Transportation Enhancement Activities

Program Brief

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) replaced the Transportation Enhancement Activities with the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). MAP-21 also authorized TAP projects under the Surface Transportation Program (STP). The information below refers to the Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities as in effect prior to MAP-21. TE funds apportioned in prior years will continue to be available for their specified period of availability under the same terms and conditions in effect prior to the effective date of MAP-21.

The Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities offer funding opportunities to help expand transportation choices and enhance the transportation experience through 12 eligible TE activities related to surface transportation, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and safety programs, scenic and historic highway programs, landscaping, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation. TE projects must relate to surface transportation and must qualify under one or more of the 12 eligible categories.

TE Activities Defined:

1. Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.
2. Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites (including historic battlefields).
4. Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities).
5. Landscaping and other scenic beautification.
6. Historic preservation.
7. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals).
8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails).
9. Inventory, control, and removal of outdoor advertising.
10. Archaeological planning and research.
11. Environmental mitigation—
    1. (i) to address water pollution due to highway runoff; or
    2. (ii) reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity.
12. Establishment of transportation museums.

TE funds may be used for workforce development, training, and education under 23 U.S.C. 504(e), provided the activity specifically benefits eligible TE activities. See Transportation Enhancements Guidance Supplement - Workforce Development, Training, and Education. States are encouraged to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth conservation or service corps.

Transportation Enhancement Webpages: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_enhancements/

Program Guidance: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_enhancements/guidance/
This page links to the TE Guidance, other relevant FHWA procedures, financial management, accessibility, and summaries of State practices. Many pages redirect to TAP pages. The TE Guidance webpage is consistent with the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Guidance webpage. Some resources applicable to the RTP may be labeled Transportation Alternatives Program, and some resources applicable to TAP/TE may be labeled Recreational Trails Program. These programs can and should work together toward common goals. TAP/TE and RTP program managers should work together.

• TAP State Contacts: www.walkinginfo.org/states/
• RTP State Contacts: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/rtpstate.cfm
• Federal Transportation Funds Benefit Recreation Presentation: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/overview/benefits/fundrec_pres.cfm
• TE Funding: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_enhancements/funding/
• Project Examples: www.ta-clearinghouse.info/project_examples/

Resources: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_alternatives/resources/
This page links to other related resources and TE interest organizations.