National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse



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Funding Sources

Project sponsors may use the list below as a starting point for research on additional funding sources for their project.  The list is not comprehensive. Project sponsors must work with their state TE representative to determine whether these sources may be counted towards the federal matching requirement. 

Click on the activity type to view a short list of funding sources:

1. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities
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
5. Landscaping or other scenic beautification
6. Historic preservation
7. Rehabilitation/operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities
8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors
9. Control and removal of outdoor advertising
10. Archaeological planning and research
11. Environmental mitigation
12. Establishment of transportation museums

(1) Pedestrian/bicycle facilities
  • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (Dept. of Transportation). Provides funds to the states for projects that reduce transportation-related air pollution.  Federal DOT funds cannot be counted towards the matching requirement.
  • Recreational Trails Program (Dept. of Transportation).  Provides funds to the states for recreational trails for motorized and nonmotorized uses. 
  • Land and Water Conservation Fund (Dept.  of Interior, National Park Service).  For planning, acquisition and development of facilities that provide recreational opportunities. 
  • Bikes Belong Coalition. Provides awards of up to $10,000 for projects to create bicycle facilities or to fund bicycle-related educational activities.
  • The Kodak American Greenways Award (The Conservation Fund). Provides small grants to stimulate the planning and design of greenways.

(2) Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists

  • State and Community Safety Highway Grants (Dept. of Transportation). Provides funds to the states to support highway safety programs (roadway and behavioral) designed to reduce traffic crashes.  Federal DOT funds cannot be counted towards the matching requirement. 
  • Safe Kids Campaign "Walk This Way" program awards grants of $1,000 to coalition members for safety programs.

(3) Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites

  • Land and Water Conservation Fund (Dept. of Interior, National Park Service). Provides grants for planning, acquisition and development of facilities that provide recreational opportunities. 
  • Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Provides funds for projects that conserve coastal and estuarine land considered important for their ecological, recreational, conservation, historical or aesthetic value. 
  • Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (Dept. of Agriculture). Provides funds to  help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses.
  • Forest Legacy Program (Dept. of Agriculture) Provides funds to protect privately owned forest lands from being converted to non-forest uses.
  • Fish and Wildlife Service Grants. Provides grants to states for land acquisition through the following sources: National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants, Habitat Conservation Planning Land Acquisition, Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
  • National Trails Fund (American Hiking Society). Provides grants of $500 to $10,000 to secure hiking trail lands, including costs associated with acquiring conservation easements.

(4) Scenic or historic highway programs

  • America's Historic Places Grants (National Endowment for the Humanities). Provides funding for public programs related to the interpretation of historic sites such as driving or walking trails or tours, signs, and publications, that address themes central to American history. (non-construction)
  • National Scenic Byways Program (Dept.  of Transportation).  Provides funds for enhancements along designated scenic byways such as rest areas, overlooks, visitor centers and interpretive information. Federal DOT funds cannot be counted towards the matching requirement. 
  • Community Development Block Grants (Dept. of Housing and Urban Development). Awards block grants to rural and urban communities for economic development. Cultural and historic programs may be eligible.
  • Implementation Grants  (National Endowment for the Humanities).  Implementation Grants support the realization of interpretive exhibitions, the interpretation of historic sites, associated interpretive project components (such as publications and public symposia), public programming, and websites.

(5) Landscaping and scenic beautification

  • Land and Water Conservation Fund (Dept. of Interior/National Park Service). For development of facilities that provide recreational opportunities. Parks and landscaping may be eligible.
  • Access to Artistic Excellence Grants (National Endowment for the Arts).  Supports projects that provide access to the arts for all Americans.  Public art and streetscape improvements may be eligible.
  • Challenge America Fast-Track Review Grants (National Endowment for the Arts). Provides grants for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Eligible projects include those focusing on the development of cultural tourism and cultural districts, and assisting local economic development and cultural publicity efforts. Architectural studies, design competitions and workshops, or feasibility plans for the renovation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of facilities or spaces for cultural activities. Funding is not available for actual renovation or construction costs.

(6) Historic Preservation

  • Save America's Treasures (National Park Service, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities). Provides grants for preservation work on nationally significant historic structures and sites.  Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects.
  • Historic Preservation Fund (National Park Service). Provides matching funds to the states for historic preservation planning and engineering, educational materials and reports, and limited restoration work. Grants are administered through the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).
  • Historic Surplus Property Program (National Park Service). Provides surplus federal properties eligible to state and local governments at no cost.
  • Challenge America Fast-Track Review Grants (National Endowment for the Arts). Provides grants for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. Eligible projects include those focusing on the development of cultural tourism and cultural districts, and assisting local economic development and cultural publicity efforts. Architectural studies, design competitions and workshops, or feasibility plans for the renovation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of facilities or spaces for cultural activities. Funding is not available for actual renovation or construction costs.
  • America's Historic Places Grants (National Endowment for the Humanities). Provides grants for the interpretation of historic sites through publications, signage, etc. (non-construction)
  • Implementation Grants  (National Endowment for the Humanities).  Implementation Grants support the realization of interpretive exhibitions, the interpretation of historic sites, associated interpretive project components (such as publications and public symposia), public programming, and websites.
  • Community Development Block Grants (Dept.  of Housing and Urban Development). Grants help in the economic development and revitalization of communities
  • Rural Housing and Economic Development Grants (Dept.  of Housing and Urban Development). Grants support economic activities in rural areas.
  • Rural Development Grant Program (Dept. of Agriculture). Grants promote rural community development projects and planning.
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Provides small grants to assist with various aspects of historic preservation. Grant programs include the Preservation Services Fund, the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation, and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors. 

(7) Historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities

  • See activity 6 above.  Additionally, transit operators or agencies may be willing to contribute to the refurbishment of transportation facilities.
  • National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act Pilot Program
    This act allows lighthouse properties to be transferred at no cost to federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit corporations, and community development organizations for park and recreation, cultural and historic, and educational uses.

(8) Preservation of abandoned rail corridors

(9) Control and removal of outdoor advertising

  • State and local governments, community groups, and Adopt-A-Highway programs may be willing to aid in the control and removal of outdoor advertising.

(10) Archaeological planning and research

  • Collaborative Research Grants (National Endowment for the Humanities). Supports original research in the humanities. Archaeology projects that interpret and communicate the results of archaeological fieldwork are eligible. 

(11) Environmental mitigation

  • National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program (Fish and Wildlife Service). Provides grants to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands of coastal states.
  • Five-Star Restoration Program (Environmental Protection Agency). Provides grants for restoration projects that involve five or more partners, including local government agencies, elected officials, community groups, businesses, schools, and environmental organizations.
  • Water Protection and Conservation Grants (Turner Foundation). Provides grants to protect rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, oceans, and other water systems from contamination, degradation, and other abuses.

(12) Transportation museums

  • Save America's Treasures (National Park Service, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities). Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts.  Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art.
  • Implementation Grants  (National Endowment for the Humanities).  Implementation Grants support the realization of interpretive exhibitions, the interpretation of historic sites, associated interpretive project components (such as publications and public symposia), public programming, and websites.

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