The Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) was established in 23 U.S.C. 203 to improve the transportation infrastructure owned and maintained by the following Federal Lands Management Agencies: National Park Service (NPS), US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), USDA Forest Service (Forest Service), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Bureau of Reclamation and independent Federal agencies with land and natural resource management responsibilities.
The FLMAs have considerable responsibility and latitude for managing their program within the FLTP. The FHWA, however, is ultimately responsible for ensuring the program is administered according to the statutory and implementing regulations for title 23, United States Code. This includes conformity to highway planning, design, construction, maintenance, and safety standards.
The use of FLTP funds does not affect the overall responsibility for construction, maintenance, and operations of the facilities. That responsibility continues to lie with the owner of the facility.
Program Guidance
Program Guidelines
Performance Management
The FLTP focuses on performance management.
23 U.S.C. 203(b) requires an application, or investment strategy, from each FLMA. All FLMAs must provide FHWA an investment strategy that details performance goals at various potential funding levels. Furthermore, 23 U.S.C 203(c) requires each FLMA to maintain a comprehensive national inventory of public Federal lands transportation facilities.
Transportation Planning
23 U.S.C. 201(c) ensures that "transportation planning procedures for Federal lands and tribal transportation facilities are consistent with the planning processes required under 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135." Therefore, all title 23 and other regionally significant projects under the FLTP should be developed in cooperation with State and metropolitan planning organizations and included in appropriate Federal lands transportation program plans, State and metropolitan plans, and transportation improvement programs. The approved Federal lands transportation program will be included in appropriate State and metropolitan planning organization plans and programs.
Use of Funds
In accordance with 23 U.S.C. 201(a) funds made available under the Federal lands transportation program shall be used by the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the appropriate Federal land management agency to pay the costs of—
A. program administration, transportation planning, research, preventive maintenance, engineering, rehabilitation, restoration, construction, and reconstruction of Federal lands transportation facilities, and--
i. adjacent vehicular parking areas;
ii. acquisition of necessary scenic easements and scenic or historic sites;
iii. provision for pedestrians and bicycles;
iv. environmental mitigation in or adjacent to Federal land open to the public--
I. to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity; and
II. to mitigate the damage to wildlife, aquatic organism passage, habitat, and ecosystem connectivity, including the costs of constructing, maintaining, replacing, or removing culverts and bridges, as appropriate;
v. construction and reconstruction of roadside rest areas, including sanitary and water facilities;
vi. congestion mitigation; and
vii. other appropriate public road facilities, as determined by the Secretary;
B. capital, operations, and maintenance of transit facilities;
C. any transportation project eligible for assistance under this title that is on a public road within or adjacent to, or that provides access to, Federal lands open to the public; and
D. not more $10,000,000 of the amounts made available per fiscal year to carry out this section for activities eligible under subparagraph (A)(iv).