MTGA Trails Toolkit

Categories	Design Guidelines, Education and Advocacy, Funding, Funding Sources, Jurisdictional Boundaries, On-Road Connections, Trail Benefits, Trail Programming & Promotion
Keywords	Act 51, CMAQ, MDOT, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Planning, Safe Routes to School, SAFETEA-LU, safety, Transportation Enhancements
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The Michigan Transportation Plan, also known as the State Long-Range Plan, is a 25-year plan for transforming Michigan’s transportation system.

The Non-Motorized Transportation Technical Report (2007) is a component within this plan. This report covers:

• Non-motorized needs and benefits
• Types of facilities
• Funding sources
• Policies, and their legal context
• Implementation issues
• Integration with other transportaton modes

An excerpt from “Chapter 2: Brief Funding Summary”
Funding for the planning, development and maintenance of non?motorized facilities for bicyclist and pedestrians is obtained though a number of state and federal sources. Each source of funding has limitations on how it can be used. A summary of these programs is outlined in the following sections.

2.1 Federal Funding Sources and Levels – SAFETEA-LU

Bicycle and pedestrian projects are broadly eligible for most federal surface transportation funding categories, including federal-aid, highway, transit, safety, and other programs. Federal legislation has defined non-motorized transportation to include pedestrians and bicyclists and allows expenditures from most federal transportation funds to be used on bicycle and pedestrian facilities. “Congress clearly intends for bicyclists and pedestrians to have safe, convenient access to the transportation system and sees every transportation improvement as an opportunity to enhance the safety and convenience of the two modes” (Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Program guidance February 4, 1999). The following federal funding categories can be used to fund bicycle and pedestrian projects.

2.1.1 Transportation Enhancement (TE)

The Transportation Enhancement program is a federally-designated category of funding that allows for the development and construction of non-motorized facilities, among other eligible expenditures. Eligible applicants include all government entities that receive fuel tax revenues. The TE program has been the primary funding source for non-motorized facility development at the local, regional, and state levels in Michigan.

2.1.2 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)

The primary goal of the CMAQ program is to reduce traffic congestion and enhance air quality. Among other eligible expenditures, CMAQ funds may be used for either the construction of bicycle transportation facilities and pedestrian walkways, or non-construction projects (such as maps, brochures, and public service announcements) related to safe bicycle use. Funds are available to counties designated as non-attainment areas for air quality, based on federal standards. Relatively few non-motorized projects have been funded with CMAQ funds in Michigan.

2.1.3 Highway Safety Programs

Pedestrian and bicycle safety remain priority areas for State and Community Highway Safety Grants funded by the Section 402 formula grant program. States are eligible for these grants by submitting a Performance Plan and a Highway Safety Plan. The Michigan Department of Transportation recently adopted its Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which includes a Nonmotorized Safety Action Plan.

2.1.4 Safe Routes to School (SR2S)

Under SAFETEA-LU, $612 million was allocated for a new national Safe Routes to School program that will provide at least $1 million per year to each of the 50 states over a five-year time period. Communities may apply to use this funding to construct new bike lanes, pathways, and sidewalks, as well as to launch Safe Routes education and promotion campaigns in elementary and middle schools. Michigan will receive around $19 million dollars over the course of SAFETEA-LU, which runs through 2009.

2.1.5 Other Federal Funding

Other federal funding sources include the Scenic Byways Program and the Recreational Trails Program. Scenic Byways funds may be used for “construction along a scenic byway of a facility for pedestrians and bicyclists.” Recreational Trails Program funds may be used for all kinds of trail projects. Of the funds apportioned to a state, 30 percent must be used for motorized trail use, 30 percent for non-motorized trail uses, and 40 percent for diverse trail uses (any combination).

SAFETEA-LU includes some $50 million worth of non-motorized High Priority (HPP) earmarked projects in Michigan. These projects are primarily for off-road trail projects, allowable expenditures based on the federal definition of non-motorized transportation to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Funds designated through earmarking reduce the overall flexibility and funding available to state or local agencies for prioritization through a cooperative, comprehensive, coordinated (3-C) planning process. Further, HPP funding can also be burdensome to local recipients because of match requirements, time frames, and obligation limitations.

2.2 State Funding Sources and Levels

Public Act 51 of 1951 created the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) into which all state fuel taxes and license plate fees are deposited. The fund currently collects over $1.8 billion in revenue each year. This revenue is shared among city, county and state transportation agencies for construction, maintenance, and operation of Michigan’s transportation systems.

Michigan’s state transportation law (MCLA 247.660k) requires a minimum of one percent of state transportation funds be spent for non-motorized transportation. Section 10k of Public Act 51 of 1951, as amended, allows for non-motorized plans, services, and improvements to a road, street, or highway, which facilitates non-motorized transportation by the widening of lanes, striping of lanes to designate bike lanes, or any other appropriate measure considered a qualified non-motorized facility for the purpose of this section. An amendment to PA 51 in 2006 (P.A. 82) allows for the construction or maintenance of sidewalks as an eligible expenditure.

The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) provides grants to local units of government and the state for acquisition and development of lands and facilities for outdoor recreation or the protection of Michigan’s significant natural resources. MNRTF only funds offroad trails or trails separated from a community’s road network. The MNRTF is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and requires applicant communities to have on file with the MDNR a 5-year recreation plan identifying projects they wish to receive funding for and justified as being a high priority within their community. The MDNR also administers the Recreation Improvement Fund that funds the renovation and development of recreational trails and trail?related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. These are additional funding sources that can be utilized to broaden the non-motorized network.

2.3 Local Funding

Many communities have dedicated millages for sidewalks or other non-motorized facilities. A few communities have adopted the goal of using as much as five percent of their Act 51 funding for non-motorized expenditures, well above the legally-mandated one percent minimum.

2.4 Alternative Funding Sources

In addition to federal and state funding, there are many other resources available to assist with the planning and development of non-motorized facilities. Local, statewide, and national foundations, plus other non-profit organizations provide funding specifically for non-motorized related activities. Each foundation and non-profit organization has particular requirements and procedures that must be followed to acquire their funding or services.

MDOT, with assistance from other partner agencies, has compiled a list of many alternative funding sources, which can be found in the appendix. This list is not all-inclusive, but is a good starting resource for determining how to acquire funds or assistance for non-motorized facility development and planning.

Acronym definitions

• NHS National Highway System
• BRI Bridge
• STP Surface Transportation Program
• 402 State and Community Traffic Safety Program
• HEP Hazard Elimination Program
• PLA State/Metropolitan Planning Funds
• RHC Railway?Highway Crossing Program
• TCSP Transportation and Community and System Preservation Pilot Program
• TEA Transportation Enhancement Activities
• JOBS Access to Jobs/Reverse Commute Program
• CMAQ Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Program
• RTP Recreational Trails Program
• FLH Federal Lands Highways Program
• FTA Federal Transit Capital, Urban & Rural Funds
• BYW Scenic Byways
• TE Transit Enhancements

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