Federal Register Notice for Participation in Local Empowerment for Accelerating Projects (LEAP) Pilot Program

The purpose of this message is to inform you of an FHWA solicitation and to provide additional information received by the FHWA Arizona Division today. FHWA is soliciting applications from interested local public agencies (LPAs) for participation in the Local Empowerment for Accelerating Projects (LEAP) Pilot Program, through Federal Register (FR) Notice FHWA-2016-0030 that was published on Wednesday, October 26, 2016.  The notice is currently available for view at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FHWA-2016-0030-0002

Aware of interests and concerns for improvements of the Federal-aid Highway Program (FAHP) delivery to LPAs, the Office of Program Administration (HIPA) collaborated with the Office of the Secretary to conduct, on an experimental basis, the direct delivery of Federal-aid funding to LPA for sponsored projects.  Up to five LPAs will be selected for the pilot with the objectives to:

1.  Determine whether LPAs can deliver Federal-aid projects more expeditiously and at a lower cost as a direct recipient.

2.  Assess the additional costs and other impacts to FHWA associated with providing effective and efficient stewardship and oversight to an expanded number of direct Federal-aid recipients, and to explore various approaches to stewardship and oversight. (Additional FHWA resources are incorporated in the pilot.)

The pilot program will be carried out for a period of five years (unless extended).  Applications for the program are requested by November 25, 2016.  We recognize this is a short turn around and offer that this solicitation is a two-step process as outlined in the Federal Register. Please note: the selected LPAs will need to enter into agreements with their respective State DOTs and FHWA that set forth the terms of the parties’ responsibilities and the amount of Federal-aid highway funds to be transferred to the LPA from the State’s apportionment. Any questions on this notice should be directed to Docket FHWA-2016-0030 at the following link: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FHWA-2016-0030-0002