Frequently
Asked Questions
Q:
What are the minimum requirements to be eligible for funding consideration?
1. Project proposals must fit within one of the 12 eligible activities
and relate to land transportation.
2. Project proposal applicants must provide at least a 20% non-federal
cash match of total project costs. An exception to this is the use
of rail-banked land value in lieu of a cash match.
3. Applicants must provide a written description of how operation
and maintenance of the project will be provided now and into the future.
This should be presented in the form of a resolution by the governing
board of the applicant organization and submitted with the application.
Q: What are the 12 eligible
project categories?
1. Pedestrian and bicycle
facilities that provide a transportation purpose (Recreational "loop"
trails are not eligible). See Trail
Design Guidelines
2. Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
4. Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of
tourist and welcome center facilities).
5. Landscaping and other scenic beautification.
6. Historic preservation. See Historic
Preservation Design Guidelines
7. Rehabilitation of historic transportation buildings, structures,
or facilities (including historic railroad facilities).
8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion
and use thereof for pedestrian and bicycle trails).
9. Control and removal of outdoor advertising.
10. Archeological planning and research.
11. Environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway
runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining
habitat connectivity.
12. Establishment of transportation museums.
Q:
Please clarify how a project must relate to transportation to be eligible
for the Transportation Enhancement Program?
The
activities must serve or relate to a current or past land-transportation
purpose. Applicants must establish the project's relationship to surface
transportation within the application.
Q: Who can apply for Transportation Enhancement funds?
Most
state and local governmental agencies or political subdivisions within
the State of Nebraska are eligible to receive funding. This includes
most local units of government (villages, cities, and counties), Natural
Resource Districts, Nebraska State Agencies, the University of Nebraska,
and Tribal Governments. Certain other governmental entities may also
be eligible to receive funding.
We
encourage interested advocacy groups to work with appropriate local,
regional, and state governmental units (including the NDOR's eight district
offices) to develop project applications.
Q: What are the DEADLINES
for the various applications?
The 2008 application schedule
(FY2009 funding) is as follows:
- April 1, 2008:
Application process opens.
- April 14-17,
2008: Spring Workshops (Workshop
Schedule).
- June 13,
2008: Deadline for Applicants to submit Intent-to-Apply Forms.
- July 25,
2008: Deadline for Applicants to submit Draft Application & Preliminary
Budget.
- September
22, 2008: Deadline for Applicants to submit Final Application.
- December 10, 2008: Select
Committee Meeting.
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Q: How much money is available
for projects?
The total amount of funds
within the state's annual budget has ranged from $2 million to $6 million.
The maximum amount available for each individual project is $500,000.
Q: Is it possible to use in-kind as part of the 20% cash match?
The Transportation Enhancement
Program does not allow in-kind donations to be used as the 20% cash
match.
Q: Do you offer any TE workshops
or seminars?
Yes. Workshops have been scheduled
for the spring of 2008. Workshop
Schedule
Workshops have been held in
several communities throughout Nebraska. Participants included individuals
from the Nebraska Community Improvement Program, Resource Conservation
& Development, Chamber of Commerce, Travel & Tourism, and other
City & Village representatives.
If you have additional
questions about the enhancement program, please contact:
R. James Pearson, NDOR Transportation Enhancement Administrator
james.pearson@nebraska.gov
Phone: (402) 479-4881
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