Questionnaire Introduction

NDOT has prepared a draft state plan for electric vehicle charging infrastructure associated with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan. The Plan sets the framework for how the estimated $30 million in federal funding will be spent to expand the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure over the next five years.
 
The purpose of this questionnaire is to gain input on four critical elements of the framework and provide an opportunity for you to provide the NDOT team with your overall comments on the plan.
 
The following questions provide a summary of key parts of the plan, request input regarding your level of agreement with the content, and provide space for your open comments.
 
Your input will be included with the Plan and used to inform future revisions as the program is evaluated and updated annually.

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* 1. Goals and Vision: A vision and goals were established to help guide decisions for the draft NEVI Plan. The vision and goals are listed below (more detail is included in the Plan).

For the draft Plan, the NDOT 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) vision was applied to electric vehicle infrastructure to support development of a statewide EV network. The vision for the EV Infrastructure Plan is to “Create a safe, reliable, and accessible transportation system for the movement of people and goods, accommodating mobility needs in urban and rural areas, and ensuring fiscal and environmental stewardship of transportation improvements.”

Additionally, the 2040 LRTP and EV Infrastructure Plan maintain five shared goals– Asset Preservation, Mobility Choices for People and Freight, Secure and Resilient Transportation, Safety, and Support for Economic Community Vitality.

Question: Do you agree that applying the vision and goals from the NDOT 2040 LRTP is appropriate for the EV Infrastructure Plan?

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* 2. Eligible Uses of Federal Funding: It is anticipated the NDOT will make publicly available, through either a Grant Application or Request for Proposals process (or both), funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure construction.

NDOT will provide up to 80% of the funding required for qualified construction expenses. It is anticipated eligible costs will include:
(1) property acquisition for facilities
(2) charging station hardware/software and adjacent parking pads areas
(3) extending electrical service
(4) traffic control devices
(5) access management improvements such as medians to better organize safe access.

Costs associated with future station operations and maintenance, while included in federal guidance as eligible items, is not included in the covered items proposed for funding in Nebraska. It is the NDOT’s goal to keep on-going state administrative costs to a minimum to focus more federal funding on expansion of the number of sites. Owners will still be responsible for completing appropriate maintenance and required data sharing (as outlined in federal guidance).

Question: Do you agree with the NDOT's plan to support construction funding, but not operations and maintenance (including required data sharing)?

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* 3. Funding Allocation Themes: NDOT will maintain a variable funding award structure that supports three implementation themes of the Plan. Themes are:

Theme 1: Fill the I-80 (AFC) Gaps
Theme 2: Support EV Demand
Theme 3: Sustainability

NDOT will make funding to Alternative Fuel Corridor (AFC) applications that fill identified gaps the Year One focus. Filling current gaps along the I-80 corridor to create a network of chargers spaced no more than 50 miles apart is the goal of Theme 1. USDOT guidance requires installation of EV charging stations along designated AFCs consistent with the 50 mile spacing before funding can be expended. Thus, filling the gaps is a critical top priority.

Following filling the I-80 gaps, NDOT will make funding available to support anticipated EV demand and to support the sustainability needs for equitable distribution of program benefits. EV ownership and traffic data will be used to direct funding to areas of greatest anticipated use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating social and economic benefits and the resulting potential for return on investment. These priorities are contingent on one another and together will ensure the EV infrastructure is deployed in a manner that supports the goals of the Plan.

Question: Do you agree with the themes as presented in the Plan?

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* 4. Equity: The draft EV Charging Infrastructure Plan upholds the Justice40 Initiative, a goal to direct 40% of the overall program benefits toward disadvantaged communities (DAC).

NDOT will evaluate benefits of the NEVI Plan that support DACs. While anticipated benefits of providing EV charging infrastructure include economic growth, workforce development, and expansion of multi-modal transportation, the most reliably measurable benefit for DACs is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

NDOT will annually review the number of gas-powered and electric vehicle registrations available from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Growth in the number/percent of all vehicles of EV registrations over time will be used to initiate assessment of impacts to GHG emissions over time. A second measurable benefit will include supporting travel or commute time of residents within identified DACs. All charging stations located in or within one mile of a DAC boundary is anticipated to benefit travel or commute time when publicly available charging options are needed.

Question: Do you agree with the methodology proposed to measure equity of the outcome of implementing the Plan?

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* 5. Please provide any comments, questions, input you have regarding the excerpts of the Plan included in this questionnaire or from your review of the plan document.

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