Property Evidence building in June 2023 at a cost of $6.8 million. The project will include construction of a 45,000 square foot two-story building adjacent to the Child Protection Investigation Division (CPID) office building. The building should have a freight elevator, space to add floors in future, and meet hurricane requirements. The building would also house the Crime Scene Unit, Fingerprint Unit, and Chemistry Lab. 

Another project is the Parrish Community Park Sports Complex Swimming Pool with a construction start date of July 2025 at a cost of $13.1 million. This competitive lap pool will be 25-yards with multiple lap lanes and a side shallow area for aqua fitness and swim lessons. Associated facilities include locker rooms with showers and restrooms, first aid, and a lifeguard office. 

A Peninsula Bay boat ramp is due to be installed in April 2023 at a cost of $7 million. The county has a deficit in boat ramp capacity and a growing need for boat ramps has become evident.    

Stafford County Public Schools approve $1.6B Capital Improvement Plan

Virginia - Stafford County Public Schools Board members have proposed a 10-year $1.6 billion Capital Improvement Plan. Seventy-five percent of the funding is dedicated to new school construction and reconstruction of existing aging school buildings.  

The program specifies the rebuilding of four elementary schools – Falmouth, Grafton Village, Ferry Farm, and Stafford. Rebuilding also will occur at the Rising Star Early Childhood Education Center and Edward E. Drew Middle School. These facilities will have exceeded their 60-year life expectancy by the time any approved rebuilds begin. 

The plan recommends building three new elementary schools, one new middle school, two new high schools, and one public day school. 

According to Stafford County Superintendent Thomas Taylor, building a high school takes 36 months from approval to ribbon cutting and around 24 to 36 months for an elementary school.  

The plan also includes: 

• Two bus-only road construction projects to ease traffic congestion around Stafford and Mountain View High Schools. 
• Additional Fleet Services facility to maintain buses and county vehicles. 
• Indoor aquatics and activities community center. 
• Renovations to North Stafford High School’s Arts Wing. 
• Major maintenance of the school system’s existing facilities at a cost of $217.2 million. 

The Stafford County School Board will present this Capital Improvement Plan to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on October 18, 2022. The Board of Supervisors is set to approve the final plan on April 18, 2023.   

$100M INFRA grant to widen portion of I-85

North Carolina - The state has received $100 million from the Infrastructure Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to aid in widening a portion of Interstate 85 in Cleveland and Gaston counties from six to eight lanes and adding interchange auxiliary lanes in the corridor. 

The federal grant money will also go towards replacing overpasses and railroad bridges around this approximately 10-mile stretch, as well as adding bike lanes, sidewalks, and multi-use paths for safer pedestrian options.  

Additional components of the grant include adding fast-charging ports for electric vehicles and installing fiber-optic cable to increase broadband access for rural areas along the corridor.  

I-85 is a critical stretch of highway that connects Gastonia to other cities and towns in Gaston County and serves as a vital corridor for commuters within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The proposed improvements would help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow along this vital corridor. 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said it expected the project to start in 2024 and wrap up in 2030. 

States receive funding to improve freight movement

Washington, D.C. - The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) competitive grant program has awarded $1.5 billion to projects that will improve freight movements and eliminate supply chain bottlenecks.  

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law increased funding for the INFRA program by more than 50 percent to help meet high demand for federal funding to support projects across the country.  

The following truck-related projects will be funded by the grant: 

• Otay Mesa East Port of Entry project: $150 million - The California Department of Transportation will construct a new toll road (State Route 11) and Port of Entry (POE) facility at Otay Mesa. The new POE will provide an alternative for nearly 3,600 trucks that cross the existing Otay Mesa and Tecate POEs daily, which are operating at capacity. The project facilitates freight movement across borders with destinations at nearby distribution centers and warehouses, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the Inland Empire’s mega-distribution centers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 

• Presque Isle Corridor project: $44.1 million - The project will complete Phase II of a commercial two-lane bypass route of Presque Isle’s Main Street (U.S. Route 1) in Maine, constructing an approximately 6.3-mile-long, two-lane highway that will connect U.S. Route 1 south of the city to the current bypass section already in service. The bypass will allow trucks to avoid 147 commercial/residential driveways, 25 street intersections, 12 crosswalks, nine stoplights, and one railroad crossing. The bypass will reduce truck traffic at five known high crash locations in the project area and will also reduce emissions from traffic idling at intersections in town. 

