SHASTA COUNTY RTPA POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL		Number
		5-2
SECTION: Rules of the RTPA	Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP)
APPROVAL DATE:
Page No. 1 of 2

POLICY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF REGIONAL SURFACE TRANSPORATION PROGRAM (RSTP) FEDERAL EXCHANGE AND STATE MATCH REQUEST

BACKGROUND

The RSTP exchange program is the successor to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). In accordance with Section 182.6 of the Streets and Highways Code, funds may be exchanged for nonfederal State Highway Accounts funds. Funding is allocated on an annual basis from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The amount of funding allowable is calculated by the DOT.

The RTPA agrees to allocate all state funds within the RSTP agreement to projects defined under Title 23 – Section 133 of the Federal Aid for Highways, and in accordance with the State of California Constitution. Section 133(b) eligible projects may include:

· Highway (limited access facilities): construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, operational improvements, safety improvements and programs, research and development, and technology transfers · Bridges: construction, reconstruction (including seismic retrofit), resurfacing, and restoration · Transit: anything eligible for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding, including fixed guideways, vehicles, maintenance facilities, safety improvements and programs, research and development, and technology transfers · Streets and roads (conventional facilities): All functionally classified highways are eligible except for those classified as local roads or rural minor collectors. Activities include construction, signalization and signal timing, widening, restriping, resurfacing, and bus turnouts · Carpool projects · Park and Ride lots · Bicycle and pedestrian projects · Traffic monitoring, management, and control facilities and programs: includes capital and operating · Infrastructure-based intelligent transportation system (ITS) projects · Surface transportation planning programs · Transportation enhancement activities: (as defined by law) · Transportation control measures · Development and establishment of management systems · Wetlands mitigation and wetlands banking · Natural habitat restoration · Landscaping · Application of anti-icing and de-icing compositions to bridges and elevated structures · Modification of sidewalks to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Publicly or privately owned or operated vehicles and facilities that provide intercity passenger bus service: (capital improvements only) · Any activities eligible under the CMAQ or TEA programs

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Financial Controls: City and county agencies must establish a separate account within their “Special Gas Tax Street Improvement Fund” or “County Road Fund” to deposit and account for State exchange and match payments received directly from the RTPA.

City and county expenditures of exchange and match funds will be subject to financial and compliance audits by State of California auditors.

Agencies are required to submit an annual document stating that RSTP exchange funds have been used for eligible projects as defined in Section 133(b). Agencies must submit documentation prior to distribution of current year exchange funds.

In the event of an adverse audit finding, the agency must return the State cash to the RTPA for allocation to other eligible projects. If an adverse finding is not corrected, a hold will be placed on future exchange and match payments to the RTPA until such time as the adverse findings are corrected to the satisfaction of the State.

PROCEDURES

December	Notification from DOT for Federal Fiscal Year allocation
January-February	RTPA provides to DOT Federal Apportionment Exchange Buyout Program annual report = cash received from DOT and cash disbursed by RTPA
May	RTPA completes RSTP agreement
June	DOT returns fully executed agreement
June-July	RTPA invoices DOT for exchange funds
July	Agency verification of expenditure of funding for eligible projects
July-August	Upon receipt of funds, RTPA disburses funds to agencies