Statewide & Regional Transportation Enhancement Funding Program

SOURCE: Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT)

PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
To fund enhancement or preservation activities of transportation-related projects. Activities fall into the following categories:

• Trails and bicycle facilities
• Historic and archaeological
• Scenic and environmental

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Public agencies and private non-profit organizations (and/or individuals) are eligible to sponsor. Private sponsorship will require a public agency co-sponsor.

FUNDING CRITERIA
Minimum 30% local match is required for statewide projects and 20% local match for regional projects; may consist of cash and/or in-kind costs and labor for which a value can be determined. This is a cost reimbursement program; bills must be paid by the project sponsor prior to filing a request for reimbursement with the Iowa DOT.

Enhancements must have a direct relationship to the existing or planned surface transportation system in terms of function or impact.

Projects or areas served by enhancement activities must fit one or more of the following categories:

• Facilities for pedestrians and bicycles
• Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites
• Scenic or historic highway programs, including tourist and welcome centers
• Landscaping and other scenic beautification, including graffiti and litter removal
• Historic preservation
• Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals)
• Preservation of abandoned railway corridors, including the conversion and use of those corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails
• Control and removal of outdoor advertising
• Archaeological planning and research
• Mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff, including projects that reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity
• Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists
• Establishment of transportation museums

NOTE: This list is exclusive; a project must fit into one or more of the categories to be eligible for funding.

SUBMITTAL REQUIRED
Statewide projects are those that go beyond regional or metropolitan boundaries, enhance the state transportation system, benefit state tourism, or are consistent with statewide planning. An application form provided by the Iowa DOT is required for filing.

Contact the appropriate Regional Planning Affiliation (RPA)/Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for application requirements of regional (non-statewide) projects.

GRANT AMOUNT
In order to offset administrative costs, minimum total project size for statewide enhancements will normally be over $100,000.

Each RPA/MPO may have different guidelines for regional/metropolitan applications.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
Due to the recent passage of the new federal transportation bill (MAP-21) the next funding cycle will be delayed pending Iowa Transportation Commission review. Applications were scheduled to be received by October 1, 2012; however, this date has been pushed back until January 2013 at the earliest. More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

Each RPA/MPO may have different deadlines for regional/metropolitan applications.

ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION
April 1 for statewide applications (with funds available the following October)

SPECIAL PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) environmental concurrence is required
• Right-of-way activities must comply with applicable federal and state laws
• An Iowa licensed professional engineer/architect/landscape architect must prepare plans and specifications.
• If federal-aid dollars are used for a consulting engineer/architect/landscape architect, the “Federal-Aid Consultant Selection Process” must be used.
• Where appropriate, the local agency should utilize American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design criteria and state specifications for trail construction.
• Approval by Iowa DOT for plans and specifications is required
• All projects are subject to FHWA approval and all applicable federal requirements including, but not limited to:

1. Public Involvement
2. Adherence to federal guidelines for the acquisition of land
3. National Environmental Policy Act
4. Americans with Disabilities Act
5. Disavantaged and minority business enterprise
6. Davis-Bacon wage rquirements

• Maximum federal aid will be limited to amount shown in the current approved Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).
• FHWA approved innovative finance proposals, such as in-kind contributions and local match, may be utilized upon Historic preservation/restoration projects must be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
• FHWA needs to authorize work prior to letting.
• Inclusion of a project in the STIP does not guarantee federal-aid eligibility

TYPE OF APPROVAL REQUIRED 

• RPAs/MPOs select regional (non-statewide) projects for funding.
• Three committees review and recommend project priorities for statewide applicants.
• Iowa DOT staff review the committees’ priorities and make recommendations to the Iowa Transportation Commission for funding of statewide projects. The Transportation Commission makes final awards for funding.
• Federal Highway Administration gives final approval of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP).

MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATIONS
Statewide applications available at: http://www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/trans_enhance.htm

Statewide applications are sent to:
Jim Nervig
Office of Systems Planning
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50010
515-239-1621 or Jim.Nervig@dot.iowa.gov

Regional applications are different for each RPA/MPO. Assistance in identifying your RPA or MPO is available by emailing Jim.Nervig@dot.iowa.gov or calling 515-239-1621.