• Interstate 40 truck parking and bridge replacement: $22.6 million - The Tennessee Department of Transportation will upgrade welcome center ramps to meet current standards, add approximately 125 truck parking spaces, and upgrade the adjacent bridge structures on I-40 over the Caney Fork River. The project increases access to truck parking and reduces illegally parked commercial vehicles that cause safety hazards, both supporting the National Roadway Safety Strategy, and improving operations and efficiency on a critical freight corridor.   

• Interstate 4 West Central Florida truck parking facility: $15 million- This project will tackle the shortage of commercial truck parking on a corridor between Tampa and Orlando, which carries an average of 18,000 trucks daily. The project will construct a new truck parking facility with approximately 120 spaces, electric charging stations, and pedestrian infrastructure to access nearby commercial amenities. 

City of Chehalis to update Airport Master Plan

Washington - The city of Chehalis is working to provide improvements at the Chehalis-Centralia Airport that will enhance safety, security, and service. Object free area improvements, obstruction removal, aircraft ramp design, and construction are among the projects that the city would like to be considered during the next five years.  

The city is requesting statements of qualifications from airport consultants and is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide planning services in the development of an Airport Master Plan Update (MPU) for the Chehalis-Centralia Airport. 

The most recent MPU for the airport was completed in August of 2001. This updated MPU will identify facility needs and future development options to accommodate potential growth. This project is anticipated to be funded in part by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). 

Some of the elements to be contained in the MPU include an Airport Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) survey, public/stakeholder involvement program, existing conditions, environmental considerations, aviation forecasts with a focus on confirming larger aircraft operations, Facilities Implementation Plan, financial feasibility analysis, and land acquisition.

The chosen firm is invited to negotiate a one-year contract with the option to extend an additional year, up to two extensions. The request for proposal is due by October 28, 2022, at 3 p.m. PDT.   

City of Austin to repair/replace bridges on I-90

Minnesota – The Minnesota Department of Transportation was awarded $25 million for projects in the city of Austin from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen bridge infrastructure along Interstate 90. 

The grant will help replace five overhead bridges and rehabilitate two mainline bridges and a pedestrian bridge. The project will include improved bicycle and pedestrian routes and overall enhancements to accessibility with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant multiuser sidewalks and trails.  

The project, estimated to cost $45-50 million, will likely stretch through 2026 and includes: 

• Oakland Avenue West/Highway 105 (2024). 
• 14th Street/Highway 218 North (2026). 
• Fourth Street/County Road 45 (2024-2025). 
• Sixth Street (2024-25). 
• 21st Street/Highway 218 South (2026). 

Work in the latter portion of 2023 will include moving traffic on I-90 to one lane in two spots in preparation for the projects with the Oakland Avenue West/Highway 105 site scheduled to be the first bridge worked on starting in 2024. 

Small towns receive economic assistance through Connecticut's grant program  

Connecticut - Gov. Ned Lamont on September 19 announced he was approving $31.3 million in state grants for 77 small towns in Connecticut to complete a wide variety of infrastructure improvements, such as the road safety reconstruction projects, sewer and drainage upgrades, sidewalk and pedestrian safety enhancements, and other kinds of capital improvement projects. 

The grants are provided through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), a state program managed by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) that delivers grants to small towns for economic development, community conservation, and quality-of-life capital projects. 

