National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program Request for FY 2008 Project Applications

Attachment 1 - Description and Background - National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program

Summary:

This document describes the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation (NHCBP) Program for FY 2006 and beyond, as established and authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59. This legislation reiterates the goals and requirements of the NHCBP Program established under the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) Public Law 105-178 as amended by Title IX of Public Law 105-206. Implementation guidance was developed for this program considering public input provided through solicitation in the Federal Register FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2000-7646. As the goals, objectives and eligibility of projects through SAFETEA-LU are effectively equivalent to those specified in TEA-21, the implementation guidance developed previously will be utilized.

Background:

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Public Law 109-59 establishes the NHCBP Program and authorizes $10 million annually to be appropriated for each fiscal year between FY 2006 and FY 2009. The program is established to provide grants to States for rehabilitation, repair and preservation of historic covered bridges and to enable the Secretary of Transportation to perform research and initiate education programs on historic covered bridges.

Grants are prescribed for eligible projects, which include rehabilitation and repair together with preservation through: installation of fire protection systems, including a fireproofing or fire detection system and sprinklers, installation of a system to prevent vandalism and arson, or relocation of a bridge to a preservation site. Grants require that to the maximum extent practicable, the project is carried out in the most historically appropriate manner, preserves the existing structure of the historic covered bridge, and that the project provides for the replacement of wooden components, with wooden components, unless the use of wood is impracticable for safety reasons.

Research and education activities include: collection and dissemination of information on historic covered bridges, conducting educational programs relating to the history and construction techniques of historic covered bridges, conducting research on the history of historic covered bridges, conducting research on, and study techniques for, protecting historic covered bridges from rot, fire, natural disasters, or weight-related damage.

Guidelines and Administration

Applicants for assistance with preservation, rehabilitation or repair of historic covered bridges are limited to State DOT's. Bridges must either be on the National Register of Historic Places or eligible for listing. Applicants are encouraged to consult the US Department of Agriculture document, "Identifying and Preserving Historic Bridges," document 0071-2854-MTDC for more information on historicity of the structures. Project assistance is provided for rehabilitation, repair or preservation. These terms are defined in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These, and other applicable considerations, are discussed in the "Covered Bridge Manual", FHWA Publication No. FHWA-HRT-04-098. This manual may be obtained on-line at http://www.tfhrc.gov/structur/pubs/04098/index.htm.

Application Evaluation and Project Selection

The following information is required for project applications. The information requirements are based on the data collected through the program in previous years, with some simplifications. The information is also summarized in Attachment 2. This information is being collected under OMB Control Number 2125-0609. There is no specific form required and applicants have the flexibility to present the information in any form which they deem appropriate.

• State's Priority Ranking;
• NBI Structure Number;
• Bridge Name;
• Description of Location;
• Congressional District and Representative;
• Year Built;
• Whether the structure is on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and description of the qualities that qualify the bridge for the National Register;
• Structure description (e.g., number of spans, length, width, design type, description of decking, beams/stringers, sides and roof, wood species, wood preservation system in use, builder, traffic carried, etc.);
• General plan and elevation;
• Description of previous repair work (description, year, etc.);
• Description of proposed work including wood preservative system, fire protection, vandalism and arson prevention systems to be used;
• Indication of whether the State has a historic bridge inventory/management plan accepted by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). A programmatic agreement for historic bridges with the SHPO, FHWA and the Advisory Counsel on Historic Preservation (ACHP) may substitute;
• Description of whether the SHPO has reviewed and certified this project as warranted in accordance with the SHPO's statewide historic preservation plan; how it benefits statewide preservation efforts; how it enhances cultural tourism or enhances the history/economic development of the community; and other benefits upon successful completion of this project;
• Amount of State or local government matching funds or other resources (donated materials or labor may qualify);
• When the project is complete, will the bridge meet the current State or AASHTO standards for the roadway classification that it carries;
• Plan for documentation of the bridge and the work performed;
• Scheduled start and completion date for the project (month and year); and
• Contact information for the State DOT, Local Agency (if applicable), FHWA Division Office, and SHPO.

All projects will be evaluated and recommended for funding by a selection panel. Award recommendations will be made by the Director, FHWA Office of Bridge Technology, based on the recommendations of the panel. State priorities will be considered by the panel together with the reasons for the priority. The FHWA will attempt to equitably distribute funds to applicant States in accordance with the States' priorities: however, it is to be expected that high cost project requests may be funded at less than 100 percent of a State's requested amount.

Candidate projects which meet the intent of this program will receive the highest priority. Applicants may want to provide additional information to explain how the project meets the intent of the program. Candidate projects ready for or near the construction phase will be given priority consideration. Candidate projects that leverage Federal funds with other significant public or private resources will be given preference. Candidate projects, which further the aims of the State Historic Preservation Plan with the endorsement of the SHPO, will be given priority consideration. Candidate projects proposing complete restoration and rehabilitation will be given priority over candidate projects proposing only the installation of fire/vandalism protection systems or projects that propose to move the bridge to a preservation location.

Amounts Available and Application Deadlines

For FY 2008, a total of $9,240,000.00 is available to achieve the goals the program. A total of 10 percent of the amount available ($924,000.00) is proposed for research and education purposes as required by SAFETEA-LU Section 1804b. Research and education funds will be solicited and administered separately. The balance, in the amount of $8,316,000.00 is available for projects.

Grants for projects to the States are administered by the FHWA Office of Bridge Technology. Applications must be submitted by the States to the Director, FHWA Office of Bridge Technology, with notification and concurrence by the FHWA Division Office. For FY 2008, applications must be received by April 30, 2008.

FHWA Headquarters Program Office Contact

For questions concerning the NHCBP program, please contact Mr. Everett Matias, FHWA Office of Bridge Technology, HIBT-30, at (202) 366-6712, FAX (202) 366-3077, or e-mail everett.matias@dot.gov; and Mr. Thomas Everett, FHWA Office of Bridge Technology, HIBT-30, at (202) 366-4675, FAX (202) 366-3077, or e-mail thomas.everett@dot.gov.