Department of Transportation — Federal Highway Administration

Program Description

Mission

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) helps fund the construction, maintenance and improvement of Interstate highways and other roads. Typical projects financed under the Federal-Aid Highway Program include: road widening and reconstruction; new construction of roads, transportation centers, intermodal facilities, and recreational trails; access improvements; bridge replacement or rehabilitation; and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

While the program does not specifically target financing toward brownfields, cleanup funding is available through FHWA programs, as long as the cleanup is a necessary part of an approved transportation project.

Brownfields Connections

Provides funds to support eligible transportation projects related to brownfields redevelopment.
Highway funds can be used for transit projects that reduce congestion.
Transportation enhancement projects, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities, acquisition of scenic easements, landscaping and historic preservation.
Funds transportation projects that reduce air emissions.

Resources

Financial Assistance

Surface Transportation Program

FHWA funds transit projects that reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Uses/Applications:

Bridges

Transit project capital costs

Carpool projects, parking facilities and bicycle and pedestrian facilities

Roads enhancing access to brownfields

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)

Through CMAQ, FHWA funds transportation projects that reduce emissions in EPA’s designated air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas.

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants include: state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and other elements participating in public-private partnerships

Limitations: Funds must be spent in non-attainment or maintenance areas. Projects must reduce the pollutant for which the area is non-attainment or maintenance.

Availability: Funds must be obligated within four years of award, which are mostly earmarked.

Uses/Applications:

Support transit and public transportation programs specifically through: service or system expansion; provision of new transit service; and financial incentives to use existing transit services

Freight and intermodal infrastructure

Traffic flow improvements

Travel demand management strategies

Pedestrian and bicycle programs

Website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cmaqpgs/

Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP)

TCSP provides funding that “can be used to examine transportation strategies that relate to brownfields redevelopment, such as planning access to redeveloped brownfield sites; upgrading existing urban transportation systems; and connecting local community members to new brownfield-related jobs.”

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include: states, regional and local governments, MPOs and tribal governments.

Limitations: TCSP Program grantees must meet federal-aid requirements when implementing their grants.

Availability: Fiscal year 2003 was the last year for funding for the TCSP program as authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). Continued availability is contingent upon pending legislation.

Uses/Applications:

Improve the efficiency of a transportation system

Reduce environmental impacts of transportation

Reduce the need for costly future public infrastructure investments

Ensure efficient access to jobs, services and centers of trade

Examine development patterns and identify strategies to encourage private sector development patterns

Website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/index.html

Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities

TE activities offer communities funding opportunities to expand transportation choices such as: bicycle and pedestrian facilities; scenic routes; and other investments that increase recreation opportunity. Communities may also use TE funds to contribute toward the revitalization of local and regional economies by restoring historic buildings; renovating streetscapes; or providing transportation museums and visitors centers. TE is an example of a project that has applicability to brownfields, even though it is not designated as such.

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible entities include: states, regional and local governments, MPOs and tribal governments.

Uses/Applications:

Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles

Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites

Landscaping and other scenic beautification

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 thereof for pedestrian or bicycle trails)

Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity

Website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/index.htm

Technical Assistance

Transportation Planning

FHWA helps MPOs develop long-range transportation plans that consider changes in future population and traffic patterns, as well as predict the economic and infrastructure changes needed to support these changes.

Website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/index.htm

SNAPSHOT
Evanston, Wyoming

The City of Evanston, Wyoming was originally a railroad hub. In 1912, the Union Pacific Railroad began construction on a large yard with a 63,000-square-foot roundhouse and 11 adjacent buildings. Since 1972, Union Pacific has donated more than 290 acres to the city, including a 265-acre parcel known as Union Center and the Evanston Rail Facility. Evanston has targeted the area for conducting environmental assessments, and is also planning for cleanup and redevelopment into a museum and industrial park. The city successfully applied for and received funding through a partnership with the Federal Highway Administration for a Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) grant to supplement redevelopment costs. The Union Pacific Roundhouse and Railyards continue to make significant progress toward revitalization. The City of Evanston has contracted with architects regarding design work on the buildings. The Machine Shop on the property is complete and available for rent to the public.

Additional Information

Constance Hill Galloway
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Natural Environment (HEPN)
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
804-775-3378
connie.hill@fhwa.dot.gov

Fred Bank
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Natural Environment (HEPN)
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-5004
fred.bank@fhwa.dot.gov

Main Website: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov

Region 3 | Mid-Atlantic Cleanup | Mid-Atlantic Brownfields & Land Revitalization