Case Study: Nebraska DOT County Bridge Match Program

Selected Bridges for Nebraska County Bridge Match Program (1-9-17)

Name of Agency	Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location	Statewide
Project Delivery Method	Design-Bid-Build (D-B-B; with legislative authority for Design-Build [D-B] and construction manager/general contractor [CM/GC])
Procurement Method	Low Bid
Total Project Cost	Up to $40 million over 10 years
Funding Source	100% State-Funded
Construction Schedule	Determined by Lead County
Project Description	Seventy-four percent (11,147) of Nebraska's 15,065 bridges (crossings over 20 feet in length) are on the county road system in Nebraska. Of these, 2,152 (19.3%) are rated in poor condition. In an effort to help reduce the number of county-owned bridges in poor condition, NDOT created a County Bridge Match Program within a Nebraska Transportation Infrastructure Bank. The program does not offer loans or credit assistance but is a pay-as-you-go program. The County Bridge Match Program dedicates up to $40 million through June 2023 to promote innovation and to accelerate the reduction of county-owned bridges in poor condition. The first request for proposal issued in November 2016 had $4 million dedicated for the program. Participation is voluntary, and counties must apply for acceptance. The application must note the importance of the project, and they are scored on a number factors including innovation, cost and time savings, and potential future use of the innovation. NDOT will reimburse counties for 55% of the construction costs, up to $150,000 per bridge. The counties are responsible for delivering the project. Bridge bundling is one of the innovations that is encouraged by NDOT through the County Bridge Match Program. The program also allows and encourages counties to work together to bundle bridges in separate counties into one project. Although each county itself may not have the means to reap the benefits of a bridge bundle, by working collaboratively together, counties can achieve this ability. Most of the applications have utilized bundled approaches, and through the 2016 Transportation Innovation Act, innovative project delivery methods, such as D-B and CM/GC may be used to deliver the bridge bundle projects. In addition, Nebraska DOT, through authorizing state legislation, created a Federal Funds Purchase Program (FFPP) that allowed the Department to enter into agreements with local entities "for purchase of federal aid transportation funds at a discount rate. The Federal Funds Purchase Program was established to provide a way for NDOT to purchase the federal funds used by LPA's in exchange for state cash. State dollars allow local agencies to tailor projects to better meet their needs. State funds obtained must be expended for highway and bridge needs." The stated benefits of the program are: Local control of local public agency (LPA) projects. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements and oversight are eliminated. LPAs can fund a wider variety of transportation projects. All phases of local projects are eligible for use of the funds. Minimal environmental requirements. No NDOT/FHWA oversight of required permits, consultant procurement, or contracts. Projects using funds will have minimal state oversight. For more information, visit https://dot.nebraska.gov/business-center/lpa/projects/programs/ffpp/.
Project Website	http://dot.nebraska.gov/projects/tia/bridge-match/ne

Summary

Program Goals	To encourage innovative design and delivery of projects to assist counties in reducing the number of bridges in poor condition.
Bridge Selection Criteria	County owned. Poor condition. Greater than 20-ft span. Cannot already be advertised for construction.
Delivery and Procurement Method	NDOT publishes a request for proposal for acceptance into the program. Bridge bundling is encouraged as an innovation. Awards are made based on scored applications. The county decides the appropriate delivery and procurement method for each project. They have the ability to work with other counties and use D-B and CM/GC to deliver bridge bundling projects.
Funding Sources, Financing Strategy	100% State-Funded; Up to 55% of the Project or $150,000
Environmental, Right-of-Way, and Utility Considerations	Counties are responsible for all coordination. Encourage cooperation among counties for hydraulic studies by basin.
Risks	Depends on the delivery and procurement method selected by the county.
Owner Management/Quality Assurance	Depends on the delivery and procurement method selected by the county.
Stakeholder Communication	Coordinate with the Nebraska Association of County Officials to set up the program.