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Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act or "FAST Act"

Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives Program

Fiscal year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Authorization $15 M $20 M $20 M $20 M $20 M

Program purpose

The FAST Act established the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives Program to provide grants to States or groups of States to demonstrate user-based alternative revenue mechanisms that utilize a user fee structure to maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. The objectives of the program are—

Statutory citation

FAST Act § 6020

Funding features

Type of budget authority

Contract authority from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. Funds for the program are set aside from the Highway Research and Development Program (23 U.S.C. 503(b)). Funds are available until expended. They are subject to the overall Federal-aid obligation limitation and the obligation limitation associated with these funds is available for four fiscal years. [FAST Act §§ 1102(e), 6002]

Federal share

The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out under the program may not exceed 50 percent. [FAST Act § 6020(g)]

Eligible activities

Recipient will use program funds to test the design, acceptance, and implementation of a user-based alternative revenue mechanism, consistent with the program’s objectives.

Program features

Issues to be addressed in tests

In its use of program funds, a grant recipient must address—

Recipients may also address—

Limitations on revenue collected

Revenue collected through a user-based alternative revenue mechanism established with program funds is not considered a toll under 23 U.S.C. 301. [FAST Act § 6020(f)]

Project selection

The FAST Act requires the Secretary to consider geographic diversity in awarding grants. [FAST Act § 6020(e)]

Reporting requirements

Not later than one year after the first grant is awarded, and each year thereafter, each grant recipient must report to the Secretary on how the demonstration activities carried out with program grant funds meet the objectives of the program, as well as lessons learned for future deployment of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms. [FAST Act § 6020(h)]

Not later than two years after enactment of the FAST Act, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary will post on the DOT web site a report describing the progress of the demonstration activities. [FAST Act § 6020(i)]

February 2016

Page last modified on February 8, 2017
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000