Effective Delivery of Small-Scale Federal-Aid Projects
NCHRP Synthesis 414
Source: Federal Highway Administration
Many federally funded transportation programs provide funds for small-scale projects that are administered by state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Federal-aid programs that support small-scale projects include the following: Transportation Enhancement Activities, Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, Safe Routes to School Program, National Scenic Byways Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, Surface Transportation Program, Recreational Trails Program, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. Although these federal programs are available to fund or partially fund small projects, accessing these federal funds may result in a disproportionate amount of resources needed to implement the projects.
The purpose of this synthesis is to identify and document methods for meeting federal requirements for small-scale projects in a more streamlined fashion. A major objective of this study is to explore ways that state departments of transportation (DOTs) work with local program agencies (LPAs) to implement small-scale projects that are eligible for federal funding. The report is intended as a resource for public agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders who wish to administer small-scale projects more efficiently and cost-effectively.
