Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides stewardship over the construction, maintenance, and preservation of the nation’s highways, bridges, and tunnels. FHWA also conducts research and provides technical assistance to State and local agencies to improve safety, mobility, and livability, and to encourage innovation.
Some national scenic and historic trail projects may be eligible for Federal-aid highway funds, especially under the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside and the Recreational Trails Program. Both programs provide funds to the States; the States solicit and select projects for funding. For information, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment.
Among FHWA actions in 2018 that directly benefit national scenic and historic trails:
- Signed an interagency agreement with the Bureau of Land Management for National Scenic and Historic Trails Inventory, Assessment, and Monitoring Program Development, which Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments and private sector entities can use to protect trail corridors. These resources will support more effective program management, project delivery, and build capacity to better administer, manage, and sustain national scenic and historic trails.
- Signed a cooperative agreement with the Partnership for the National Trails System for National Trails System Information, Corridor Protection, and Training to build capacity to better administer, manage, and sustain national scenic and historic trails.
Among FHWA actions in 2018 that also will benefit national trails:
- Signed a cooperative agreement with The Corps Network (TCN) to support Youth Service and Conservation Corps Workforce Development. TCN will develop resources to help encourage States to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service or conservation corps to perform appropriate projects, including pedestrian and bicycle projects and recreational trail projects.
- Supported the National Park Service to develop the NPS Active Transportation Guidebook. The guidebook helps parks and partners identify opportunities for active transportation, and introduce a variety of policies, programs, and types of infrastructure to support and promote the use of active transportation.
FHWA published three documents that will provide information to improve project delivery. National trails interests can use these documents for examples and strategies to move projects forward.
- Case Studies in Realizing Co-Benefits of Multimodal Roadway Design and Gray and Green Infrastructure provides information to encourage agencies interested in making improvements to their pedestrian and bicycle networks that also provide green infrastructure and resiliency benefits.
- The Guidebook for Measuring Multimodal Network Connectivity focuses on measuring pedestrian and bicycle network connectivity and incorporating connectivity analysis into the transportation planning process.
- Strategies for Accelerating Multimodal Project Delivery identifies strategies and techniques for accelerating multimodal project delivery. It highlights proven techniques that agencies are using to get high quality results, and opportunities to address barriers or delays in the project delivery process.
Unless otherwise indicated, all material in Pathways Across America is public domain. All views expressed herein are perspectives of individuals working on behalf of the National Trails System and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the Federal agencies.
