Transportation Enhancement Activities

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) extended the Federal-aid highway program through September 30, 2012, and authorized new provisions effective October 1, 2012, for Federal fiscal years 2013 and 2014. The Transportation Enhancement (TE) Activities will be replaced by the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) posts MAP-21 information at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/MAP21/. Transportation Alternatives information will be added as it becomes available.

Current TE activities remain eligible for TE funds that were previously apportioned until the TE funds are obligated, rescinded, or lapsed. If you have specific questions about the transition from TE to the TAP in your State, please contact your State TE Program Manager. Contact information is available at http://www.enhancements.org/Stateprofile.asp.

Transportation Enhancement (TE) activities offer funding opportunities to help expand transportation choices and enhance the transportation experience through 12 eligible TE activities related to surface transportation, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and safety programs, scenic and historic highway programs, landscaping and scenic beautification, historic preservation, and environmental mitigation. TE projects must relate to surface transportation and must qualify under one or more of the 12 eligible categories. See Program Brief and Presentation.

On this site you will find program guidance, legislation, funding data, and links to further resources.

Eligible Activities

Transportation enhancement activity.--The term "transportation enhancement activity" means, with respect to any project or the area to be served by the project, any of the following activities as the activities relate to surface transportation:

1. Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.
2. Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites (including historic battlefields).
4. Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities).
5. Landscaping and other scenic beautification.
6. Historic preservation.
7. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals).
8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails).
9. Inventory, control, and removal of outdoor advertising.
10. Archaeological planning and research.
11. Environmental mitigation--
    1. to address water pollution due to highway runoff; or,
    2. reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity.
12. Establishment of transportation museums.