Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act

Highway Research, Technology Deployment, and Education Questions and Answers

Question 1: Who determines how the highway research funding is distributed in the various areas of national significance?

Answer 1: Every Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) office that oversees a Research and Technology (R&T) program area, utilizes multiyear roadmaps based on the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act priority areas (such as Ladders of Opportunity or Freight), Department goals and objectives established in the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan, as well as stakeholder input from partners such as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and State departments of transportation (State DOTs). FHWA evaluates research needs and prioritizes funding based on these roadmaps, agency priorities, and funding availability.

Question 2: What is the anticipated timeline for determining how to distribute the research funding within FHWA?

Answer 2: FHWA anticipates that the determination regarding the distribution of R&T funds will be made before the beginning of each fiscal year, or shortly thereafter.

Question 3: Has the State Planning and Research (SP&R) funding changed?

Answer 3: Yes. Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act, SP&R funds were a 2 percent set-aside of four Federal-aid programs: the Surface Transportation Program (STP), the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ). The FAST Act converts the STP into the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) and adds a National Highway Freight Program. SP&R in the FAST Act is funded as a 2 percent set-aside of five Federal-aid programs: STBG, HSIP, NHPP, CMAQ, and National Highway Freight. The total program funding for SP&R is approximately 5 percent higher annually on average than funding levels under MAP-21. States also can fund SP&R activities through the use of STBG program funds.

Question 4: How is the implementation of the Future Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) going to be funded?

Answer 4: While SHRP2 implementation remains eligible to be funded out of the Technology and Innovation Deployment Program, the FAST Act set aside no additional funding for SHRP2 implementation.  Implementation activities are continuing and are expected to conclude with funds allocated in previous years.

Question 5: What is the funding level for the Centers for Excellence?

Answer 5: The FAST Act continues the authority for the Secretary of Transportation to establish and maintain Centers for Surface Transportation Excellence through agreements authorized as part of the Training and Education program under 23 U.S.C. 504(h). FHWA will determine the appropriate level of funding for the Centers.

Question 6: What is the matching requirement for Research, Technology, and Education (RT&E) program funds?

Answer 6: The Federal share of a project or activity carried out under this program is 80 percent unless otherwise provided in the FAST Act or otherwise determined by the Secretary (section 6002(c)(1) of the FAST Act). Exceptions include the following:

• Grants provided under the new Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives program have a 50 percent Federal share (Sec. 6020 of the FAST Act).
• Grants provided under the new Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment program have a 50 percent Federal share (Sec. 6004 of the FAST Act; 23 U.S.C. 503(c)(4)(J)).
• The Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) has a 50 percent Federal share.
• The Tribal Technical Assistance Program has a 100 percent Federal share (23 U.S.C. 504).
• Amounts provided for Surface Transportation Workforce Development, Training, and Education or for State Planning and Research may be applied toward the non-Federal share for LTAP projects, up to 100 percent.
• The University Transportation Centers (UTC) program requires a 100 percent match for national or regional UTCs, and a 50 percent match for Tier I UTCs (section 6016 of the FAST Act; 49 U.S.C. 5505). In addition, States can use SP&R funds as the non-Federal share for UTCs and LTAP centers.

Question 7: Are programs such as the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program and the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program going to continue under the FAST Act?

Answer 7: The FAST Act continues to authorize program activities previously authorized in the LTPP and the LTBP under the Highway Research and Development program (23 U.S.C. 503). FHWA will determine, based on USDOT research goals and priorities, the appropriate funding levels for these programs.

Question 8: How is the term "technology" defined for the purposes of the RT&E program; does it encompass technology transfer?

Answer 8: The term "technology" refers to tangible technologies, innovations that may improve processes, and the delivery or transfer of those innovations or technologies to our customers for deployment and use (stakeholders, industry, and practitioners). The definition includes the deployment of technology and innovation to complete the innovation cycle.

Question 9: Were there significant material changes in the funding or administration of the Transportation Pooled Fund under the FAST Act?

Answer 9: No. Under 23 U.S.C. 502, the Secretary retains the authority to transfer apportioned or allocated funds to a State or FHWA to fund research, development and technology transfer activities of mutual interest on a pooled fund basis.

Question 10: What changes does FHWA anticipate in the freight research, and environment and planning research areas?

Answer 10: Under the FAST Act, most program activities that were eligible under MAP-21 are still eligible under the RT&E program, even though there is no specific funding associated with those specific activities within the Act. As FHWA continues implementation of the FAST Act, the Agency will determine, based on USDOT research goals and priorities, the appropriate funding level for these activities.

Question 11: How will the new Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment program be funded and implemented?

Answer 11: The FAST Act provides that the funds for the program will be set aside from the Highway Research and Development, Technology and Innovation Deployment, and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Programs. USDOT will determine the appropriate funding amounts from each program to be dedicated to the new grants program.

Program procedures, application processes, and other details will be made public as soon as possible.