R940-10-4. Factors Used to Consider Proposals

(1) Any request for state participation in a TRZ made under this rule must be approved by the commission before the department may enter into an agreement described under Section R940-10-5. (2) In deciding whether to approve a request for state participation in a TRZ, the commission shall take into account the following factors: (a) whether the requested project is part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), or a long-range transportation plan and, if part of a long-range transportation plan, will not delay any of the projects already included in the STIP; (b) the benefits of the project to the state transportation system and the requesting public agencies; (c) the terms of the draft TRZ agreement; (d) the estimated costs and proposed schedule of the project; (e) level of local commitment included as part of the request, based on the amount or percentage of funding proposed by the requesting public agency; (f) whether the proposed project is subject to a local planning initiative; (g) whether the project will alleviate significant existing or future congestion or hazards to the traveling public or provide other substantial improvements to the transportation system; (h) whether the request has the potential to extend department resources to other needs; and (i) whether the proposed project fulfills a need widely recognized by the public, elected officials, and transportation planners; and (j) land use considerations. (3)(a) For a request that includes improvements to a surface street that approaches an interchange or ramp or for a new interchange or ramp, the requesting public agency shall commit to providing at least 50% of the costs of the project over the life of the TRZ agreement. (b) The 50% described in Subsection (2)(a) may include the value of any additional ways not mentioned in the TRZ agreement the requesting public agency will use to bring about the proposed project.