Capital Improvement Program

INTRODUCTION:
The Municipality approves a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) each year that provides a six-year plan for funding capital projects. One of the primary functions of the Project Administrative Support Division is development of the Project Management & Engineering Department’s (PM&E) section within the CIP.

CIP GOALS:
The primary goals in developing the PM&E CIP are to:

• enhance the safe and efficient movement of people and goods while minimizing adverse environmental and neighborhood impacts, and
• enhance the safe and efficient collection and discharge of drainage while minimizing flooding, erosion, and adverse impacts on water quality.

CIP IMPROVEMENT CATEGORIES:
The PM&E CIP consists of 5 improvement categories, based on the primary goal of the project. The categories are roadway improvements, safety improvements, drainage collection improvements, drainage treatment improvements, and miscellaneous improvements. PM&E also develops the State Routes section within the CIP. This section show funding for State of Alaska projects in Anchorage that is proposed in the Anchorage Metropolitan Area Transportation Solutions (AMATS) Transportation Improvement Program.

CIP DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE:
The CIP is updated each year in response to evolving community needs and priorities. The typical schedule for this process is noted below:

• Community input is pursued between February and April. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) formally requests feedback from the community, primarily through the community councils. Comments and recommendations which are related to PM&E facilities are forwarded to PM&E for evaluation. To send an email nominating project for CIP funding consideration, click here: LamsonJL@muni.org.
• Project evaluation and prioritization occurs in April and May. This evaluation begins by clarifying the purpose for the project and developing a project description. Next, the project is evaluated using established project evaluation criteria, which also provide for project scoring. Evaluation criteria include recommendations of plans and studies, public safety impact, operation and maintenance cost impact, community benefit, project cost, and community priorities. Once this evaluation process is complete, project scoring is used to develop the prioritized PM&E Capital Project Needs List.
• The draft CIP is developed in May and June. The prioritized Capital Project Needs List is the principal guide in developing the CIP. Project estimates and schedules are developed for the higher priority projects. Once annual funding levels are provided, division staff apply the funding levels to the established priorities and project schedules.
• Internal review by other Municipal agencies and the Mayor's office occurs between June and August. Changes often occur to the draft CIP in response to these comments.
• Assembly approval and final public comment occurs between September and November. The formal Public Hearings are held before the Municipal Assembly prior to their approval.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULES:
Many of the larger PM&E projects will show project funding in 3 or 4 different funding years. This is done is to fund specific phases of a project just before the work for that phase will start. Typical project phases include design study phase, preliminary design, final design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction.

PROJECT FUNDING SOURCES:
Primary PM&E CIP funding is from local bonds, state grants, or federal grants. A brief description of the process for each funding source is provided below:

• Local bond funding is provided annually as Anchorage voters approve bond propositions included in the April municipal election. The Anchorage Assembly typically approves bond propositions for inclusion in a municipal election in February of each year. The bond propositions are usually very similar to the CIP approved in November of the previous year. Assembly public hearings are held prior to assembly action to send a road bond proposition to the voters.
• State grant funding is also requested annually. The CIP provides a framework used to build the Legislative Program which formally requests the grants. The Legislature Program is typically approved by the Assembly in December.
• Federal funding is also requested annually. Federal funding is programmed by the AMATS Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). These projects include most of the major roadway, trail, and transit improvements in Anchorage. Projects are nominated and prioritized similar to the CIP process described above. Project priorities are established locally and cooperatively between the Municipality and the State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (ADOT&PF). Each year, ADOT&PF submits a budget to the legislature for approval. This budget includes federal funding for the Anchorage area that is consistent with the approved TIP. Projects in the CIP that are proposed for federal funding, are also consistent with the approved TIP.

For more information, contact Project Management and Engineering Department at 343-8135 or visit other sections within this website.