WINNING @ NEW STARTS Land Use & Economic Development arrington.gb@gmail.com gbplacemaking.com
OVERVIEW New Starts snapshot The ratings process What FTA wants to see What best practice is transferable? Will break for questions and discussion throughout the presentations
New Starts snapshot
FTA CAPITIAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAM Discretionary & Highly Competitive Roughly $2 billion appropriated each year 70% growth in demand in 5 years Demand for funds exceeds supply The goal of every project is to be recommended in this report
MULTI-YEAR MULTI-STEP PROCESS 1. 2. 3. Project Development Engineering Full Funding Grant Agreement FTA approval to enter project development FTA rating, evaluation & approval FTA rating, evaluation & approval FTA rating, evaluation & approval
FTA NEW STARTS RATINGS Low Medium-Low Medium Medium-High High Need at least a medium ranking to advance Ratings used to: Approve or deny advancement into engineering Approve or deny projects for construction grants Support annual funding recommendations to Congress
FTA NEW STARTS EVALUATION & RATING Summary Rating 50% 50% Project Justification Rating Other Factors Financial Rating Mobility Improvements Environmental Benefits Congestion Relief Cost Effectiveness Land Use Economic Development Financial Capacity Commitment Capital Finances of Funds Operating Current Condition Finances The Composite Pieces Making Up The Rating
NEW STARTS EVALUATION & RATING 1/3 OF PROJECT JUSTIFICATION Summary Rating Project Justification Rating Other Factors Financial Rating Mobility Improvements 16.66% Environmental Benefits 16.66% Congestion Relief 16.66% Cost Effectiveness 16.66% BEST CHANCE TO IMPROVE OVERALL RATING Land Use 16.66% Financial Capacity Economic Development 16.66% Commitment Capital Finances of Funds Operating Current Condition Finances
MULITI-DIMENSIONAL Land Use / Economic Devlp Rating considers Existing conditions Plans & policies Performance Affordable Housing
EXISTING CONDITIONS Land Use for Corridor & Station Areas Development and character Pedestrian facilities, including access for persons with disabilities Parking supply & pricing
AN ASIDE ON THE CORRIDOR Part of your corridor is Downtown Chicago Dense jobs & population Downtown Chicago counts Limited & priced parking Downtown Chicago counts
PLANS & POLICIES Legally binding + demonstrated outcomes TOD plans, zoning & limits on parking Joint development tools Engagement with developers Built transit-supportive projects
AFFORDABLE HOUSING Part of Land Use & Economic Development Affordable housing in corridor Policies and tools to preserve or increase affordable housing Proportion of existing legally binding affordability restricted housing within station areas compared to county as a whole 60% AMI within ½ mile of stations
Questions
Moving target the bar continues to raise
TYPICAL SCHEDULE To be recommended in the Presidents Budget June / August assemble New Starts submittal Late August submit to FTA November answer FTA questions February Presidents Budget SW Corridor Submittal pages Twin Cities
LAND USE CONTINUUM WHAT OUGHT TO HAPPEN WHEN Project Development Engineering Full Funding Grant Agreement You are concluding this phase Locate stations with TOD in mind TOD corridor strategy TOD capability & policy evaluation Undertake TOD sketch plans at selected stations
LAND USE CONTINUUM WHAT OUGHT TO HAPPEN WHEN Project Development Engineering Full Funding Grant Agreement By spring 2017: Station Area Plans well underway TOD zoning recommendations Implementation tools identified Some work underway w/ developers Transit supportive development proposals for some stations
LAND USE CONTINUUM WHAT OUGHT TO HAPPEN WHEN Project Development Engineering Full Funding Grant Agreement By spring 2018 / 2019: Legally binding station area plans adopted TOD zoning adopted Joint development tools in place Work underway w/ developers Transit supportive development occurring at some stations
Key takeaway: have a strategy that demonstrates momentum at each FTA milestone
What FTA wants to see
WHAT FTA WANTS TO SEE 1. Increased Density: Residential densities of 25 units /acre on average Commercial FARs of 2.5 2. Transit-oriented Character: Encourage walking through good urban design and a mix of land uses within easy walking distance of each other 25 DU per acre
WHAT FTA WANTS TO SEE 3. Pedestrian Facilities: Direct and convenient connections between destinations 4. Reduced Parking: No specific target The amount /availability of parking a key consideration for FTA
WHAT FTA WANTS TO SEE Transit-supportive plans & policies Adopted plans / policies Limits on parking Transit supportive densities Walkable environment Past performance in implementation North Corridor Station Area Planning Miami, FL
FOR A HIGH LAND USE RATING Equal parts corridor & performance Dense jobs & population Very walkable Limited & priced parking Legally binding & enforceable transit-supportive plans Track record of success Demonstrated progress
Where do you stand?
