Suballocation of Apportioned Funds Questions & Answers

MAP-21 and previous transportation authorizations use the term suballocation to refer to reservations of funds apportioned to a State by formula for use in specific areas within the State. Under MAP-21, suballocation is required for a portion of each State's apportionment under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).

Surface Transportation Program [23 USC 133(d), MAP-21 §1108].-Fifty percent of a State's STP apportionment (after deducting the set-asides for State Planning and Research and the TAP) are suballocated to areas based on their relative share of the total State population with the remaining 50 percent available for use in any area of the State. The suballocated funds are divided into three categories and must be used in the areas described below [see figure 1] -

• Urbanized areas with a population over 200,000.-The funds for this category are further divided into amounts for the individual areas over 200,000 based on their relative share of the population of the areas. The State and relevant metropolitan planning organizations may jointly apply to the Secretary for permission to base the distribution on other factors. Although the suballocation is based on the population within the urbanized area boundaries, the suballocated funds may be obligated beyond the urbanized boundaries in the larger metropolitan planning organization (MPO) metropolitan planning area established under 23 U.S.C. 134 that encompasses contiguous area anticipated to become urbanized in the next 20 years.
• Areas with a population of 5,000 or less.
• Urban areas with a population of 5,001 to 200,000.

Transportation Alternatives Program [23 USC 213(c), MAP-21 § 1122].-Fifty percent of a State's TAP apportionment (after deducting the set-aside for the Recreational Trails Program) are suballocated to areas based on their relative share of the total State population with the remaining 50 percent available for use in any area of the State. The suballocation is made in the same manner as for STP funds [see figure 2].

The suballocations are calculated based on 2010 Census population data. The 2010 Census urban and rural population data is located on the Census Bureau web site.

The Census data divides each State into urban areas (urbanized areas and urban clusters) and rural (i.e., not included within an urban area). This data is used to determine the population breakdown used to calculate each of the three MAP-21 suballocations.

The urban area data sorted by State is found here in column E. Each State's rural population is found here in column T. The population data is broken down into the following three categories in order to make the suballocation calculations:

1. Urbanized areas with a population greater than 200,000;
2. Areas with population greater than 5,000 but no more than 200,000 (i.e., urbanized areas with population 50,000 to 200,000 plus urban clusters with population 5,001 to 49,999);
3. Areas with population of 5,000 or less (i.e., urban clusters with population 2,500 to 5,000 plus the State's rural population).

Please note that many urban areas cross State boundaries; these urban areas are marked with a "P" in column D of the urban area data by State spreadsheet. In such cases, the total population of the urban area, which is found here in column C, determines the appropriate suballocation distribution. However, only a State's portion of the population in the urban area, which is found in the urban area data by State spreadsheet, is used for that State's suballocation calculations.

The grant recipient for suballocated funds is the State highway agency to which the funds are apportioned. A State may make subgrants in accordance with State law. The key to suballocation is where the funds must be used (described above) and what entity administers and makes decisions on the use of suballocated funds (described below).

Generally.-The metropolitan planning and statewide and nonmetropolitan planning requirements of 23 USC 134-135 (MAP-21 §§ 1201, 1202) lay out the basic provisions related to project selection for all programs under 23 USC as follows:

• For areas with a population less than 50,000 [see 23 USC 135(g)(6)]-
  • Projects are selected from the approved Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) by the State in cooperation with the affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation or, if applicable, through regional transportation planning organizations, except that-
  • Projects on the National Highway System (NHS) or funded with any remaining funds from the Highway Bridge or Interstate Maintenance programs are selected from the approved STIP by the State in consultation with the affected nonmetropolitan local officials with responsibility for transportation.
• For non-Transportation Management Area (TMA) MPO planning areas, projects are selected from the approved metropolitan TIP by the State in cooperation with the MPO (and for projects funded under chapter 53 of 49 USC, the designated recipients of the public transportation funding have project selection authority, in cooperation with the MPO) [see 23 USC 134(j)(5)]
• For TMA areas [see 23 USC 134(k)(4)]-
  • Projects are selected from the approved metropolitan TIP by the MPO in consultation with the State and any affected public transportation operator, except that--
  • Projects on the NHS are selected from the approved metropolitan TIP by the State in cooperation with the affected MPO.

STP.-In addition, there is a specific requirement [23 USC 133(d)(3), MAP-21 § 1108] that when making obligations of STP funds in an area with a population greater than 5,000 and less than 200,000, that the State must consult with the regional transportation planning organizations that represent the area if such an organization exists.

TAP.-Also, under the TAP, a State or an MPO shall develop a competitive process to allow eligible entities to submit projects for funding. [see 23 USC 213(c)(4), MAP-21 § 1122]. [See the Interim Guidance on the Transportation Alternatives Program for additional detail]

A State may not transfer suballocated STP [23 USC 133(d)(1)(A)] and TAP [23 USC 213(c)(1)(A)] funds to other Federal-aid highway programs. [see 23 USC 126(b), MAP-21 § 1509].

Suballocated STP funds for a transit project may be transferred to FTA for administration in accordance with chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code. [see 23 USC 104(f), MAP-21 § 1105]. If it is determined that a transit project meets TAP eligibility requirements, suballocated TAP funds may be transferred to FTA for administration in accordance with chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code. [see 23 USC 104(f), MAP-21 § 1105].