141.1 Cost Share Program

The purpose of the Cost Share Program is to build partnerships with local entities to pool efforts and resources to deliver state highway and bridge projects. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) allocates Cost Share funds based on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission’s (MHTC) approved funding distribution formula. Ten percent (10%) is set aside for projects that demonstrate economic development through job creation. Projects are selected by the Cost Share Committee, which consists of the Chief Engineer, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Chief Engineer, and two members selected by the Director. They are then recommended for approval by the MHTC via a Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) amendment.

141.1.1 Eligible Projects

The Cost Share Program provides financial assistance to public and private applicants for state highway and bridge projects satisfying a transportation need.

141.1.2 Level of Participation

When project sponsors are willing to partner with MoDOT, MoDOT matches their investment up to fifty percent (50%) of the project cost. MoDOT works in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development with project sponsors to determine when targeted investments can be made to create jobs and may provide up to one hundred percent (100%) of the project cost. Retail development projects do not qualify as economic development projects that create jobs.

MoDOT’s participation includes the amount of Cost Share funds allocated to the project, district STIP or Operating Budget funds and activities performed by MoDOT such as preliminary engineering, right of way incidentals and construction engineering.

Applicants are required to deposit their share of project costs with MoDOT as specified in the project agreement which is typically prior to the project being let.

If applicants provide federal funds (including earmarks) as part of their portion of the project costs, they must, if applicable, also provide the cash for matching the federal funds.

Applicants will be responsible for any cost overruns.

141.1.3 Application Process

The applicant works with the appropriate MoDOT district contact to determine the project scope and costs. The district assists the applicant in preparing the Request for Environmental Services (RES) and the Cost Share. The application is available online.

The letter of support shall explain in detail the significance of the project and the impact it could have on the state transportation system. A letter of support from the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) or regional planning commission (RPC) is also required.

The items listed below must be submitted to Financial Servies by the established deadline. Applications received after the deadline will be considered at the next Cost Share Committee meeting. Application deadlines are posted on the Partnership Development website.

• Signed and completed application
• District Engineer’s support letter
• MPO’s or RPC’s support letter
• Traffic models or traffic reports
• Project map

Note: If the applicant is planning to use the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program as match for the Cost Share Program, the CDBG application must be submitted to the Department of Economic Development as follows:

• General Infrastructure applications must be submitted by April 1st. Applications are available at https://ded.mo.gov/programs/cdbg/general-infrastructure.

• Industrial Infrastructure applications must be submitted by the Cost Share application deadline. Applications are available at https://ded.mo.gov/programs/cdbg/industrial-infrastructure-grant.

• Please contact the Department of Economic Development at (573) 526-6708 to determine the appropriate application to submit.

141.1.4 Review Process

Each application is reviewed for verification of the following criteria:

• The project is on the state highway system.
• The total project costs are in excess of $200,000.
• The total project costs include preliminary engineering, right of way acquisition and incidentals, utilities, construction and construction inspection.
• The applicant agrees to provide their share of the total project costs.
• Generally, the Cost Share funding per project is limited to $10 million in total and $2.5 million per year. However, projects exceeding this limit can be considered based on factors such as project need, the opportunity for economic development and the willingness of the local partners to be flexible and bring resources to the table. Applicants are encouraged to work with the district and Financial Services to explore options.
• Projects that significantly expand the state highway system or increase maintenance costs for MoDOT must have pre-approval by the Chief Engineer prior to submittal of the application to MoDOT. If a project significantly expands the state highway system or increases maintenance costs, the MHTC may seek an agreement for the project sponsor to either: 1) accept the transfer of ownership of a portion of the existing state highway system in an amount of miles as determined by the MHTC, or 2) payment of all increased maintenance costs.
• If debt financing is used to accelerate the project and complete it earlier than funding is available from MoDOT, the applicant must pay and not include the debt-financing costs in the total project costs. The debt-financing costs include items such as bond counsel, underwriter, financial advisor fees, application fees and interest.

After initial verification of the application, Financial Services forwards the application to the Cost Share Staff Review Team.

The Staff Review Team consists of staff from Financial Services, Transportation Planning, Highway Safety and Traffic, Design (including Right of Way staff), Chief Counsel’s Office and Department of Economic Development. The team is responsible for submitting comments and a recommendation to Financial Services on or before the specified deadline. The Staff Review Team meets with district staff to discuss the application, resolve any outstanding issues and determine the team’s recommendation to the Cost Share Committee. The Staff Review Team prioritizes each application based on the following criteria:

• Transportation Need (including impacts to the state highway system)
• Public Benefit
• Economic Development
• Applicant’s Share of Total Project Costs.

Financial Services prepares the Cost Share documents, which include the meeting agenda, project review sheets, project maps and team recommendations. Documents are distributed to the Committee members one week prior to the meeting.

141.1.5 Approval Process

The district presents the team’s recommendation for each application to the Committee.

The Committee recommends, denies or requests additional information for each application. Recommended projects are included in a subsequent STIP amendment for MHTC approval.

Financial Services provides a letter for the district engineer to send the applicant informing them of the Cost Share Committee’s decision and discussion points. If additional information is needed, Financial Services will compile the requested information and provide it to the Committee.

Project Agreement and Programming Process

The district works with the approved applicant to draft the Cost Share agreement, using the form FS08 found on the eAgreements website at http://sp/sites/eagreements/Agreements/Forms/My%20Agreements.aspx. Agreements identify project costs, each party’s financial responsibility, the maximum amount of approved Cost Share funding and the year the funding is available. The district sends the agreement to the “Agreements Review Group” for review as outlined in the eAgreements review process. The district and applicant address all comments and make appropriate changes to the agreement. The agreement is sent to the Chief Counsel’s Office for a final review before the applicant executes the agreement.

The applicant must execute the agreement within six months after the recommendation of the Committee to prevent the funds from expiring and being allocated to another project, unless an extension is approved by the Committee.

If the project is within an MPO, the district and applicant will coordinate with the MPO to amend the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) at this time.

Once the applicant executes the agreement, the district coordinates with Transportation Planning to amend the project to the STIP. Once the month is set for the project to be amended to the STIP, the district sends the agreement to the Chief Counsel’s Office to sign as to form. Financial Services then forwards the agreement to the Commission Secretary’s Office for approval and execution at the same time the project is amended to the STIP. The funds are contingent upon an executed agreement between the applicant and the MHTC. The execution and distribution of the agreement will follow the eAgreements process as outlined in the eAgreements Sharepoint Site Manual.

Project programming is complete after the MHTC and Federal Highway Administration approve the STIP and the MPO approves the TIP, for projects in an MPO area.

Project Delivery Process

The district ensures the design, right of way, utility and construction activities comply with the Engineering Policy Guide (EPG).

Financial Services works with Transportation Planning to determine funds utilized on projects (at bid award and/or project completion) and returns any excess funds to the Cost Share Program.