Some of the towns awarded in this round of grants include: 

• Avon - $500,000 in state funding is approved for the rehabilitation of the Route 44 Sanitary Sewer Pump Station. This will be matched by $130,000 from the town. 
• Beacon Falls - $500,000 in state funding is approved for a road improvement project at Church Street. This will be matched by $580,000 from the town. 
• Brookfield - $500,000 in state funding is approved for the extension of the Brookfield Market area sewer system. This will be matched by $313,696.75 from the town. 
• Clinton - $500,000 in state funding is approved for an upgrade to the town’s radio communication system. This will be matched by $182,000 from the town. 
• Coventry - $500,000 in state funding is approved for a softball field for the girls’ softball league. This will be matched by $350,000 from the town. 
• Essex - $500,000 in state funding is approved for improvements to the Essex Civic Campus. This will be matched by $130,000 from the town. 
• Farmington - $500,000 in state funding is approved for the installation of a splash pad and pickleball court at the Westwoods recreation complex. This will be matched by $485,000 from the town. 
• Monroe - $500,000 in state funding is approved for the reconstruction of Old Zoar Road. This will be matched by $300,000 from the town. 
• Suffield - $500,000 in state funding is approved for the replacement of a bridge on Quarry Road. This will be matched by $608,125 from the town. 
• Weston - $500,000 in state funding is approved for building renovations at the Weston Police Department. This will be matched by $264,926 from the town. 

North Carolina - Wake County on September 15 selected Jonathan Feldman as the new chief information officer (CIO). He brings more than three decades of experience to the position. As CIO, he will lead the county’s 115-person Information Services Department and help achieve the Board of Commissioners’ goals surrounding broadband and technology access. Prior to joining Wake County, Feldman served as CIO for the city of Asheville, North Carolina, for 17 years. Prior to joining the city of Asheville, Jonathan worked for a technology company as its professional services director and served as chief technology manager for Chatham County Government. Feldman will begin his new role at Wake County on October 17. 

California – The city of Santa Barbara has named Christopher Hastert as airport director for the Santa Barbara Airport. Hastert’s appointment was confirmed during the September 13 City Council meeting. The Santa Barbara Airport’s previous director, Henry Thompson, left in December for a job in Fresno, and Brian D'Amour of the Public Works Department has been serving as interim director. Hastert comes to the airport with more than 30 years of airport and airport management experience, including military aviation experience. He most recently held the role of General Manager for the Santa Maria Public Airport District, a commercial service airport that serves aircraft as diverse as single engine trainers to the DC-10 air tanker that fights wildfires in the area. His start date is October 3. 

Georgia - Dmitry Kagansky assumed the role of chief technology officer September 1 at the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA). Kagansky transitioned to his new post after serving as chief cloud officer since September 2021. Kagansky follows Steve Nichols as chief technology officer. Nichols announced his return to the private sector last month after a 20-year career at GTA. Kagansky came to GTA from a web services business where he worked for more than four years helping state agencies across the country in their cloud implementations and migrations. 

Massachusetts - On September 6, 2022, Yi-An Huang was sworn in as Cambridge’s City Manager. Huang was appointed to the post by the City Council in June, following a search to replace former city manager Louis A. DePasquale. Owen O’Riordan, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, served as acting city manager over the summer. Before becoming city manager, Huang was a non-profit leader with a successful record of organizational transformation, operational excellence, and solving difficult problems. Huang recently served as the executive director of Boston Medical Center (BMC) Hospital Clinical Operations. 

Alabama - The University of Alabama (UA) System Board of Trustees have removed the “interim” label and named Chuck Karr president of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). In making the recommendation to the trustees, Chancellor Finis St. John IV lauded the work Karr has done since replacing Darren Dawson in November 2021. Karr was recently retired after 16 years as the dean of the UA College of Engineering when he was named interim president. During his time as engineering dean in Tuscaloosa, enrollment tripled in the college and the faculty grew. When he was appointed interim president at UAH, Karr agreed to serve until at least 2023. 

Kansas - Stephen Wade was selected as the new city manager of Topeka. Wade has been employed since 2020 by the city of Topeka, where he is administrative and financial services director. Wade has been employed since 2020 by Topeka's city government, for which he most recently served as administrative and financial services director. He previously spent 30 years in the media industry. Brent Trout, the former city manager, resigned in late 2021. Trout was replaced on an interim basis by his chief of staff, former Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran, who plans to return to the chief of staff's job.