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Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

Fact Sheets on Highway Provisions

TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Authorization $26.7M $26.7M $26.7M $26.7M $26.7M

Program Purpose

The Training and Education Program provides funding to develop and administer education and training programs to support those associated with surface transportation.

Statutory References

SAFETEA-LU Section(s): 5101, 5204, 5505

Other: 23 USC 504

Funding

The following programs are funded by setasides from the Training and Education authorization:

For each of fiscal years 2005 – 2009

  • National Highway Institute – $9.6 million
  • Local Technical Assistance Program - $11.1 million
  • Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program - $2.2 million

For each of fiscal years 2006 – 2009

  • Garrett A. Morgan Program - $1.25 million
  • Transportation Education Development Pilot Program - $1.875 million
  • Freight Planning Capacity Building Program - $875 thousand
  • Surface Transportation Congestion Solutions Research Program – $750 thousand for the technical assistance and deployment of results of the Congestions Solutions program.

Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and Education – States may obligate funds apportioned for the National Highway System, Interstate Maintenance, Surface Transportation, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality, and Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation programs for surface transportation workforce development, training and education.

Program Features

Significant features of the Training and Education Program include the following:

  • National Highway Institute: provides for the continuation of NHI and adds Asset Management to the list of courses.
  • Local Technical Assistance Program: continues program to provide access to surface transportation technology 1) to highway and transportation agencies in urbanized and rural areas and 2) to contractors that perform work for those agencies.
  • Garrett Morgan Program: funds program for outreach to elementary school and secondary school students
  • Transportation Education Development Program: establishes funding and pilot program to develop training and education curriculums for surface transportation workers.
  • Freight Planning Capacity Building Program: establishes program to support enhancements in freight transportation planning in order: 1) to better target investments and 2) strengthen the decision making capacity of State transportation departments and local transportation agencies with regard to freight transportation planning and systems.
  • Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program: continues funding for program 1) to attract the nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation, 2) to enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees, and 3) to retain top talent in the transportation industry of the United States.
  • Surface Transportation Congestion Relief Solutions Technical Assistance and Training: establishes program to disseminate the results of the surface transportation congestion solutions research initiative for the purpose of assisting State transportation departments and local transportation agencies with improving their approaches to surface transportation congestion measurement, analysis, and project programming.
  • Transportation Scholarship Opportunities Program: provides authority for the operating administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation and for "non-governmental institutions" to establish scholarship and mentoring programs. The Secretary may use funds available to an operating administration or the Office of Inspector General for this program. Some DOT operating administrations did not have statutory authority in this area prior to SAFETEA-LU.
  • Transportation Education Development Pilot Program: focuses on curriculum development at all education levels and for in-service professional development programs.
  • Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training and Education: funds may be used, at the discretion of the states, for workforce development, training and education purposes. Eligible activities include: tuition and direct educational expenses; employee professional development; student internships; university or community college support; and education activities, including outreach to develop interest and promote participation in surface transportation careers.

Federal Share

Federal share of Training and Education funds is 50% unless otherwise as provided by law or as determined by the Secretary.

The Federal share for each of the following programs is 100%:

  • Tribal Technical Assistance Program
  • Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and Education
  • Transportation Education Development Pilot Program
  • Freight Planning Capacity Building Program
  • Garrett A. Morgan Program

Program Purpose

To strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the Nation's intermodal transportation system.

Statutory References

SAFETEA-LU Section(s): 1113, 1122, 6003

Funding

A State's TE funding is derived from a setaside from its annual Surface Transportation Program apportionment. For 2005, the amount setaside for TE will be 10 percent of the State's STP apportionment (after application of the setaside for the State Planning and Research program). After 2005, the TE setaside will be 10% or the amount set aside for TE in the State in 2005, whichever is greater. [1113(c)]

Eligible Use of Funds [1122]

All previous TE eligibilities continue and are restated in SAFETEA-LU. New items are:

  • clarification of the eligibility of acquisition of historic battlefields as a specific inclusion in the existing eligibility of acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
  • clarification of the eligibility inventories of outdoor advertising as part of the larger eligibility for control and removal of outdoor advertising. The word "inventory" is added to the legislative language. Further clarification is provided in the Joint Explanatory Statement in H. Rept. 109-203, which states that inventory for outdoor advertising is currently, and continues to be, an eligible activity. Report language further explains that inventory control includes, but is not limited to, data collection, acquisition, and maintenance of digital aerial photography, video logging, scanning and imaging of data, developing and maintaining an inventory and control database, as well as hiring of outside legal counsel.

Other Provisions

SAFETEA-LU establishes a pilot program for States to assume the responsibilities of the Secretary relating to environmental review and decisionmaking, including activities related to transportation enhancements (see environmental review process fact sheet). [6003]

Federal Share

Generally, the Federal share is 80 percent, subject to the sliding scale adjustment, but this may be achieved on an aggregate, rather than project-by-project, basis. Funds from other Federal agencies and the value of other contributions may be credited toward the non-Federal share of a transportation enhancement project or group of such projects, but the aggregate effect may not exceed an 80 percent, or the sliding scale, Federal share. [23 USC 133(e)(5)]


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