INITIAL ASSESSMENT Project is on the right path for land use Where you ought to be as you move into engineering By spring 2017 demonstrate plans & zoning on a path to adoption Unclear where you stand with affordable housing New Carrollton MD TOD Plan
INITIAL ASSESSMENT By spring 2018 when seeking full funding Legally binding action on TOD plans & zoning Tools & strategies to preserve affordable housing in place Optimally TOD demonstration projects progressing Denver TOD Demonstration Project
Questions
Lessons learned
MAKING YOUR CASE Solve for transit-supportive as opposed to TOD Think broader than TOD Walkable / mixed use / reinvestment & stabilization Communicate successes that demonstrate capacity to succeed downtown revitalization
MAKING YOUR CASE Be strategic & targeted Do a few things well rather than many so-so Don t have to do everything at every station show how your approach is comprehensive and targeted City of Denver TOD Strategic Plan
MAKING YOUR CASE Show you are moving toward implementation Get cities to take affirmative steps on the TOD plans show how they are moving to implementation Start to engage the development community forums / TOD workshops
MAKING YOUR CASE Give affordable housing a meaningful role Fold affordable housing strategies into TOD plans and policies Complete an affordable housing gap analysis for the corridor of need and supply Consider TOD demonstration projects with an affordable component Affordable TOD Paseo Verde, Philadelphia, PA
What best practice is transferable?
BEST OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE RATING Plans & Policies Implementation By the end of engineering: Corridor TOD strategy accepted formally by cities Development community / ULI engaged (workshops, roundtables ) North 5 th Corridor Strategy North Las Vegas, NV
BEST OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE RATING Plans & Policies Implementation (continued) By the end of engineering for most stations: Legally binding really matters Legally binding station area plans and zoning on the path to adoption Targeted street calming / pedestrian enhancements The Plan Green Network Metro Zoning Transportation Transforming Tysons, VA
BEST OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE RATING Plans & Policies Implementation (continued) By the end of engineering for stations: Affordable housing strategies strengthened, included in plans A few demonstration projects progressing / built Portland TOD Demonstration Projects
Key takeaway: pursue a package with maximum impact & lowest political risk
Questions
TRICKS OF THE TRADE Tell a story for the reviewer Around your strengths Livable communities Don t assert, demonstrate Say it once: story board it Focus on performance Instill confidence of success Full disclosure is not required Answer the question, but make your case
MAKE YOUR CASE Criteria Performance FTA Thresholds Corridor employment 460,500 jobs High Average population density 14,000 people per square mile Medium-High Average daily cost for parking CBD daily parking average is $28.20 High Zoned corridor floor area ratio (FAR) 2nd only to downtown, FAR 3:1 to 6:1 allowed High Among the key land use characteristics that Criteria Regional plans, policies for TOD TOD zoning / implementation tools High intensity development permitted Programs to support TOD Performance Supportive planning is in place corridor-wide Supportive zoning adopted at stations for TOD Minimum 3:1 Multi-family FAR requires over 25 dwelling units per acre Metro s TOD Grant includes $6 million for local TOD planning FTA Thresholds High High High High
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