Transportation Funding: Two Principal Programs
The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) is the federally designated transportation planning agency for the Charlotte urbanized area which includes Iredell, Mecklenburg and Union counties. CRTPO is responsible for the allocation of federal transportation funds and ensuring funds are spent in accordance with federal policy. The following information summarizes the two principal programs which fund transportation projects in the CRTPO planning area.
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
The Strategic Transportation Investment (STI) law established Prioritization as NCDOT’s decision making process and tool for developing the STIP, which is a listing of projects to be delivered within an upcoming ten-year work program. CRTPO nominates projects for scoring by NCDOT, and the application of local input
points based upon its methodology.
1. Funding Sources:
Motor Fuel Tax
50%
DMV Fees
30%
Highway Use Tax
30%
2. Accounts of Funding
Highway Fund
60% Total State Revenues
(Maintenance & Operations)
Highway Trust Fund
40% Total State Revenues
(Capital)
4. Expenditures of Funding
70% of the Highway Trust Funds are allocated to projects identified through Prioritization. Funds for maintenance or specific types of projects are taken of top of following buckets.
40%
Statewide
Mobility
100% of funds allocated to State tier projects
30%
Regional
Impact
Funds divided among 7 Regions based on % of State Population
30%
Division
Needs
Funds divided among 14 Divisions based on % of State Population
5. Prioritization of Funding (2 year Cycle)
- Project Submittal Data
- Review & Scoring Quantitative
- Scores & Statewide Funded Projects Released
- Regional Impact Local Input Point Assignment
- Regional Impact Total Scores & Funded Projects Released
- Division Needs Local Input Point Assignment
- Division Needs Total Scores & Funded Projects Released
Draft STIP Released
$926 Million of the 2020-2029 STIP funds programmed in CRTPO (Over 12% of NCDOT’s programming budget)
CRTPO Discretionary Grants Program
All CRTPO controlled funds (federal direct attributable and state bonus allocation funds) are subject to the Discretionary Grants Program Policy Guide which allocates funds based on data-driven scoring. Below is a summary of the funding sources which finance the program and the expenditure priorities.
1. Funding Sources:
Surface Transportation Block Grant – Direct Attributable
(STBG-DA)
$18.8M
Annual Allocation Flexible funding to preserve and
improve conditions and performance of the transportation network.
Transportation Alternatives Program – Direct Attributable
(TAP-DA)
$2.7M
Annual Allocation Funding for
smaller-scale transportation
alternatives such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities
Congestion Management Air Quality (CMAQ)
$8M
Annual Allocation Flexible funding for projects/programs to help meet requirements of Clean Air Act.
Bonus Allocation
(BA)
$Varies
Annual Allocation Allocation of
proceeds for local governments participation in tolling project or local contribution.
Allocation of funding is determined by the Discretionary Grants Program Policy Guide which includes funding targets. There is a biannual call for projects.
2. CRTPO Discretionary Grants Program Policy Guiding Principles:
- Projects must be federal funds-eligible.
- There is an annual schedule for proposing, scoring, and funding projects.
- Project scoring is consistent with requirements of various funding sources.
- Process addresses project funding shortfalls.
- Process is iterative.
- Policy is transparent and easily understood by stakeholders.
3. Methodology to allocate funding
Funding Targets
+
Local
Commitment
+
Systems
Benefits
=
Competitive Score
Available funds allocated to top
scoring projects.
$287 Million Discretionary funds programmed in 2019-2022.
Click here to download the CRTPO Transportation Funding Programs Brochure
Fast Act
On December 4, 2015, President Obama signed into law the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or “FAST Act” – which reauthorized surface transportation programs through fiscal year 2020. The act authorized $305 billion for highway, highway and motor vehicle safety, public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian, motor carrier safety, hazardous materials safety, rail, and research, technology and statistics programs.
Federal Highway Administration – Fast Act
Federal Transit Administration – Fast Act
Strategic Transportation Investments
The State of North Carolina passed into law transportation funding legislation on June 26, 2013. More information regarding this legislation can be found by clicking on the following link.