This MAP-21 fact sheet has been superseded by a FAST Act fact sheet.

Surface Transportation Program (STP)

* Calculated (sum of estimated individual State STP apportionments)

Program purpose
The Surface Transportation Program (STP) provides flexible funding that may be used by States and localities for projects to preserve and improve the conditions and performance on any Federal-aid highway, bridge and tunnel projects on any public road, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and transit capital projects, including intercity bus terminals.

Statutory citation(s): MAP-21 §1108; 23 USC 133

Funding features
Funded by contract authority from the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund. Funds are subject to the overall Federal-aid obligation limitation.

MAP-21 has a new approach to core formula program funding, authorizing a lump sum total instead of individual authorizations for each program. Once each State’s share of the total is calculated, it is divided up by program within the State. (See “Apportionment”fact sheet for description of calculation).

Set-asides
From the State’s STP apportionment, the following sums are to be set aside:

• A proportionate share of funds for the State’s Transportation Alternatives (TA) program. (See “Apportionment” fact sheet for a description of this calculation)
• 2% for State Planning and Research (SPR). [§52005; 23 USC 505]
• For off-system bridges, an amount not less than 15% of the State’s FY 2009 Highway Bridge Program apportionment (may not be taken from amounts suballocated based on population).

The set-aside for Transportation Enhancements is eliminated.

Suballocation
50% of a State’s STP apportionment (after TA and SPR set-asides) is to be obligated in the following areas in proportion to their relative shares of the State’s population--

• Urbanized areas with population greater than 200,000 – This portion is to be divided among those areas based on their relative share of population, unless the Secretary approves a joint request from the State and relevant MPO(s) to use other factors.
• Areas with population greater than 5,000 but no more than 200,000 – Projects in these areas are to be identified for funding by the State in consultation with regional planning organizations, if any.
• Areas with population of 5,000 or less

The remaining 50% may be used in any area of the State.

Federal share: Determined in accordance with 23 USC 120, including a special rate for certain safety projects and a new provision for increased Federal share for projects incorporating Innovative Project Delivery. Exceptions to 23 USC 120 are provided for certain freight projects, workforce development, training, and education activities, and Appalachian development highway system projects. (See “Federal Share” fact sheet).

Eligible activities
STP eligibilities are continued, with some additions and modifications. Eligibilities are described below, with changes emphasized:

• Construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, resurfacing, restoration, preservation, or operational improvements for highways, including designated routes of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) and local access roads under 40 USC 14501.
• Replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and anti-icing/deicing for bridges and tunnels on any public road, including construction or reconstruction necessary to accommodate other modes.
• Construction of new bridges and tunnels on a Federal-aid highway.
• Inspection and evaluation of bridges, tunnels and other highway assets as well as training for bridge and tunnel inspectors.
• Capital costs for transit projects eligible for assistance under chapter 53 of title 49, including vehicles and facilities used to provide intercity passenger bus service.
• Carpool projects, fringe and corridor parking facilities and programs, including electric and natural gas vehicle charging infrastructure, bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways, and ADA sidewalk modification.
• Highway and transit safety infrastructure improvements and programs, installation of safety barriers and nets on bridges, hazard eliminations, mitigation of hazards caused by wildlife, railway-highway grade crossings.
• Highway and transit research, development, technology transfer.
• Capital and operating costs for traffic monitoring, management and control facilities and programs, including advanced truck stop electrification.
• Surface transportation planning.
• Transportation alternatives --newly defined, includes most transportation enhancement eligibilities. [See separate “Transportation Alternatives” fact sheet]
• Transportation control measures.
• Development and establishment of management systems.
• Environmental mitigation efforts (as under National Highway Performance Program).
• Intersections with high accident rates or levels of congestion.
• Infrastructure-based ITS capital improvements.
• Environmental restoration and pollution abatement.
• Control of noxious weeds and establishment of native species.
• Congestion pricing projects and strategies, including electric toll collection and travel demand management strategies and programs.
• Recreational trails projects.
• Construction of ferry boats and terminals.
• Border infrastructure projects.
• Truck parking facilities.
• Development and implementation of State asset management plan for the NHS, and similar activities related to the development and implementation of a performance based management program for other public roads.
• Surface transportation infrastructure modifications within port terminal boundaries, only if necessary to facilitate direct intermodal interchange, transfer, and access into and out of the port.
• Construction and operational improvements for a minor collector in the same corridor and in proximity to an NHS route if the improvement is more cost-effective (as determined by a benefit-cost analysis) than an NHS improvement and will enhance NHS level of service and regional traffic flow.
• Two eligibilities formerly covered by the repealed Highway Bridge Program (HBP)—
  • Construction of a bridge that replaces a low water crossing of any length, a bridge that was destroyed prior to January 1, 1965, a ferry that was in existence on January 1, 1984, or any road bridge rendered obsolete by a Corps of Engineers (COE) flood control or channelization project and not rebuilt with COE funds.
  • Actions to preserve or reduce the impact of a project on the historic integrity of a historic bridge under specified conditions. [§1111; 23 USC 144(f)-(g)]

Workforce development, training, and education activities are also an eligible use of STP funds.
[§1109; 23 USC 504(e)]

Location of Projects
In general, STP projects may not be on local or rural minor collectors. However, there are a number of exceptions to this requirement. A State may use up to 15% of its rural suballocation on minor collectors. Other exceptions include: ADHS local access roads, bridge and tunnel replacement and rehabilitation (not new construction), bridge and tunnel inspection, carpool projects, fringe/corridor parking facilities, bike/pedestrian walkways, safety infrastructure, Transportation Alternatives, recreational trails, port terminal modifications, minor collectors in NHS corridors, and the two new bridge eligibilities brought over from the HBP.

Program features
Off-system bridges

• States are required to obligate a portion of funds (not from suballocated amounts) for bridges not on Federal-aid highways (off-system bridges). The amount is to be not less than 15% of the State’s FY 2009 Bridge Program apportionment. The Secretary, after consultation with State and local officials, may reduce a State’s set-aside requirement if the State has insufficient off-system bridge needs.
• Credit for off-system bridges -- For projects to replace or rehabilitate deficient off-system bridges funded wholly by State/local sources, any amounts spent post-enactment that are in excess of 20% of project costs may be credited to the non-Federal share of eligible bridge projects in the State.

Rural minor collectors
Special rule allows States to use up to 15% of funds suballocated for areas with a population of 5,000 or less on rural minor collectors. The Secretary may suspend permission if the State is using the authority excessively.

Bridge and tunnel inspection standards
If a State is in noncompliance with bridge/tunnel inspection standards established by the Secretary, a portion of STP funds must be used to correct the problem. [§1111; 23 USC 144(h)(5)]

Performance

The STP supports national performance goals, but there are no measures tied specifically to this program.