Living Roadway Trust Fund

SOURCE: Iowa Department of Transportation

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
Promote implementation of integrated roadside vegetation management (IRVM) on city, county, or state rights-of-way or areas adjacent to traveled roadways. IRVM is a longterm approach to vegetation management that, in part, incorporates the use of the plant communities best adapted to, and sustainable along, our roadways. These typically are native prairie plantings, but also include savanna and woodland plantings.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

• Applications may be submitted by city, county, or state agencies and private citizens or groups. Applicants must be Iowa residents.
• Private citizens or groups must apply under sponsorship of city, county, or state government agencies to receive funds. Exceptions may be considered for research, demonstration, and education projects, depending on the proposed project’s merit or qualifications of the applicant.
• If private citizens or groups are proposing a project involving roadside enhancement, the application must include written support from the agency responsible for maintaining the right-of-way in which the project is proposed.
• Each county making or sponsoring applications must have an approved IRVM plan. (If the project originates in state or federal rights-of-way, the state’s IRVM plan automatically applies.)

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

• Roadside inventory, including training sessions, roadside inventory teams, database software, and data input, up to a maximum of $4,500 for one year.
• Gateway landscaping and roadside enhancement, including 100% native seed and/or plants (100% of trees/shrubs must be native), labor, and mulch.
• Research, demonstration, and education addressing IRVM issues.
• Equipment, including no-till drill, hydroseeder, seed storage, and ATV for prescribed burns.
• Some other equipment and expenses will be considered as funding allows, including cultipacker, mulcher/blower, equipment storage, GIS/GPS, chipper, conference registration, and LRTF project signs

FUNDING CRITERIA
Please visit www.iowalivingroadway.com for updated criteria and other information regarding applications and grants.

GRANT AMOUNT
Dependent on type of project. Contact the Roadside Coordinator for more information.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications must be postmarked by June 1.

TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUIRED
Applications will be reviewed by the IRVM technical advisory committee and the Roadside Coordinator to determine recommendations for funding. LRTF funds are allocated toward state, county, and city projects. Each application will be judged against others in the same jurisdictional category. When applications receive equal scores, additional points will be awarded based on the proportion of matching funds/contributions.

MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATIONS
Steve Holland
LRTF Roadside Coordinator
515-239-1768
Steven.holland@dot.iowa.gov
www.iowalivingroadway.com