(Federal Funding)
FAST Act STBG Set-Aside Allocations
Since 1991, the Federal Transportation Acts have provided funding for transportation alternatives/enhancement activities, through a set-aside from the Surface Transportation program. The projects and activities encompassed smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrians and bicycle facilities, historic preservation, safe routes to school and other transportation-related activities.
In 2013, the federal transportation act allocations for the Transportation Alternatives are distributed as follows:
- Over 200,000 population – Distributed based on 2010 Census data as required
- Under 200,000 – 5,000 population – Distributed based on 2010 Census data for these population areas.
- Under 5,000 population – Distributed based on 2010 Census data for this population area.
- Flexible -
- Prior to distribution, $2.4 million (even year) and $1.7 million (odd year) is provided to the statewide Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program
- Distributed based on 2010 Census data for the total population of the area.
Also, the MPO Coordinating Committee determined they would maintain the TA funds distribution as modified under MAP-21.
Reporting
The FAST Act requires WSDOT to report to FHWA on the status of transportation alternatives (TA) projects. FHWA then compiles all the states reports and submit the national report annually to the USDOT Secretary, as well as making it available to the public. The reports are to be based on each Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) and are due to FHWA in early December.
Annually, each MPO/RTPO/County that receives a TA allocation is to submit to WSDOT a report for that FFY’s TA allocation that includes:
- Number of project applications received that FFY;
- Aggregate cost of the projects for which applications were received that FFY;
- Number of projects selected for funding that fiscal year, including:
- Aggregate costs of the projects selected, and
- Location of the projects selected.
- Types of projects to be carried out, based on the following seven categories:
- Pedestrian & Bicycle Facilities
- Recreational (recreational trail projects only)
- Turnouts, Overlooks, Viewing Area
- Historic Preservation
- Environmental and Wildlife
- Safe Routes to School
- Other – Inventory, control or removal of outdoor advertising
