Low-Income Housing Tax Credits & Transit in Michigan, 2017

As is outlined in greater detail throughout this QAP, the Scoring Criteria, and other applicable policy documents, many of the policies that are in place within the 2017-2018 QAP are designed with the intent of ensuring that affordable housing is available in areas of high opportunity. To accomplish this, the 2017-2018 QAP places a great amount of emphasis on the strength of a project’s location by considering many factors as further highlighted below. It is the intention of these policies to develop and revitalize housing in areas that have a significant quantity of community amenities, offer tenants access to mobility and jobs, and that will be a focal point for further future investment.

The Scoring Criteria provides an incentive of 5 possible points for proximity to transportation. Applicants that can demonstrate that the project is located within 1/10 of a mile from a public transportation stop (i.e. bus stop), or are creating a public transportation stop within 1/10 of a mile, will be eligible to receive 5 points. Alternatively, a project will be considered for 5 points if the applicant can demonstrate that it will provide a form of transportation to the project that is comparable to or exceeding the service levels (e.g. accessibility, capacity, reliability, practicality, etc...) and scope of a typical fixed route public transportation system. For these purposes, comparable transportation should be available on weekends as well as weekdays and transportation that is provided by the development should have the capacity to adequately serve all the tenants in the development based on the size of the development. For example, one 15‐passenger van may not be sufficient to serve a very large development. For further clarity, MSHDA expects that the transportation provided should be sufficient to allow each tenant in the development to take at least two trips during the seven-day week. For example, a 15 passenger van running two routes per day seven days per week would accommodate 210 passengers per seven-day week. This would be sufficient to accommodate a 100-unit development, which would require 200 trips per seven-day week.

Applicants choosing to provide another form of transportation to the project will only receive 3 points if it is determined that the transportation provided is not comparable to the service levels and scope of a typical fixed route public transportation system as noted above. No points will be awarded if MSHDA determines that the form of transportation is very mininimal/limited in nature.