Federal Funds for Active Travel Projects
Federal transportation funds can be used for projects that support active travel. Since 1991, transportation bills have included dedicated funding sources, such as Transportation Enhancements and Hazard Elimination, which can be used for pedestrian- and bicycling-related improvements. General highway dollars can also be "flexed" to fund active travel projects. Regions that fail to meet federal Clean Air mandates receive Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds, which allow several categories of pedestrian and bicycle spending.
Innovative federal policy, such as Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) program, promotes a comprehensive approach to funding transportation. CSS policies share three features: sensitivity to existing historic, economic, cultural, social or other local factors; strong stakeholder participation in determining appropriate improvements; and a multimodal approach that serves travelers using diverse modes, including active travel. CSS policies reinforce the Americans with Disabilities Act. Among the more prominent dedicated federal funding sources are Transportation Enhancements (TE), Hazard Elimination (HE) funds and Safe Routes to School (SR2S). These funds are often calculated as a proportion of other funds (TE funds are a proportion of Surface Transportation funds), are issued only periodically or are issued as competitive grants. State policies create an additional layer of complexity to the distribution of federal funds for active travel.
