Driving Indiana’s Economic Growth

1. Driving Indiana’s Economic Growth

2. Management and Preservation of Indiana's Historic Bridges: A Programmatic Approach Thanks to Mead & Hunt & FHWA-IN Division for portions of this presentation

3. Purpose of the Program • Streamline the Section 106 review process for projects involving historic bridges • Prioritization mechanism

4. Definitions What is a Historic Bridge? • A bridge that is listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places. What is the “National Register of Historic Places”? The official inventory of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology and culture, which is maintained by the Secretary of the Interior…

5. Definitions What is Section 106 Review? • Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) a reasonable opportunity to comment on these undertakings. 

6. Program Goals • Historic Bridge Inventory • Historic Bridge Management Process • Incentives for bridge owners to preserve our important historic resources

7. Savings in Cost and Time • National Register of Historic Places eligibility and appropriate mitigation measures are known up front • Elimination of controversy • Historic bridge project consistency

8. Section 106 • Monetary Costs - $1k- $10k per bridge * 6,300 bridges! • Complex Timelines - Can take 12-18 months

9. Programmatic Agreement (PA) Executed in August 2006 • Signatories • FHWA • SHPO • ACHP • Invited Signatory • INDOT • Concurring Parties • Historic Spans Task Force • Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI) http://www.in.gov/indot/files/HistoricBridgePA.pdf

10. Key Stipulations of the PA • “Standards for Rehabilitation of Bridges on Low-Volume Roads” • Statewide bridge survey • Identify each historic bridge as either Select or Non-select. • Project Development Process for Select and Non-select bridges.

11. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation I.A. INDOT will implement the following actions or program updates within one (1) year of executing this Agreement: Develop and include “Standards for Rehabilitation of Bridges on Low-Volume Roads” in the INDOT design manual.

12. “Standards for Rehabilitation of Bridges on Low-Volume Roads” • Based on best practices from: • AASHTO “Green Book” • AASHTO Low Volume Road Guide • FHWA Guidance • INDOT Design Manual

13. “Standards for Rehabilitation of Bridges on Low-Volume Roads” • Design factors considered: • Structural Capacity • Hydraulic Improvements • Width • Bridge Railing • Approach Guardrail • Design Speed • Approach Roadway

14. “Standards for Rehabilitation of Bridges on Low-Volume Roads” • Economic Criteria: Select Bridge • Cost of Rehabilitation < 80% of Cost of Replacement = Rehab warranted • Cost of Rehabilitation ≥ 80% of Cost of Replacement = Further consultation on rehab possible

15. “Standards for Rehabilitation of Bridges on Low-Volume Roads” • Economic & Other Criteria • Non-Select Bridge • Cost of Rehabilitation ≥ 40% of cost of replacement = Replacement warranted • Two or more “other factors” apply = Replacement warranted

16. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation I.A • Standards were announced March 22, 2007 • Standards became effective April 2, 2007 • Standards can be found online: http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/standards/memos/0705-pc.pdf

17. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation II. Bridge Survey Please visit INDOT’s Historic Bridges Inventory website at: http://www.in.gov/indot/2739.htm

18. Historic Context Study • Identify major trends in transportation and bridge building • Based on state-level research and oral histories • Draws from INDOT bridge database

19. Historic Context Study Available Online http://www.in.gov/indot/2743.htm

20. Field Survey • Documented individual bridges • Included bridge-specific research • Completed October 2007

21. Evaluate National Register eligibility • Review collected data • Tie to historic context results • Use point system

22. National Register evaluation system STEP 1 Determine significance STEP 2 Assess historic integrity STEP 3 Establish National Register eligibility

23. National Register evaluation system • Criterion A – Historic events and themes • Criterion C – Engineering and artistic value • Criteria B and D – not applicable

24. Design Workmanship Materials Location Setting National Register evaluation system

25. Integrity considerations

26. Established list of eligible and not eligible bridges Provided justification Opportunity for public comment Agencies made final determination Results posted on website: http://www.in.gov/indot/2743.htm National Register evaluation system

27. Select & Non-Select Bridges • Select historic bridges: those most suitable for preservation that are excellent examples of a given type of historic bridge • Non-select historic bridges: those not considered excellent examples of a given type of historic bridge and are not suitable candidates for preservation.

28. Select & Non-Select Criteria

29. Select & Non-Select Criteria: Individual Review

30. Methodology to Identify Select and Non-Select Bridges http://www.in.gov/indot/2743.htm

31. Programmatic Agreement Development Process • Select Bridges Must be Preserved • Non-select Bridges may be destroyed if other alternatives are determined neither feasible nor prudent

32. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges • Select Bridges Must be Preserved • First option: Rehabilitation in place for vehicular use

33. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges • Select Bridges Must be Preserved • Second option: By-pass alternative • Third option: Preserve at an alternate location

34. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges Rehabilitation—Key points: • Bridge rehabilitated in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, or as close to the Standards as is practicable. • SHPO reviews rehabilitation plans.

35. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges Rehabilitation—Key points: • Maintenance commitment • Photo documentation • Maintain National Register listing

36. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges • Non-Select Bridge Project Development • First option: Rehabilitation in place for vehicular use

37. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges • Non-Select Bridge Project Development • Second option: Advertise for other entities

38. Overview of Key Stipulations of PA Stipulation III. Project Development Process for Historic Bridges Demolition—Key points: • Photo documentation • Possible salvage of bridge elements

39. Upcoming Project Milestones • Public Release of Select/Non-Select List—late August • 60 day comment period on Select/Non-Select list ends—late October • Consideration of comments on Select/Non-Select list by project team & finalization of report—Nov.-Dec. 2009 • Public Release of final Select/Non-Select Report—late December 2009

40. How does the PA benefit bridge owners? • Reduction of uncertainties associated with bridge project development process • Funding opportunities

41. How does the PA benefit the Preservation Community? • Genuine preservation commitment

42. Issues & Challenges • Initial Cost • Time to complete • Contract changes

43. Issues & Challenges • Amount of data • Stakeholder participation

44. For more information: • INDOT • Mary Kennedy (317-232-5215) mkennedy@indot.in.gov • Staffan Peterson (317-232-5161) stpeterson@indot.in.gov • FHWA-IN Division • Larry Heil (317-226-7480) Larry.Heil@fhwa.dot.gov • Janice Osadczuk (317-226-7486) Janice.Osadczuk@fhwa.dot.gov

45. Questions?