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Implementing the High Risk Rural Roads Program

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Appendix G: Project Application Example – Iowa DOT

Application for High Risk Rural Road Funding

November 2008

Date: ____________________

County Name: ____________________

Contact person ____________________

PROJECT LOCATION: ____________________(attach a county map showing location of the project)

PROJECT NARRATIVE

________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
(Use additional pages if necessary)

Estimated Project Cost: $ ____________________

HRRR Funds Applied for: $ ____________________

Benefit Cost (B/C) Ratio: ____________________

POINTS FOR PROJECT RANKING

B/C Ratio Points: ____________________

Crash Density Points: ____________________

Crash Rate Points: ____________________

Total Points: ____________________

High-Risk Rural Road Application Instructions

November 2008

General Instructions

Before completing the application you should familiarize yourself with all the information on the Local Systems High Risk Rural Roads web page (http://www.dot.state.ia.us/local_systems/programs/hrrr.htm) and the instructions that follow. Projects may be located on any of the eligible roads, outside of urbanized areas, as indicated on the map of eligible roads provided on the High Risk Rural Roads web page. However, as you work through the application form, you will note that only roads in the top 15% of eligible corridors using the crash rate or crash density are provided additional points for ranking the applications.

The funding guidelines developed in consultation with county engineers on the planning committee limit the amount of HRRR funds for a single project to $500,000. Those same guidelines also limit a county to only one project per year. To be considered for funding, all the information on the application form must be completed and the requested supplemental forms must be included.

All questions regarding the HRRR Program should be directed to Rod Halverson in the Office of Local Systems (phone 515-239-1147, fax 515-239-1966, or e-mail Rod.Halverson@dot.iowa.gov). The completed application may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed.

Project Location

The location description should include the Farm-to-Market route number. If the project does not have a designated Farm-to-Market route number, then provide the 911 street name and the beginning and end points for the project. If the project is a spot location, indicate the county route number and/or street name and the direction and distance from the nearest intersecting route. This information will be used in location description for the project funding agreement if your project is selected. A location map is also required to assist in verifying the project is on an eligible route and how many points can be assigned for crash rate and crash density.

Project narrative

The intent of this narrative is to identify the problem, its relationship to the collision experience, and how the proposal will improve safety. A sketch plan of the current conditions and the proposed improvements may assist with the description of the proposed improvements.

Estimated Project Cost

The project cost estimate does not need to be a detailed engineer's estimate. However, the estimate should include enough detail, considering some "average" conditions for excavation, drainage structures and ROW so that a reasonably close estimate is calculated. A copy of the cost estimate, showing how the costs were determined, shall be included with the application.

HRRR Funds Requested

Indicate the amount of HRRR funds requested for the project. Keep in mind that maximum for a project is $500,000.

Benefit/Cost (B/C) Ratio

The B/C ratio is the ratio of the expected benefits (accrued from a crash/severity reduction based on the proposed improvement), to the amount of HRRR funds requested for the project. A copy of your B/C Ratio calculations must be included with your application along with copies of the crash data used to determine the total crash benefit. To calculate the B/C Ratio, use the Office of Traffic and Safety's Benefit / Cost Worksheet (http://www.iowadot.gov/traffic/ tsip/tsipB-C.xls), with the following exceptions:

Points for Project Ranking

Use the information contained in the HRRR web page to compute the points ranking for B/C Ratio, Crash Density, and Crash Rate of your project. The web page contains links to a Crash Density map and a Crash Rate map that will provide information on how many points can be assigned to Crash Density and Crash Rate. Only projects involving those segments of eligible corridors identified on the two maps will receive points for Crash Density and Crash Rate. The sum of the points in the three categories will determine your project ranking. In the event of projects with equal points, the project B/C ratios will be used to rank the projects.


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Page last modified on June 17, 2011
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