Alternative Transportation in MAP-21 Support for the U.S. Forest Service
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) took effect on October 1, 2012, and authorizes federal surface transportation programs through FY 2014. MAP-21 includes a number of funding mechanisms that are eligible to be used to fund alternative transportation projects in and around National Forests. Volpe provides assistance to the Forest Service in implementing its transportation program under MAP-21.
More information about MAP-21 and these activities can be found on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) MAP-21 page and the USFS MAP-21 SharePoint site (FS STAFF ONLY), which is an internal resource only accessible to Forest Service staff.
Federal Lands Access Program
The Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) provides $250 million annually to improve access to federal lands on infrastructure owned by states and local governments. Funds are distributed by formula to the states, with 80 percent going to the 12 western states that each contain at least 1.5 percent of total federal public land in the U.S. Only state, regional, and local governments are eligible to apply under this program. FLAP contains a 20 percent matching requirement, although funds from the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP), described below, and other fderal agency funds may be used towards the local match.
FLAP call-for-projects are managed on a state-by-state basis; contact your regional office for more information. Volpe is available to provide technical assistance to forests and the regions for FLAP, including orientation to the program, facilitation with partners, and review of applications. For more information, contact Volpe or the Forest Service Washington Office.
Resources:
Federal Lands Transportation Program
The Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) provides dedicated funding to improve access within federal lands owned by the federal government. Alternative transportation is one of the eligible uses of program funds as long as the project is part of the FLTP transportation network and furthers FLTP goals for transportation, recreation, and economic generation and agency goals. Of the $300 million allocated for this program annually, FS competes for up to $30 million per year.
Resources:
Transportation Alternatives
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funds for alternative transportation programs and projects, such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The program is administered by state departments of transportation (DOTs). Funds for projects that are suballocated to urbanized areas with a population of over 200,000 must be included in the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The MPO, through a competitive process, selects the projects in consultation with the state. Funds suballocated to small urban areas and rural areas will be administered by the state. Volpe developed a full description of the program for Forest Service staff, and it maintains an up-to-date list of funding status by state.
Resources:
- Volpe - Forest Service TAP Program Memo
- FHWA TAP Fact Sheet
- National Transportation Alternatives Clearinghouse
