Federal Aid Process Explained
Federal highway transportation improvements that are a product of this type of study usually use Federal highway funds. The County has applied for federal funds to assist in paying for part of the construction phase of this project. Notice of award of these funds will be made in late 2011. To comply with the requirements for federal funding, certain regulations and guidelines must be met to ensure eligibility. There are three phases of the implementation process that are used for any federal-aid project:
- Phase I – Environmental and Design Studies
- Phase II – Preparation of contract plans and Right of Way (ROW) attainment
- Phase III – Construction
Phase I
The Phase I Environmental and Design Study for this project is being processed as a Categorical Exclusion (CE). This is an environmental analysis required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The CE is prepared to document a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. A Phase I engineering report was completed which outlines why the County is proposing such a project and how the improvement will be designed to satisfy a need. The IDOT Bureau of Design and Environmental Manual states:
“These reports are more than just a paperwork requirement and have been created to ensure that a proposed improvement has been carefully evaluated, that appropriate policies and criteria are being used, that the design reflects an assessment of environmental concerns and, if required, that public involvement has occurred. These reports should be able to stand on their own and document all major design decisions and exceptions to policy.”
Phase II
Once the Phase I report is completed and approved, design approval is granted, and design and right of way acquisition (if required) may commence.
Phase II includes the preparation of plans and specifications for the purpose of bidding the proposed improvements. These plans are provided to contractors for the purposes of receiving construction bids for the project. During Phase II, any required land acquisition and permitting is also completed. Once bids are received and accepted, the project proceeds to Phase III.
Phase III
Phase III includes construction and start up of the project. For the Rollins Road Gateway, the majority of Phase III is anticipated to be completed in 2013.