Finding Federal Funding

As part of the continuing partnership between the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Bicycling & Walking, the Advocacy Advance Team has created a series of reports to help advocates access Federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Many advocates already know about Transportation Enhancements and STP; however, bicycle and pedestrian projects are also eligible for funding from these three sources.

Section 402 Highway Safety Grants Program
The State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program (commonly known as Section 402 Funds) funds education, enforcement and research programs designed to reduce traffic crashes, deaths, injuries, and property damage. In 2009, 29 states and the District of Columbia used Section 402 to fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, overall only 2.5 percent of all section 402 funds went to bike/ped projects in 2009, despite the fact that pedestrians and bicyclists account for more than 13 percent of traffic fatalities and countless crashes. To improve the chances of getting your program funded, be prepared with crash and fatality data to illustrate the need. Some hints to strengthen the impact of the data: use a large geographic area, provide injury data from hospitals, and calculate the rate of crashes based on miles ridden or the number of riders. Read the whole report.

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds infrastructure projects aimed at reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries. Bicycle and pedestrian projects are eligible for funding, but HSIP has been largely overlooked for these projects. In 2008, 18 states spent less than half of their HSIP funds so there is lots of money that can be utilized! Read the report for a complete table of HSIP spending, bike/ped project examples, and tips for accessing HSIP funds.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Plan (CMAQ)
CMAQ funds transportation projects that improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in areas that do not meet air quality standards. In 2009, 24 states did not spend their CMAQ funds on bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, states that funded bike/ped spent an average of 12 percent of their CMAQ funds on them. Read the whole CMAQ report. If you have stories of successful efforts to reform the CMAQ funding criteria in a state or MPO to make it more bike and pedestrian friendly, please email Darren Flusche at darren (at) bikeleague.org.