Category:906 Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP)

The Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) allows local public agencies to receive engineering assistance.

This article addresses TEAP services from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2008.

906.1 Purpose

The safe and efficient flow of traffic and the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists are major concerns to the local public agencies of Missouri. These public agencies need to conduct accurate and timely traffic studies to determine effective countermeasures for these concerns. Many of these local agencies and their political subdivisions have neither the funds nor the engineering expertise necessary to conduct expert traffic engineering studies.

As a result, the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission developed TEAP to provide Missouri local public agencies with assistance to proficiently study traffic engineering problems.

The services of this program are to be used for locations on public roads under the jurisdiction of local public agencies that are located off of the state system. TEAP services are not intended to duplicate services already available to local agencies through MoDOT’s districts or Central Office. The consultant services provided under this program are intended to maximize the availability of professional advice or services to local public agencies and minimize technician and drafting time.

906.2 Personnel

The traffic engineering expertise necessary to provide this assistance to the local public agencies and their political subdivision will be provided from a pool of pre-qualified engineering consultants. The consultant firms selected from the pre-qualified pool will be required to use engineering personnel having a background in traffic engineering with actual traffic engineering field experience on state, county or city roadway projects.

906.3 Administration

The direction of this program will be under the jurisdiction of a MoDOT District Engineer, with coordination of the statewide consultant contract and technical policy interpretation being provided by Traffic. The statewide contract is normally in effect for a three-year period, after which time it may be renegotiated or renewed.

A political subdivision facing a traffic operational problem and desiring to participate in the program should contact the district engineer responsible for state highways in that particular political subdivision. The district engineer shall decide, based on the description of the problem, whether to utilize consultant personnel. The district's authorized representative or local agency will discuss the problem with the consultant in order to prepare a Project Tracking Form and a fee estimate on a TEAP Project Estimate Form for further eligibility review by the district and Traffic.

If the project is found to meet eligibility and program cost requirements, the tracking form is returned to the district so that the consultant can be notified to proceed. In the event the project does not meet eligibility and/or program cost requirements, Traffic will notify the consultant directly.

After completing the traffic engineering investigation, the political subdivision, district office, and Traffic will be advised of the consultant's findings in a letter report. The letters, and any attachments, will be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer, registered in Missouri.

All announcements, printings and advertisements shall list Highway Safety and the Federal Highway Administration as program sponsors.

906.4 Financial Considerations

The services of the program are generally provided at a 20% cost to requesting, eligible local public agencies in Missouri. Federal Highway Safety Funds (HSP) and Local Technology Assistance Program Funds (LTAP) will be used for the remaining 80% of expenditures. MoDOT administers these funds. It is the responsibility of the consultant to invoice and secure payment of the political subdivision's portion of their project costs.

If a project is approved, the consultant selected by the local agency will be reimbursed in accordance with the hourly rates and actual direct non-salary costs as set forth in the Agreement. The consultant’s actual costs incurred in performing each project will be reimbursed to the extent authorized in the contract. Authorized actual costs include the consultant's direct personnel salary costs plus fringe benefits, travel and other expenditure costs if directly related to this project and a pro-rated portion of the consultant's indirect or administrative overhead. In addition, the consultant will be compensated for a pre-specified percentage profit for performing the services of this program. For the convenience of the consultant and the department, an agreed hourly rate will be used in the contract that reflects actual costs.

Each project must receive prior approval from the district and Traffic. This requires the consultant submit a Project Tracking Form and a TEAP Project Estimate Form to the district outlining the work to be performed. The TEAP Project Estimate Form shall outline project hours anticipated by personnel classification and by task (field or office review, report preparations, travel time, etc.). Development of these forms should be done based on the consultant's initial contact with the local agency or district. If a project is approved, costs for travel expenses and personnel time required for one site inspection during the course of the project are normally eligible for reimbursement.

The consultant shall invoice Traffic for their services. Traffic personnel will, upon verification of the eligible charges, authorize the payment be made to the consultant.

906.5 Responsibilities

Local Agency Responsibilities

• Identify problem
• Initiate request for TEAP assistance
• Provide assistance to consultant during the course of the project (examples are traffic control, traffic counts, assisting in any physical measurements needed).

Consultant Responsibilities

• Traffic Accident Analysis
• Traffic Control Devices Inventory Application and Layout
• Traffic Signal Progression Analysis and Design
• Speed Surveys
• Minor Origin and Destination Studies
• Traffic Counts
• Parking Supply and Demand
• Capacity Analysis
• Lighting Analysis and Design
• Transit Studies

This is not intended as a complete list and is only a suggested list of what studies a traffic engineering consultant may be called upon to perform.

Studies conducted in this program should be consistent with normal field operational reviews. This necessitates the utilization of experienced traffic engineering personnel. Experience in either state, county or city traffic engineering operation is essential

District Responsibilities

• Advise local agencies in your district of the selected consultants and that they may select any of these firms.
• Coordination with local agency.
• Check whether local agency has its own engineering services. If so, to what extent?
• Forward tracking form and recommend project to Traffic for review and concurrence and notify consultant to proceed after concurrence of Traffic.
• Check with local agency to determine if they utilized the engineering services.

Traffic Responsibilities

• Contract administration.
• Technical policy interpretation.
• Review project scope and estimate.
• Review final report, as required by contract.
• Process Invoices. (Invoices should be sent directly to Traffic from the consultant.)
• Send payment to consultant.

This program is funded by the Federal Highway Administration through a grant from MoDOT’s Highway Safety.

906.6 Pre-Qualified Traffic Engineering Consultants for TEAP

Refer to 106.1.906 Pre-Qualified Traffic Engineering Consultants for TEAP for the 2006-2008 list.

906.7 Districts

Contact 1-888-ASK-MODOT for assistance if you are not certain which district to contact. MoDOT’s districts are readily available.