Q: What are the minimum requirements to be eligible for funding consideration? · The project must fit within the eligibility activities and relate to surface transportation; · The LPA must provide at least a 20% non-federal cash match of total project costs and commit to provide future maintenance of the project. · The LPA must appoint (after funding award) a full-time public employee, qualified by NDOR, to be in responsible charge of the project.
Q: What are the 12 eligible project categories? 1. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities that provide a transportation purpose (Recreational "loop" trails are not eligible). See Trail Design Guidelines 2. Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists. 3. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites. 4. Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities). 5. Landscaping and other scenic beautification. 6. Historic preservation. See Historic Preservation Design Guidelines 7. Rehabilitation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities). 8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use thereof for pedestrian and bicycle trails). 9. Control and removal of outdoor advertising. 10. Archeological planning and research. 11. Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity. 12. Establishment of transportation museums.
Q: Please clarify how a project must relate to transportation to be eligible for the Transportation Enhancement Program? The activities must serve or relate to a current or past land-transportation purpose. Applicants must establish the project's relationship to surface transportation within the application.
Q: Who can apply for Transportation Enhancement funds? Local Public Agencies (LPA’s) within the State of Nebraska are eligible to apply. This includes local units of government (villages, cities and counties), natural resource districts, Nebraska state agencies, the University of Nebraska, and tribal governments. Certain other governmental entities may also be eligible to apply. We encourage interested advocacy groups to work with appropriate local, regional, and state governmental units (including the NDOR's eight district offices) to develop project applications.
Q: What are the 2011 DEADLINES for the various applications?
Q: How much money is available for projects? The total amount of funds within the state's annual budget has ranged from $2 million to $6 million. Federal funding requests are recommended not to exceed $1,000,000. NDOR anticipates funding a maximum of 10 projects for Fiscal Year 2012.
Q: Is it possible to use in-kind as part of the 20% cash match? The Transportation Enhancement Program does not allow in-kind donations to be used as the 20% cash match. Q: Do you offer any TE Workshops, Webinars, or Seminars? A Webinar will be held April 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. to assist communities with project ideas. The format will consist of a presentation with information about the program followed by a question and answer session. If you have additional questions about the enhancement program, please contact: Michael Kleffner, Transportation Enhancement Engineer Phone: (402) 479-4881 |
