C250398_Exhibit_A_-_Scope_of_Work.pdf

RFP C250398

EXHIBIT A

SCOPE OF WORK

CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR LONG TERM PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING

I. INTRODUCTION

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) requires technical assistance to support Long Term Planning and Programming, Federal, state and local grant development and administration, Express Lane Excess Toll Expenditure Plan and organization, funding programs associated with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Senate Bill 1 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017)(SB-1) and any new or existing federal or state transportation funding programs that may arise for a period of three-years, with an option for two additional years. Consultant will also review and provide guidance on the future federal transportation act and state planning and programming policies, trends and impacts of legislation including strategizing for grant development and advising on grant applications and responses to state and federal planning and programming policies and guidance.

II. BACKGROUND

OCTA is responsible planning for and programming of state and federal funding for transportation projects in Orange County. OCTA also provides Measure M2 and local funds to local jurisdictions for transportation improvements and services throughout Orange County. OCTA staff is seeking consultant assistance to develop strategy and provide technical support and advisory services in the development of long-term planning, funding program development, programming, grant development, and support for calls for projects and grants including the review and analysis of programming policies, programming recommendations, toll lane excess toll revenue expenditure plans, and any new federal or state transportation funding programs that may arise.

IIJA or Federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act

On November 15, 2021, the new federal surface transportation act, also known as IIJA or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed into law. The IIJA is a five-year $350 billion transportation act that covers fiscal years (FY) 2022 to 2026. OCTA is responsible for submitting applications, programming federal funds and managing projects that are from the IIJA. A new transportation act is currently under development and support will be needed in analyzing programs for funding opportunities as well as understanding changes to the existing funding programs.

LIMITATION ON GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS

Nothing contained in this scope of work permits CONSULTANT’s personnel to authorize or direct any actions, votes, appoint any person, obligate, or commit AUTHORITY to any course of action or enter into any contractual agreement on behalf of AUTHORITY. In addition, CONSULTANT’s personnel shall not provide information, an opinion, or a recommendation for the purpose of affecting a decision without significant intervening substantive review by AUTHORITY personnel, counsel, and management.

State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

The STIP is a statewide program funded by the Transportation Investment Fund. The STIP programming occurs every two years beginning with the fund estimate in July of every odd numbered year. Projects are approved by the CTC prior to programming and project implementation. OCTA is responsible for preparing and submitting applications, amendments, environmental documents and allocation requests.

SB-1

SB-1 will provide an estimated $52.5 billion for transportation purposes over the next ten years, with investments targeted towards fix-it-first purposes on local streets and roads, highways, transit operations and maintenance, capital investments, and active transportation. OCTA is responsible for submitting applications, programming, and managing projects that are from SB-1. There are both formula and competitive programs that OCTA seeks funding through and might request support in these activities.

Measure M2

Measure M2 is a 30-year one half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Orange County from 2011 through 2041. After experiencing the success and progress of the original Measure M, nearly 70 percent of voters renewed the half-cent sales tax in 2006.

Expected growth in demands in Orange County through 2041 will require agencies to continue to invest in transportation infrastructure projects. Measure M2 supports freeway, transit, local streets and roads and environmental projects and programs. Measure M2 requires seeking the use of external funds for Orange County transportation projects and programs whenever possible.

OCTA also administers a variety of Measure M and local funding programs for local jurisdictions to widen streets, improve intersections, coordinate signals, rehabilitate pavement provide community transit, senior mobility and help remove street runoff pollution from Orange County waterways. In order for local jurisdictions to participate in these programs, cities are required to meet specific eligibility requirements to receive the funds.

Express Lane Excess Toll Revenue

The OCTA, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Westminster, implemented the I-405 Improvement Project between State Route 73 (SR-73) and Interstate 605 (I-605). The 405 Express Lanes commenced operations on December 1, 2023.

The 405 Express Lanes is operated and maintained by OCTA based on a toll operating and lease agreement (operating agreement) executed with Caltrans in March 2017. Consistent with the approval of the toll lane by the California Transportation Commission (CTC), OCTA is responsible for developing an expenditure plan for excess toll revenues that might be generated.

III. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

OCTA is in need of strategic, advisory and technical assistance to support Measure M2 programs and OCTA’s long term planning and programming, delivery of M2 funds to local jurisdictions, federal and state grant strategy and development, express lane excess toll revenue expenditure plan and organization, funding programs associated with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA), SB 1 and any new federal or state transportation funding programs that may arise for a period of three years with the potential for an additional two years. Consultant will work as needed on a time-and-expense basis. The consultant may be asked to come to the office for in-person meetings.

Programming Support

Programming support services include but are not limited to the following:

• Consultant shall prepare all work in accordance with approved guidelines and required documentation in effect at the time of work assignment. Consultant shall assist in the analysis of state, federal, and local program guidelines and relevant legislation and provide strategic perspective to OCTA, including consideration of how funding programs may support implementation of OCTA planning initiatives.

• Consultant shall with local agencies, as assigned, that receive grants through an OCTA call for projects.

• Consultant shall monitor Federal and State agencies such as the Federal Highways Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Rail Administration, the CTC, the California State Transportation Agency, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) other similar agencies for planning and funding program information and requirements and provide guidance and support in seeking funding, identifying potential issues and influencing funding program guidance to support OCTA Measure M2 projects and programs.

• Consultant may be asked to review CTC agendas, funding program guidelines, statewide planning policies and requirements, and provide a review, analysis and potential OCTA strategy.

• Consultant shall assist in the identification of potential projects for submittal to various funding programs, including projects identified through OCTA planning efforts.

• Consultant assistance may be requested to augment staff work to prepare grant applications, application templates, assist with reporting requirements, and scoring documents for future calls for projects for various funding programs that would be administered by OCTA.

• Consultant assistance may be requested for the preparation and/or review of air quality analysis, project performance metrics and offer guidance on how information that may be provided through environmental documents/reports may be used for grant development.

• Consultant may be asked to coordinate, verify and prepare descriptions of various project benefits.

• Consultant may be requested to travel to participate in various meetings.

• Consultant may be asked to carry out tasks related to programming of funds or development of funding plans as well as other related tasks as assigned.

Planning Support

Planning-related support services may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Consultant shall provide technical assistance to OCTA staff to support coordination between OCTA planning initiatives and programming and funding strategies, including activities that help position projects and programs for future funding opportunities.

• Consultant shall assist OCTA staff in reviewing adopted planning documents and studies to identify projects and programs that may be competitive for state and federal funding opportunities.

• Consultant shall assist in identifying funding programs that may support implementation of transportation improvements identified through OCTA planning efforts, including multimodal transportation, transit, active transportation, and corridor improvements.

• Consultant shall assist in preparing summaries, memoranda, or briefing materials describing how planning initiatives, projects, and programs align with available or emerging funding opportunities.

• Consultant shall assist in evaluating how federal and state legislation, policies, and funding program guidelines may affect implementation of transportation improvements identified through OCTA planning efforts.

• Consultant may assist OCTA staff in summarizing project benefits, performance metrics, and other planning information that may support funding applications or programming decisions.

• Consultant may assist OCTA staff in identifying planning-level analyses, studies, or project development activities that could position projects or programs to be more competitive for future state or federal funding opportunities.