Home > Affiliate Resources > Funding Guide > Federal Surface Transportation Program

Federal Surface Transportation Program

SOURCE: Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT)

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM

To aid public road jurisdictions with funding for bridges on any public road and roadway improvements on the federal aid system, which includes all federal functional class routes except local and rural minor collector.
To provide funding for transit capital improvements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and transportation planning activities

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Agencies with public road jurisdiction, public transit responsibilities, or transportation planning responsibility.

FUNDING CRITERIA

Minimum of 20% non-federal match is required (80% federal funding).
Road projects must be on the federal-aid system

GRANT AMOUNT
Varies according to RPA/MPO guidelines and policies.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Send application to appropriate RPA/MPO. Each RPA/MPO has different deadlines for regional/metropolitan applications.

ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION
Nine months

MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATIONS
Contact the appropriate RPA/MPO for your area. See Appendix II for District Planner Map.

SPECIAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

HIGHWAY PROJECTS:

Project contracts must be let by Iowa DOT except certain Transportation Enhancement activities
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) needs to authorize work prior Incurring costs. FHWA environmental concurrence is required.
Right-of-way activities must comply with applicable federal and state laws.
An Iowa licensed professional engineer must prepare plans and specifications.
If federal-aid dollars are used for a consulting engineer, the “Federal-Aid Consultant Selection Process” must be used.
Iowa DOT design criteria should be used for the appropriate road classification.
Approval by the Iowa DOT of plans and specifications is required.
Compliance with regulations regarding Federal Equal Employment Opportunity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Federal Wage Rates.
Materials testing, construction inspection, and final project acceptance is required to be done according to Iowa DOT procedure.

TRANSIT PROJECTS:

Capital improvements require adherence to approved transit procurement procedures and equipment specifications.
Project candidates must be part of an approved five-year Capital Improvement Program.
Federally funded projects must comply with requirements regarding: civil rights protections, use of disadvantaged business enterprises, competitive procurement, bus testing, pre- and post-procurement audits, and drug and alcohol testing

TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUIRED

Projects are selected in the process of adopting a RPA/MPO’s transportation improvement program (TIP).
The Iowa DOT reviews and compiles all RPA/MPO TIPs as part of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
The Iowa DOT adopts the four-year STIP. STIP is forwarded to the FHWA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The FHWA and the FTA give final approval of the STIP.
The FHWA must authorize highway/street/trail projects prior to proceeding with work or advertising the project for receipt of bids.
Transit projects must be approved by the FTA as part of either a direct or a statewide grant.

MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATION
Forms can be obtained from the appropriate regional planning affiliation (RPA) or metropolitan planning organization (MPO). See Appendix I for list of District Engineers.