2011 Discretionary Grant Programs
Public Lands Highways Discretionary (PLHD) Program
Description
The Public Lands Highways Discretionary (PLHD) Program provides funding for transportation planning, research, and engineering and construction of, highways, roads, parkways, and transit facilities that are within, adjacent to, or provide access to Indian reservations and Federal public lands, including national parks, refuges, forests, recreation areas, and grasslands. PLHD funds can be used for any type of Title 23 transportation project providing access to or within Federal or Indian lands and may be used for the State/local matching share for apportioned Federal-aid Highway Funds, as described in 23 USC 120(l). The program is administered by the Federal Highway Administrations Federal Lands Highway Office.
Eligible Government Entity / SAFETEA-LU and/or Title 23 Citation(s)
Under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 202(b)(1)(A), the funds shall be allocated "among those States having unappropriated or unreserved public lands, nontaxable Indian lands or other Federal reservations, on the basis of need in such States." Since all of the States have some Federal lands, all are eligible to apply for PLHD funding. Federal Land Management Agencies, State government agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, and tribal governments may also apply through States.
In accordance with 23 U.S.C. 204(b)(5), the PLH funds are available for "any kind of transportation project eligible for assistance under Title 23, United States Code, that is within, adjacent to, or provides access to" Federal lands or facilities. Under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 204(b)(1)(A), the PLH funds are available for transportation planning, research, engineering, and construction of the highways, roads, and parkways, and of transit facilities within the Federal public lands. Under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 204(b)(1)(B), the PLH funds are also available for operation and maintenance of transit facilities located on Federal public lands.
Under 23 U.S.C. 204(h), funds may be used to carry out eligible projects that include:
Transportation planning for tourism and recreational travel, including the National Forest Scenic Byways Program, Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways Program, National Trail System Program, and other similar Federal programs that benefit recreational development.
Adjacent vehicular parking areas.
Interpretive signage.
Acquisition of necessary scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
Provision for pedestrians and bicycles.
Construction and reconstruction of roadside rest areas, including sanitary and water facilities.
Other appropriate public road facilities such as visitor centers as determined by the Secretary.
A project to build a replacement of the federally owned bridge over the Hoover Dam in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area between Nevada and Arizona.
Estimated Amount Available for Grants*: $98,500,000
*Note: Actual amount available for award subject to reduction pending final obligation limitation distribution and lop-off calculation.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: June 3, 2011
FHWA Point of Contact
Cindi Ptak
Federal Lands Highway
202-366-1586
cindi.ptak@dot.gov