Title
Distribution of Highway Infrastructure Funds (10 minutes)
Aaron Cain, LPA Staff
Narrative
In March, LPA staff was notified that an additional distribution of federal highway infrastrucuture program funds was made available to the MPOs in North Carolina. The DCHC amount in this distribution is $1,428,706. These funds are restricted to highway use only, and are not available for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on highways.
Acknowledging longstanding DCHC policy towards bicycle and pedestrian facilitiees, DCHC staff has agreed with NCDOT to swap these funds for STBG-Any Area funds that can be used for bicycle and pedestrian improvements (the memo from NCDOT is forthcoming). DCHC staff has determined that there are two possibilities for distribution of these funds:
Option 1 - Use the established formula and distribute these funds as local discretionary funds. A table showing the amount that could be programmed by each jurisdiction is attached.
Option 2 - Identify bicycle and pedestrian projects that are in the design process and have identified funding shortfalls. Three projects have been identified:
- EB-5886B, Estes Road Bike-Ped
- U-4724, Cornwallis Road Bike-Ped
- U-4726HN, Hillandale Road Bike-Ped
A table detailing the amount of funding for each project in Option 2 is attached.
Staff recommends Option 2 so that projects that are more "shovel ready" can move toward completion.
Recommendation
TC Action: Recommend that the additional STBG-Any Area funds DCHC MPO is to receive be distributed based on Option 2.