The Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) is close to finalizing an update to the 2014 Regional Solicitation for projects applying for funding in 2018-19. The regional solicitation is the process by which the TAB expends federal transportation funds.
The update includes new methodology for incorporating affordable housing into the solicitation process, by using a city's Housing Performance Score, rather than the number of affordable housing units built. In previous solicitations, the affordable housing measure accounted for 4% of a score; in the new solicitation that measure now goes to 7%, across all modes. The solicitation also includes a new equity measure that will account for an additional 3 to 13% of an applicant's score, depending on the type of project, or mode. Under the new method, a combined equity and affordable housing score will account for 10% of the total score for roadway projects, 12% for bicycle and pedestrian projects, 20% for transit expansion projects, and 15% for transit modernization projects.
To receive the full points under the equity measure, a project must be located in a racially concentrated area of poverty (RCAP), which have been mapped by the Met Council HERE. Projects Located outside of RCAPS can receive up to 40% of the total equity points for serving populations of color, poverty, children, or the elderly.
The TAB took action at its September 17th meeting. The Met Council can accept or reject the Regional Solicitation recommendations of the TAB, but it is prohibited from making changes to the recommendations. If the Council rejects the solicitation, and if an agreement is not reached by year end, the regional could be at risk of losing approximately $150 million of federal transportation funds. The goal is to open the Regional Solicitation in early October so project applications have time to meet a November 24th application deadline.
Update: October 1, 2014 Metro Cities reports that the Met Council voted to concur with the TAB in releasing the Regional Solicitation.
The recommendation includes a new method for incorporating affordable housing into the solicitation, by using a city’s Housing Performance Score, rather than the number of affordable units built. In previous solicitations, the affordable housing measure accounted for 4% of a score; that measure now goes to 7%, across all modes. The solicitation also includes a new equity measure that will account for an additional 3-13% of an applicant’s score, depending on the type of project or mode. Under the new method, a combined equity and affordable housing score will account for 10% of a total score for roadway projects, 12% for bicycle and pedestrian projects, 20% for transit expansion projects and 15% for transit modernization projects.
