News and Information from February 2023

A Message from the Executive Director

Congressional procedures relative to transportation funding are not my favorite updates, but it's at least important to know where we are in the process. So....., on December 29, 2022 the President signed the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations bill following the House and Senate approval earlier in December to fund federal government programs and operations.  To allow more time for full enactment of the omnibus, Congress enacted a third Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY 2023 through Dec. 30 (the Federal Government's fiscal year runs from October 1 - September 30, so the December CR was one of three previous CR's to get us to that point). Of the $1.7 trillion omnibus package, $144 billion was authorized for USDOT spending in FY2023. 

Now you may have heard talk about the debt ceiling negotiations being discussed by Congress and the Executive Office. Here are some potential implications to transportation funding and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). With defense spending and entitlement programs seemingly off the table for potential cuts during negotiations (if negotiations take place), there is not much left as a percentage of total government spending to reduce. The non-defense discretionary funding (transportation, housing, agriculture, labor programs, etc.) accounts for approximately 15% of the federal budget. This 15% seems to be where the focus will be during the spending cuts debate. Under the BIL, ~$567 billion in guaranteed transportation funding is scheduled to be appropriated or provided as grants through FY2026 and it would take an act of Congress and the President's approval to amend this funding. So,  seemingly unlikely. However, once the debt limit is settled, the next challenge will be the appropriations process. Given that we now have a divided congress, there is a chance they will only be able to agree upon a year-long CR which would hold transportation spending at 2023 levels. If this happens, FY2024 could result in several billions of dollars less that would otherwise be available. 

All of course is still unknown and nothing is predetermined at this point. From last reporting, the President is scheduled to send his budget proposal to Congress on March 9, which should further any negotiations on spending reductions.

SEMPO Awarded SS4A Grant

SEMPO is excited to announce, through a competitive selection process, we have been awarded $160,000 in federal discretionary grant funds through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant funds received will be used to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to serve the SEMPO planning area. The purpose of SS4A grant is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and micro-mobility users, and commercial vehicle operators. Once completed, the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will allow SEMPO member entities to apply for Implementation (capital construction) discretionary grant funds through the Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative.

Fiscal Year 2024 Work Plan Taking Shape 

What are the next projects SEMPO plans to tackle? As required by federal regulations, SEMPO annually develops a fiscal year work plan know as the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). SEMPO's fiscal year begins July 1st of each year and ends June 30th. Planning for the upcoming fiscal year typically begins around the January/February timeframe to provide SEMPO members an opportunity to deliberate on the upcoming planning priorities and formulate a budget to accomplish the identified priority projects. In February, both the Technical Planning Committee and the Board of Directors had an opportunity to vet some of the upcoming transportation planning priorities and develop a list of planning projects to be reviewed in the months to come. Here is the current Draft list of planning projects which will be discussed in March and April as potential work elements for the upcoming fiscal year:

• Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
• SEMPO Region Trail Connection Study 
• Intersection Studies  
• Origin and Destination Study Research & Analytics Tool Investment 
• Geographic Information System (GIS) Audit 
• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Web Development Tool Assessment 

For a description of the highlighted projects as well as a list of additional planning projects contemplated by SEMPO members click the button below.

MoDOT Planning Partner Meeting

On February 23, SEMPO staff attended the MoDOT Statewide Planning Partner Meeting in Jefferson City. The presentation topics included:

• Planning Update from Transportation Planning Director, Eric Curtit
• Executive Update from MoDOT Director, Patrick McKenna
• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Update from Congressman Sam Graves
• Safety Assessment for Every Roadway Presentation by Assistant State Highway and Traffic Engineer, Nicole Hood
• Letting/Inflation Update from State Design Engineer, Travis Koestner
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Update from External Civil Rights Director, Missy Stuedle
• Financial Update from Chief Financial Officer, Branda Morris
• BRO/TAP Update from Assistant State Design Engineer, Ashley Buechter

Video and presentation materials have previously been posted on MoDOT's website for review. I'll be sure to send out the links once posted for those interested in the topics.  

