2022 Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program

Background
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act established the NSFLTP Program to provide Federal financial assistance to projects of national significance for construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of transportation facilities within, adjacent to, or providing access to Federal or Tribal lands. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021, “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” or “BIL”) modified the program in several ways, including providing $55 million per year from the Highway Trust Fund, as well as authorizing up to an additional $300 million per year from the General Fund, for each of FYs 2022 through 2026. The BIL also reduced minimum project sizes from $25 million to $12.5 million, directed 50 percent of the funds towards Tribal transportation facilities, increased the Federal share of projects on Tribal transportation facilities to 100 percent and required funding of at least one eligible project submitted by the National Park Service for a unit of the National Park System with 3,000,000 annual visitors or more.

Grant Details
The NSFLTP grants aim to provide Federal funding to projects of national significance for construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of transportation facilities within, adjacent to, or providing access to Federal or Tribal lands. The program makes available $125.215 million in FY 2022 and will be implemented in alignment with the priorities in Executive Order 14052.

The program seeks projects that further the goals of DOT including safety and state of good repair; improve quality of life for a local community and/or the traveling public; improve physical or operational deficiencies of the facility; use new technologies and innovations; and support economic vitality at the national and regional level. Additionally, it prioritizes safety in all investments and projects as part of the National Roadway Safety Strategy commitment.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include entities eligible under the Federal Lands Access Program (23 U.S.C. 204), the Federal Lands Transportation Program (23 U.S.C. 203), the Tribal Transportation Program (23 U.S.C. 202), and the Federal Lands Planning Program (23 U.S.C. 201). Cost sharing requirements vary based on project type with up to 100 percent federal share for Tribal transportation facility projects and up to 90 percent federal share for other facilities.

Projects must meet specific eligibility conditions such as being a single continuous project meeting transportation facility definitions from 23 U.S.C., demonstrating completion of all activities required under NEPA through a record of decision or finding of no significant impact, having estimated construction costs equal to or greater than $12,500,000, and using NSFLTP Program funds only for construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of transportation facilities.

Period of Performance
The funds provided for this program for FY 2022 are available for obligation until September 30, 2025.

Grant Value
For FY 2022, up to $125.215 million in grants will be awarded on a competitive basis with discretionary funding provided for projects that have an estimated construction cost of at least $12.5 million.

Place of Performance
Projects may be located on Federal lands transportation facilities or Federal lands access transportation facilities as defined in Section 101(a) of Title 23 U.S.C., Tribal transportation facilities as defined in Section 101(a) of Title 23 U.S.C., urban areas if located outside urbanized areas as defined under 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(36), or rural areas if located outside urbanized areas.