Transportation Enhancements Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Q. When is the application deadline?

Applications for Statewide Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding assistance are due to be postmarked by October 1.  They may be submitted to Nancy Anania, Office of Systems Planning, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010 or they may be submitted to the district planner in one of the Department’s six district offices.

Application deadlines for TE funding assistance from the RPAs and MPOs varies by region.  Deadline dates may be obtained by contacting the RPA or MPO in your region.  Assistance in identifying your RPA or MPO is available by emailing nancy.anania@dot.iowa.gov or by calling 515-239-1621.

Q. If an application is submitted to the Iowa DOT by the October 1 deadline, when would notification of project selection occur?

The funding recommendation for Statewide TE projects is typically presented to the Transportation Commission in January with a request for approval at their February meeting.  The commission has the option to approve the projects at the time they are presented.  Sponsors of selected projects are notified immediately following the commission’s approval.  All sponsors are notified of their project’s status by letter within 1-2 weeks following the commission’s action.

Q. When will the TE money which is awarded at the January/February commission meeting be available?

Funds awarded at the January/February commission meeting will be available the following October.

Q. How much money is available?

Available funding is dependent upon what is allocated as part of the reauthorization of TEA-21.  Funding available under TEA-21 was approximately $9.0 million/year.  Of that amount 50 percent or $4.5 million was available annually as Statewide TE funds.  Funds available through the RPAs and MPOs varies by region.

Q. What steps are necessary as part of the federal funding process after project selection prior to the funds being spent?

Project sponsors are asked to complete a concept statement for DOT staff use in the completion of environmental clearances and right of way needs.  An agreement between the local public sponsor and the DOT will be drafted for signature by DOT staff.  The local public sponsor is asked to complete a Project Development Certification form.  DOT staff will obtain authorization from the Federal Highway Administration and notify the local public sponsor in writing when they may begin to incur costs.  Projects with total costs of $100,000 or more will need to have a pre-audit completed prior to costs being incurred.

Q. Under what circumstances could it be possible to let a TE project locally?

Non-traditional projects may be let locally.  Traditional highway projects must be let through the DOT’s Office of Contracts.  Traditional highway work is defined as roadway and bridge work within a highway corridor.

Q. Please clarify how a project must relate to transportation in order to qualify for TE funding assistance.

The activities must relate to surface transportation.  Surface Transportation means all elements of the intermodal transportation system, exclusive of aviation.  For the purposes of TE eligibility, surface transportation includes water as surface transportation and includes as eligible activities related features such as canals, lighthouses, and docks or piers connecting the ferry operations, as long as the proposed enhancement otherwise meets the basic eligibility criteria.  The nature of a proposed TE project’s relationship to surface transportation should be discussed in the project proposal/application.

Q. Can TE funds be used to restore military transport vehicles/vessels or create military museums?

TE funds may not be used in connection with active military vehicles/vessels, or those owned, maintained or otherwise controlled by the military with limited access to the general public.  TE funds are intended to be used for the enhancement of transportation and transportation related activities for the general public.  TE activities must be those listed in law, open to the general public, and responsibly maintained directly or in partnership with a public entity.