U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

Memorandum

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) modified or discontinued a number of highway programs that were authorized by previous legislation. Pursuant to these changes, the funding associated with these changed or discontinued programs may lapse at the end of fiscal year 2015. For more information on the availability of funding, refer to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (HCF) Funds Availability and Reobligating Expired Funds memorandum, dated January 17, 2014, and the Guide to Federal-aid Programs and Projects.

The attached reference guide summarizes the period of availability for programs that were modified or discontinued under MAP-21, including program codes and fund values, and it should be used in lieu of other reports when determining whether the funds associated with these programs will lapse. The period of availability is indicated by either Available until Expended (AUE) or subject to lapse (Lapse).¹ As noted above, the scope of the attachment is limited to programs impacted by MAP-21. Other programs not modified or discontinued by MAP-21 may also have funds that will lapse at the end of the fiscal year. To determine if unobligated balances are available in a lapsing program, divisions and program offices should query the Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS) and/or Delphi, as applicable.

The following major programs were not continued or modified under MAP-21 and the entire amount of unobligated funds will lapse on September 30, 2015. HCF plans to take the necessary actions to ensure the unobligated funds associated with the following programs are not available for obligation on October 1, 2015.

• Equity Bonus;
• Highway Bridge;
• Highways for Life;
• Indian Reservation Roads;
• Interstate Maintenance;
• National Highway System (NHS) Program;
• Public Lands Highway Discretionary;
• Recreational Trails;²
• Refuge Roads;
• Scenic Byways; and
• Transportation, Community, and System Preservation.

The Transportation Enhancements and High Risk Rural Roads programs were funded as set-asides from the Surface Transportation Program and the Highway Safety Improvement Program, respectively. Funding in these two set-aside programs will only lapse if the core program has a total unobligated balance (including set-aside program balances) greater than the sum of the last four years of apportionments. Given current core program fund balances, it’s unlikely that Transportation Enhancements and High Risk Rural Roads program funding will lapse at the end of FY 2015.

The funding associated with the following modified or discontinued major programs is available until expended:

• Coordinated Border Infrastructure;
• Emergency Relief;
• Ferry Boat Discretionary;
• Interstate Maintenance Discretionary;
• National Corridor Infrastructure;
• National Historic Covered Bridge;
• Projects of National and Regional Significance; and
• Safe Routes to School.

Every effort should be made to obligate lapsing funds prior to the end of the fiscal year. Obligating funds solely to protect them from lapsing is improper; all obligations must be supported by a documented cost estimate.³ Please note that all one-year obligation limitation associated with non-formula (allocated) program funds including funds subject to lapse should be returned, as appropriate, during August Redistribution. The lapsing of apportioned funds will not impact the amount of formula limitation available to a State.

Please contact Eric Cline at eric.cline@dot.gov for FMIS-related inquiries or Melissa Stanley at melissa.stanley@dot.gov for other inquires.

cc: Thomas Echikson, Chief Counsel
Amy Lucero, Director, Technical Services
Directors of Field Services

Attachment – MAP-21 Modified or Discontinued Programs

^A Unobligated balances in excess of 4 years’ worth of the State’s apportionment for the program, including set-asides, will lapse.
^B Funded as a set-aside from a core apportioned programs and some balances may lapse as part of the overall unobligated balance of the core apportioned program.