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U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

MEMORANDUM

This is to announce the final solicitation of grant applications for demonstration construction projects under the Highways for LIFE (HfL) Pilot Program. The solicitation will close on September 30, 2008. If additional funds are available after the projects are selected from this solicitation, we will continue to accept applications after that date until all funds have been awarded.

Under the HfL Pilot Program, we can approve incentive grants or waive the matching requirement to allow 100-percent Federal-aid funding for projects. The purpose of these incentives is to encourage the States to build projects that use proven innovations that are infrequently used to accelerate the deployment and implementation process of innovation. The FY 2006 and FY 2007 HfL projects clearly demonstrated that we can build highways and bridges in weeks rather than years, with minimal impacts to the motorists, significantly better safety results and higher quality, and sometimes at a lower cost.

Due to the rescission of FY 2008 funding, we had to inform the States that had been selected for HfL funding that only the waiver of the State match incentive was available for the project. Although we do not know whether the FY 2009 Appropriations Act will include additional monies for HfL pilot projects, we believe it is prudent to have selected projects "in the pipeline" if funds become available. Therefore, the timing of the solicitation is so that there is adequate time for States to prepare their applications and for us to select projects for HfL incentives. Even if funding is rescinded, we will still have the authority to waive the State match.

I strongly encourage you to work with your State in developing a bold HfL project application. States that have received funding are eligible to submit an application; however, States that have not been selected as an HfL recipient will receive first consideration for available funds. In some instances, States may be able to resubmit their FY 2008 application in FY 2009. If the project agreement has not been authorized, it will be eligible to compete with all the other 2009 applications that are submitted. If the project agreement has been authorized, it will not be eligible in FY 2009.

If you have any question, please contact Ms. Mary Huie at mary.huie@dot.gov or 202-366-3039 or Mr. Byron Lord at Byron.Lord@dot.gov or 202-366-1325.

Attachment:
FY 2008 Highways for LIFE Project Application