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FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAYS PROGRAM

Year

1997(ISTEA)

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Park Road & Parkways

$84.0 M

$115M

$165M

$165M

$165M

$165M

$165M

Indian Reservation Roads

$191.0M

$225M

$275M

$275M

$275M

$275M

$275M

Public Lands Highways


    Discretionary

$58.5M

$66.6M

$83.6M

$83.6M

$83.6M

$83.6M

$83.6M

    Forest Highway

$113.5M

$129.4M

$162.4M

$162.4M

$162.4M

$162.4M

$162.4M

Refuge Roads

0

0

$20M

$20M

$20M

$20M

$20M

Total Funding

$447M

$536M

$706M

$706M

$706M

$706M

$706M

Program Purpose

The Federal Lands Highways Program (FLHP) provides funding for a coordinated program of public roads and transit facilities serving Federal and Indian lands.

Program Structure

A new program category for refuge roads (RR) was added to FHLP. [1115(e)] This program provides funds that may be used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FHWA for the maintenance and improvement of Federally owned public roads that provide access to or within a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Program Changes

Federal Share --Allows FLHP and/or appropriated Federal land management agency funds to be used for State/local share for Federal-Aid Highway funded projects (IM, NHS, STP, CMAQ). [1115(a)]

Federal Highway Administration Takedown -- The administrative takedown was reduced to 1.5 percent. [1103(a)]

Forest Highway -- No change in program procedures.

Indian Reservation Road (IRR) Bridges --Under the IRR category, a Nationwide Priority Program for improving IRR deficient bridges was established ($13/million per year). The 1 percent set aside of Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation program funds for deficient IRR bridges is eliminated. [TRA 9002(I)(3)]

Indian Reservation Roads -- Tribes may contract for IRR projects under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act provisions. Negotiated rule making with Indian tribal governments is required for IRR program procedures and the relative need fund formula. [1115(b)]

Management System -- Required as appropriate for bridge, congestion (new), pavement, and safety. [1115(d)]

Park Roads & Parkways -- No change in program procedures.

Point of Obligation -- FLHP funds may be obligated when engineering and related activities are approved and for construction contracts prior to contract award after the plans, specifications, and estimate are approved. [1115(c)]

Public Lands Highway -- No change in procedures for submitting or selecting candidate projects. Funds can be used to pay for administrative costs of Federal land management agencies participating in the program and for transportation planning by those agencies which are not funded elsewhere by theFLHP. [1115(d)] If a State receives these funds, there will be no reduction in other Federal-aid highway funding distributed to that State.

Transit Facilities -- Any category of funds except refuge roads may be used for transit facilities within public lands, national parks, and Indian reservations. [1115(d)]

Transportation Planning -- Amended FLHP transportation planning to permit Federal Lands Highway to approve all FLHP Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) and forward the TIPs to States and MPOs for their information and inclusion in their TIPs without further action. "Regionally significant" FLHP projects would be developed in cooperation with States and MPOs and shown in their TIPs. Regulations are required for FLHP transportation planning procedures and management systems. Such procedures are to be consistent with the metropolitan and statewide planning processes required under 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135. [1115(d)]

Hoover Dam bridge replacement -- Any category of funds except refuge roads can be used for a project to replace the Federally owned bridge on the Hoover Dam between Nevada and Arizona. [1115(d)]

Lake Tahoe (CA/NV) planning and projects -- Up to one percent of Federal Lands Highway Program funds may be used for Lake Tahoe (CA and NV) transportation planning and for projects in the Lake Tahoe Transportation Improvement Program. [1203(d)]

Refuge Roads funds may be used for:

Obligation Limitation

All categories of FLHP funds are subject to the annual limitation on obligations each year. This limitation is prorated as that provided for States. [1102(b) and 1102(c)]

Full obligation limitation is provided for FLHP FY 1997 and future fiscal year carryover funds. [1102]

Authorized funds (contract authority) which exceed the obligation limitation for FYs 1998-2003 are to be distributed to States as STP funds. These funds lose their identity as FLHP funds and are no longer available for obligation by Federal land management agencies. [1102(f)]

Congressionally Mandated Studies

The Secretary of Transportation must conduct a study, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior on transit needs in National Parks and Public lands. The study is to cover all lands under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The report is due to Congress by January 2000. [3039]

September 14, 1998


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