TCSP Grant Workshop Denver, Colorado
May 11-12, 1999

Plenary Session

Susan Petty; Leader of Community Programs, Office of Human Environment, Federal Highway Administration; Washington, D.C.

William Lyons; Operations Research Analyst, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, U.S. Department of Transportation; Cambridge, MA

Fred Abousleman; Community Planner,  Office of Human Environment, Federal Highway Administration; Washington, D.C.

The TCSP program was created to improve system efficiency, provide environmental enhancements, maintain public infrastructures, ensure access to jobs, and encourage sustainable development patterns. It strives to help communities develop a long-term vision. The demand for funding was strong in FY1999. Last year, a field staff and a technical panel reviewed 524 Letters of Intent and selected 49 to submit full grant proposals. The field staff was included because they provided a local or regional perspective on the application evaluation. From these proposals, 35 were ultimately awarded grants, ranging from $48,000 to $700,000. Besides meeting the five goals of the TCSP program, the selected projects were innovative, leveraged other available resources, included partnerships, and contained comprehensive evaluation plans. The FY2000 authorization for TCSP is $25 million.

The TCSP Research Program:

The goals of the research portion of the TCSP program are to improve knowledge of costs and benefits of innovative approaches to integrating transportation and land use strategies and to improve the balance between community preservation, economic growth, and environ- mental protection. Research on these interrelationships will improve local, state, and federal decisionmaking. Although grants are only given to government entities, industries can get involved by forming partnerships with eligible parties, and by staying in touch with the program, for example, through the project web-site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/.

For FY2000, the Federal Registrar solicits input on what kinds of questions are facing communities, which policy and analytical issues are of concern, and what research priorities are in these areas. This information will be used to focus the research priorities of the TCSP program. The grant program, with emphasis on evaluation, and the research component of TCSP will be complementary. Possible areas of concentration include the evaluation of results from current best practices, and the development of analytical tools and methodologies to support decision makers.

The Federal Register encourages research proposals that consider:

• measurement of broad impacts on communities of preservation practices including urban growth boundaries, infill development, and land use changes;
• integrating community health and safety goals with transportation to promote livable communities;
• planning or implementing regional and local strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions;
• using technology and communications that improve access to goods and services to promote livable communities; and
• enhancing intermodal and freight access to promote economic growth and access to jobs in communities.

A separate section in these proceedings summarizes ideas on research provided by workshop participants.

Administration:

Both the FHWA Division Offices and the Federal Register are sources of information for the Fiscal Year 2000 application process. Located in every state, Division offices serve as a first line of contact, provide technical assistance, and offer facilitation for program development. Information on how to contact the division offices is available at the following web address: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/field2.html.

The Fiscal Year 2000 proposals should contain:

• A narrative, a budget, an evaluation approach, and a time frame.

In Fiscal Year 2000, all applicants should submit full proposals, as the Letter of Intent phase of the review process has been removed.

• The proposal should be about 15 pages on 8 ½ x 11 paper, with no attachments;

• TCSP proposals should demonstrate consistency with the State Department of Transportation's and, if relevant, the Metropolitan Planning Organization's long-range development plans;
• July 15 is the deadline for submitting proposals;
• Areas that are just starting community preservation practices should identify themselves as requesting a "planning grant," while areas already been active in planning or conducting projects pertaining to Smart Growth should identify themselves as
• requesting an "implementation grant;"
• TCSP projects do not have to be in the TIP at the time of the application, but should be included in the TIP once the award is given.

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