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On February 21, 2018, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) passed a resolution adopting a corrected policy and approving the guide for implementation of the SMART SCALE Project Prioritization Process. The updated SMART SCALE Technical Guide (revision date January 2022) is available HERE. The SMART SCALE process is conducted every two years with Round 5 concluding in June 2023 with project selections by the CTB.
Background
House Bill 2 (HB2), signed into law in 2014, directed the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) to develop and use a prioritization process to select transportation projects. The legislation intended to improve the transparency and accountability of project selection, as well as improve stability in the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The new process was to score projects based on an objective analysis and provide guidance to the CTB for project selection and funding. Following a year of development, which included multiple stakeholder outreach sessions across the state, the CTB approved the HB2 prioritization process on June 17, 2015. The process was given the acronym SMART SCALE, with SMART standing for System for the Management and Allocation of Resources for Transportation and SCALE referring to the six evaluation factors – Safety, Congestion mitigation, Accessibility, Land use, and Economic development and environment.
Evaluation Factors
The legislation that resulted in SMART SCALE requires that projects be evaluated for each of the following factors:
- Congestion Mitigation
- Economic Development
- Accessibility
- Safety
- Environmental Quality
- Land Use Coordination (for areas with over 200,000 population)
Weighting Frameworks
The legislation that resulted in SMART SCALE specifies that the CTB shall assign different weights to the factors based on the unique needs and qualities of the different areas of the state. More information on the SMART SCALE weighting typologies, or frameworks, may be found on the Weighting Frameworks page.
HRTPO Processes Related to SMART SCALE
The SMART SCALE process specifies eligible applicants for three project type categories, as shown in the following table:
Project Type | Regional Entities (MPOs, PDCs) | Local Governments | Transit Agencies |
Corridors of Statewide Significance | Yes | Yes, with a resolution of support from relevant regional entity | Yes, with a resolution of support from relevant regional entity |
Regional Networks | Yes | Yes, with a resolution of support from relevant regional entity* | Yes, with a resolution of support from relevant regional entity |
Urban Development Area | No | Yes, with a resolution of support from relevant regional entity* | No |
Safety | No | Yes, with a resolution of support from relevant regional entity* | No |
The HRTPO Guidance on SMART SCALE addresses HRTPO actions related to the following scenarios:
- When the HRTPO is the applicant
- When the HRTPO is requested to support projects submitted by Localities and Transit Agencies
- When the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) is requested to support projects submitted by Localities and Transit Agencies
Other Resources
Complete information on SMART SCALE may be accessed on the web at: https://smartscale.org/default.asp.
The full text of the House Bill 2 legislation may be accessed at: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0726+pdf
Contacts:
For questions regarding the SMART SCALE process, contact:
Virginia Department of Transportation
Eric Stringfield
Hampton Roads District Transportation Planning Director
Eric.Stringfield@VDOT.Virginia.gov
757-925-3669
Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
Chris Arabia
Policy Planning Manager
Christopher.Arabia@drpt.virginia.gov
804-786-1059
Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization
John Mihaly
Prinicpal Transportation Planner
757-420-8300
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