Is your department looking for ways to combine efforts with other states so you can use LCTM funding more effectively?

RC3 can help.

FHWA has indicated support for collaboration between states in areas where such collaboration could achieve efficiencies—areas like training, EPD development, and performance monitoring. Collaborative efforts could be initiated now, in advance of individual IPR projects. (At this time, it is believed Implementation Process Report(s) (IPRs) will not be required for non-construction-related activities.) It may, however, be difficult for states to identify partners whose needs and approaches are similar to their own.

To gain a bird’s-eye view and match states who have similar needs, RC3 has created a repository where SHAs can upload the technical proposals they submitted to apply for funding. RC3 will use that information to find commonalities and introduce potential partnering states, helping them streamline low carbon transportation materials (LCTM) grant funding deployment.

Let us reassure you: We want to review your technical proposal ONLY, in order to identify common activities, and will not review or share budgetary information.

Please use this link to upload your proposal: https://acpafoundation.org/upload-technical-proposals/

To upload your file, begin by creating a login to the RC3 website. After logging-in, the page will update to allow you to upload content to a secure folder accessible only to you and the RC3 team. If you require assistance, please reach out to Andy Gieraltowski: andyg@acpa.org.

Visit the RC3 website’s SHA Information Exchange page to review ideas submitted by the Oregon DOT regarding expenses they are hoping to amortize across state highway agencies (SHAs).

Please note, we do not anticipate that states collaborating on LCTM activities will need to adhere completely to the existing FHWA Transportation Pooled Fund Program administrative requirements. However, there likely will be some FHWA-specified requirements for administering the collaborative activities. For example, a lead state will likely need to be identified. In general, we believe that existing state contracting rules for collaborative research and acquisition procedures will provide the framework for LCTM collaborative activities.

FHWA Technical Briefs Now Available

The FHWA has published two technical briefs with relevant information for the LCTM grant program:

• Low Embodied Carbon Materials. – Read the FHWA publication here or download it from RC3’s document library.
• What is the EPA Interim Determination? – Read the FHWA publication here or download it from RC3’s document library.

FOR NON-STATE HIGHWAY AGENCIES (NON-SHAs)

FHWA has indicated to RC3 that applications for non-SHAs will be announced soon. RC3 will monitor the progress of the application rollout and follow up with templates and other support documents. We encourage collaboration between states and local, tribal, and other entities, which should amplify the impact of the grants (both SHA and non-SHA).

FOR CONTRACTORS

Contractors need support in developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and RC3 is working to meet this need. In development is a fact sheet explaining the comparability of EPDs for different materials, and what EPDs can be used for today.

FOR CEMENT AND CONCRETE PARTNERS

RC3 has begun, and will continue, to brief cement industry representatives and other concrete partners on the LCTM program and EPDs. We are planning to schedule our next brief soon. Topics will include developing an EPD game plan, non-SHA applications, and more.