MoDOT Cost Share Applications

Get your projects in soon! The next round of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Cost Share applications are due April 14, 2023 with the Cost Share Review Committee meeting on June 15, 2023.

The purpose of the Cost Share Program is to build partnerships with local entities to pool efforts and resources to deliver state highway and bridge projects. MoDOT allocates Cost Share funds based on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission’s (MHTC) approved funding distribution formula. 

Projects are selected by the Cost Share Committee, which consists of the Deputy Director/Chief Engineer, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Chief Engineer, and two members selected by the Director. They are then recommended for approval by the MHTC via a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) amendment. Click the buttons below to learn more about the Cost Share Program and deadlines.
 

CGI Airport Terminal Project Moves Forward with Design Build Team

The above image is a conceptual rendering provided by Burns & McDonnell Engineering and Wellner Architects and not the final design direction.

A Terminal Area Master Plan, completed by the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport in February 2021, identified a need for a new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) to replace the increasingly antiquated PTB, constructed in 1956, which currently serves the Cape Regional Airport. On February 21, 2023, the Cape Girardeau City Council approved a Professional and Construction Services Agreement with KCI Construction to serve as the design-build team for the terminal project. The total project budget is approximately $12 million and will be funded through Capital Improvement Sales Tax revenues ($4 million) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Development Funds ($8 million). Construction of the new terminal is expected to begin this year with a completion deadline of June 2024.

FTA Announces $1.7 Billion in Grant Opportunities

The USDOT announced the availability of nearly $1.7 billion to support state and local efforts to modernize aging transit fleets with low- and no-emission buses, renovate and construct bus facilities, and support workforce development.
 
FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Program helps transit agencies buy or lease U.S.-built zero-emission and low-emission transit buses along with charging equipment and supporting facilities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)/Bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) provides $5.5 billion over five years for the program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding. For Fiscal Year 2023, approximately $1.22 billion will be available for grants under this program.
 
FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program supports transit agencies in buying and rehabilitating buses, vans, and related equipment and building bus facilities. The IIJA/BIL provides nearly $2 billion over five years for the program. For Fiscal Year 2023, approximately $469 million for grants will be available. 

The FTA will host two webinars to provide information to potential applicants, including a review of program eligibility, an overview of the evaluation criteria and selection considerations, and the submission process.

2023 Meeting Schedule

I don't know if everyone knows this, but all SEMPO meetings are open to the public and we encourage anyone interested to come join us! The SEMPO Board meets every third Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm and the Technical Planning Committee meets every first Wednesday of the month at 11:00 am. Meetings are normally held at the Osage Centre, 1625 N Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, unless otherwise noted.

Roadway Fatalities Update

The start of 2023 has deviated from the trend of increased fatalities on our roadways we have experienced from year-to-year. The Southeast District has experienced 16 fatalities on the roadways in 2023 as of February 26. This number is lower than the 18 fatalities which occurred in 2022 at this time. Statewide, we have experienced 91 fatalities, which is less than what we experienced in 2022 where 129 fatalities were recorded, 2021 (117), 2020 (113), 2019 (108), and 2018 (122) at this point in the year. Of these statewide fatalities, 62% of the occupants were not buckled.

Grants Corner

Tracking all of the funding opportunities and active grant programs can be a little like trying to drink from a firehose. Below are some helpful links to monitor the USDOT federal grant programs. 

SEMPO Trivia

Which president signed the Pacific Railway Act allowing money and land for the development of the Transcontinental Railroad?

a. Abraham Lincoln
b. James Buchannan
c. Andrew Johnson
d. Franklin Pierce
e. Ulysses S. Grant

USDOT Transportation Walk: Black History Month

Below is a really cool video about African American Inventors which helped shape modern technologies and the transportation industry. For example, did you know Garrett August Morgan invented both the Gas Mask as well as Traffic Lights?

Transportation Quote

“We can’t say that we’ve carried out the goals and objectives of our work if we haven’t centered equitable outcomes.” 

—Madeline Fraser Cook, SGA Board Chair at the 2023 Equity Summit