Local Public Agency (LPA) allows local municipalities and counties to use federal funding to complete projects in their ciities and counties. As partners move through the federal process which is administered by MoDOT, there are many seperate processes to complete. This section will provide a quick reference to partners as they move through each stage.

Click on the stage your project is currently in to get specific information on each step and quick reference to necessary sections of the LPA Manual in the Engineering Policy Guide. There are three main areas for the LPA process:

Planning

Design

Construction

PLANNING STAGES:

Step 1: Planning Process:

In this process local agencies need to determine the type of funding that project should use and gain approval from Mid-American Regional Council, the KC area metropolitan planning agency (MPO), or Pioneer Trails, the regional planning commision (RPC) for most rural parts of the district.

Step 2: Programming Process

In this process, communities prepare TIP application or programming data form to MoDOT for approval. In this step, MoDOT determines project eligibility, assigns a federal project number and completes the agreement process, including determining if engineering services will be needed in the project.

Step 3: Enviornmental, Cultural & Historical Clearance Process

There are several steps that must be taken for all projects to receive proper environmental and cultural clearance. Items that may need to be addressed include historical buildings, archaeological sites, historic bridges, conversion of farmland, endangered species, wetlands, crossing of Corps of Engineers controlled waterways and parklands and historical sites. There are extensive federal regulations that govern this stage of the project. All projects that use any federal funds must follow these regulations.

DESIGN STAGES:

Step 4: Right of Way Process:

Federal requirements concerning right of way are quite extensive. Detailed procedures are contained in EPG 236.18 Local Public Agency Land Acquisition. Local agencies should adhere strictly to these procedures because receipt of construction funds is contingent upon compliance with the right of way requirements, whether or not federal participation is sought in the cost of right of way. If the realty rights were acquired less than 5 years prior to the first request for federal funds, the acquisition must have occurred within the parameters of the Uniform Act in order for any portion of the project to receive federal funds.

Step 5: Preliminary Plan Process

This step include engineer preparing preliminaryconstruction plans, construction specifications and cost estimate for the project. Partners submite the Plan Specification and Estimate (PS&E) to MoDOT for review to determine if it meets federal-aid requirements

Step 6: Final Plan Process

This step include engineer submitting final construction plans, construction specifications and cost estimate for the project. Partners submit the Plan Specification and Estimate (PS&E) to MoDOTand FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) for final review before letting.

Step 7: Letting Plans and Contract Proposal Process

During this step local agencies request construction authorization and obligation of Federal funding from FHWA. This stage ends with a notice to bid.

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS:

Step 8: Construction Bidding and Contract Process

The project is advertised for bid by the local agency. MoDOT approves LPA recommendation of bid. The contract is executed and awarded during this stage with approvals from MoDOT and FHWA.

Step 9 Construction Process

This stage involve construction of the project as awarded under terms of the contract. MoDOT will monitor this stage of the project to ensure that federal requirements are met during construction. This stage includes all activities from the notice to proceed to the final plans submittal.

Step 10: Audits Process

This stage involves auditing project records to ensure that federal-aid requirements are met. This may include review from MoDOT or FHWA of invoices, work records, time logs and other data from the local agency.