Federal-aid Essentialsfor Local Public Agencies

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Presentation Overview

• Why Federal-aid Essentials?

• What Is Federal-aid Essentials?

• Cross-Cutting Team

• The Challenge

• The Tool

• Our Guiding Philosophy

• Web Site

• Library of Video Modules

• Companion Resources

• What’s Next?

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Why Federal-aid Essentials?

• Consolidates Federal Highway Program information

• Ensures Federal-aid requirements are met on LPA-administered projects

• You may have heard of the Khan Academy “.ORG”

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What is Federal-aid Essentials forLocal Public Agencies?• A central hub of information LPAs can use to understand

the Federal-aid Highway Program requirements: Web site Videos Takeaways

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Federal-aid Essentials Development Process• External user groups

LPA representatives provided feedback on content and design November 2011 & May 2012 sessions

• Internal quality control Input from FHWA field personnel Subject matter experts Policy experts – program office and legal reviews Independent Assurance reviews – DFS, PMIT &

LPA program office

Thank you Donna Shea, Dan Cady and others!!!

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Cross-Cutting Team

Core team of dedicated staff

FHWA Office of Technical Services

Subject matter experts from

HQ & field

Materials reviewed by FHWA

Program Offices, Chief Counsel and

Public Affairs

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The Challenge

Complex system

Diverse users

Funding responsibilities

Regulations

The Challenge

Complex system

• Local governments – primarily counties, cities & towns, or LPAs–own and operate about 75 percent, or roughly 2.9 million miles, of the Nation’s highway network

Diverse users

Funding responsibilities

Regulations

The Challenge

Complex system

Diverse users

• There are more than 28,000 cities, towns & counties: some with extensive Federal-aid experience and others with none

Funding responsibilities

Regulations

The Challenge

Complex system

Diverse users

Funding responsibilities

• LPAs entrusted with $7 billion• 15% of our Federal-aid program

Regulations

The Challenge

Complex system

Diverse users

Funding responsibilities

Regulations

• Federal requirements scattered among various Web sites and manuals

• Sometimes difficult to decipher

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Our Guiding Philosophy

Easily accessible

Easy to understand Self paced Available

anytime

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Our Guiding Philosophy

Easily accessible

• Virtual• Transportable• Available anywhere

with internet access: Desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone

• Free

Easy to understand Self paced Available

anytime

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Our Guiding Philosophy

Easily accessible

Easy to understand

• One topic per module• Helpful graphics and

examples• Plain language takes

the guesswork out of understanding

Self paced Available anytime

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Our Guiding Philosophy

Easily accessible

Easy to understand

Self paced• Watch what you want

when you want as many times as you want

• In order or in YOUR order

Available anytime

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Our Guiding Philosophy

Easily accessible

Easy to understand Self paced

Available anytime

• On demand• 24/7• Web site links to our

YouTube channel–no firewalls or passwords

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The Tool: Federal-aid Essentials

• Robust Web site

• Vast library of videos

• Companion resource for each video

• Self paced

• Easy to understand

• Available anytime

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Federal-aid Essentials Web Site

• Central information hub

• State DOT resources

• Feedback mechanism

• Subscriber alerts

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Library of Video Modules

• Topics selected based on identified risks

• Organized around the normal steps of Federal-aid highway program activities

• Modules cover 7 main topic areas

• Each video 10 minutes or less

• Concise content provided in plain language

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State and LTAP Resources

• State Coordinators

• State Manuals

• State Web Page

• FHWA Division Office Contact

• LTAP Center contact information

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Companion Resources

• Takeaways – printable resources and extra information, includes text of video content

• Additional web links are posted for other resources, such as:

The main FHWA program page The applicable CFR section Existing FAQs and more

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A Peek Inside the Library

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What’s Next?

• Communications toolkit provided to internal messengers such as LPA coordinators

• Developing a thumb drive to share

• Consideration of Phase 2

• Partnerships with key stakeholders

• Official Launch of the website at APWA’s National Congress: AUGUST 27th

www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials

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Who Can I Call?

• Federal-aid Essentials Project Managers Rob Elliott

rob.elliott@dot.gov404.562.3941

Carin Michelcarin.michel@dot.gov410.962.2530