One often asked question is: “How do I get my highway/bridge/trail project funded?”

SAP&DC provides the following answers to help municipalities and organizations gain a better understanding of the world of transportation projects in the Southern Alleghenies RPO Region:

Highway and Bridge Projects

SAP&DC’s Rural Planning Organization (RPO) serves Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. The RPO maintains the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a list of transportation projects for a four-year period.  All highway, bridge, transit, and most trail projects must be included in the TIP to receive federal or state funds.

If your municipality or organization has highway or bridge construction project, the first step is to contact your County Planning Commission.  SAP&DC’s primary input for highway and bridge projects comes from County Planning Commissions.  The Planning Directors are members of our Rural Transportation Technical Committee (RTTC).  As members of the RTTC, they prioritize and vote on the projects placed in the TIP.

Recommendations from the RTTC are then forwarded to the Rural Transportation Coordinating Committee (RTCC), responsible for final approval of SAP&DC’s RPO projects.  A County Commissioner from each of the four counties is a voting member of the RTCC.

After Committee approval, the project is submitted to PennDOT Central Office, the State Transportation Commission (STC) and the Federal Highway Administration for final approval.  After the project is approved, it is placed in the TIP.

Trail Projects

To receive federal or state funding, all highway, bridge, transit, and most trail projects must be included in the TIP.  If your municipality or non-profit organization seeks to construct or restore a trail or historic transportation structure, the best source of funds is the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP).

The TEP allows the SAP&DC to fund small transportation/recreation projects.  First, find out when TEP funds will be available.  Applications will be available from PennDOT and SAP&DC.  Applications can be completed online at http://www.dot.state.pa.us/.

SAP&DC conducts a TEP Workshop at the beginning of each cycle.  Attendance at the workshop is strongly encouraged, since SAP&DC staff reviews the entire TEP process.

After applications are submitted, PennDOT and SAP&DC determine the eligibility of the applications. Eligible applicants are contacted and field visits are conducted at the project site.  The applicant then performs a 10-minute presentation for the Rural Transportation Technical and Coordinating. Committees (RTTC and RTCC) at a special meeting.  Applicants are ranked by the committees and funding amounts are allocated.  The committees then forward a prioritized list of projects to PennDOT Central Office, the State Transportation Commission, and the Federal Highway Administration for final approval.         

For more information about the TEP, click here