SAFETEA-LU Amendments

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), enacted in on August 10, 2005, included changes in the definition of the TE activities. FHWA incorporated these amendments into the TE Guidance.

SAFETEA-LU amended the list of Eligible Activities as follows:

• The list was formatted to clearly identify the 12 TE eligible activities.
• Activity C added including historic battlefields to clarify existing eligibility. Because historic battlefields already were eligible, there is no additional guidance.
• Activity H replaced "thereof" with "of the corridors" [did not change eligibility].
• Activity I inserted Inventory before Control and Removal of Outdoor Advertising to clarify existing eligibility. The SAFETEA-LU Conference Report provided an explanation for this amendment, which FHWA incorporated into a Transportation Enhancements Guidance Supplement - Inventory, Control, and Removal of Outdoor Advertising. FHWA made conforming amendments in two paragraphs on outdoor advertising under the General Real Estate Guidance for Enhancement Projects.

SAFETEA-LU Section 5204(e) added 23 U.S.C. 504(e), to allow Federal-aid funds from several funding categories for Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and Education. TE funds may be used for direct educational expenses for surface transportation workforce development, training, and education, provided the activity specifically benefits eligible TE activities. Direct costs include training costs, conference and registration fees, and travel costs, but not salaries. See Transportation Enhancements Guidance Supplement - Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and Education.