R926-8-3. Factors Used to Consider Proposals

(1) In deciding whether to approve a county's or municipality's request for partnering, the Transportation Commission shall evaluate the proposal with the following factors in mind:

(a) whether the requested improvement is part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), or the Long-Range Plan and, if part of the Long-Range Plan, will not delay any of the projects already included in the STIP;

(b) the benefits of the improvement to the State highway system and the county or municipality;

(c) the costs of the improvement;

(d) level of local commitment, based on the amount or percentage of funding proposed;

(e) whether the proposed improvement was subject to a local planning initiative;

(f) whether the improvement will alleviate significant existing or future congestion or hazards to the traveling public or provide other substantial improvements to the transportation system;

(g) whether the proposal has the potential to extend department resources to other needs; and

(h) whether the proposed improvement fulfills a need widely recognized by the public, elected officials, and transportation planners.

(2)(a) If a proposed improvement is to a surface street that approaches an interchange or ramp or for a new interchange or ramp and is being undertaken for economic development, the county or municipality shall provide at least a fifty percent (50%) local match. The match can include private contributions that are administered through the local entity. (Economic development may include such things as employment growth, employment retention, retail sales, tourism growth, freight movements, tax base increase, and traveler or user cost savings as compared to construction costs.)

(b) If a proposed improvement is to a surface street that approaches an interchange or ramp or for a new interchange or ramp and is being undertaken to relieve traffic congestion or to improve safety, the local match, if any, may be determined based on the benefit derived by the local entity.