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LOCAL FUNDING

IDAHO HIGHWAY USER REVENUE
1. Collection
Highway User Revenue (HUR) is a motor vehicle fuel tax, registration, weight/distance tax, etc.

• HUR is comprised of approximately 70% fuel tax and 30% registration, etc.;

• Fuel tax is collected from the distributor, not at the pump and

• Registration is collected face-to-face by the Idaho Transportation Department, (ITD) by County personnel, and by mail-in.

2. Distribution
HUR is distributed through the Highway Distribution Account (HDA).

• Initial distribution: ISP [5.0%], ITD [57%], Local Highway Jurisdictions, (LHJ) [38%]

• Distribution of LHJ-HUR starts with 30% to cities, and 70% to counties and highway districts;

• Of that 70%: 10% equal division to all counties; 45% is distributed based on the reported improved road mileage (IRM) from the prior calendar year; 45% is distributed based on that counties proportion of total registration revenue from the prior calendar year. This is repeated at the county level: 10% of the lump sum distributed to the county is equally divided between the county and highway districts; 45% based on proportion of county or highway district IRM within the county; 45% based on proportion of registration revenue generated by residences of the county or highway district in that county.

3. Improved Road Mileage: A road with any surface that is graded and drained.
LHJ mileage is increasing as a result of population and economic growth, annually resulting in a relative loss of money per mile. LHJs have added over 800 miles to the county and highway district road systems in the last 3 years from approximately 29,698 miles to 30,568 miles.

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
Available to Local Highway Jurisdictions

Surface Transportation Program (STP)

Local Rural funds are allocated for projects in rural areas, and in cities with populations below 5,000. They may be used for new construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of roadways functionally classified with FHWA as rural major collectors or higher with a small percentage allowed for minor collectors. STP funds can also be used for activities such as transportation planning, corridor studies and the purchase of minimally corrosive anti-icing material. These funds may also be used for enhancement, bridge, or safety activities. The local match requirement is 7.34 percent. The Idaho Transportation Board has designated approximately $10 million annually from FY 1999 through FY 2003, the duration of the current Highway Act. ITD offers an exchange program for those counties and local highway districts that participated in the Exchange Program in FY 1997. The Exchange Program allows the counties local highway districts within each county to exchange their federal-aid funds ($4.0 million) for state funds. The exchange rate is 61.67% State to Federal funds. The remainder of the funds, approximately $6.0 million, is awarded through the Local Federal-aid Incentive Program administered by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC).

Project Selection: Eligible projects are identified, prioritized, and requested by local agencies through a formal project application process (January-March). Project proposals are reviewed and ranked by LHTAC and a prioritized list of projects (based on available funding) is then presented to the Idaho Transportation Board, for inclusion in the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in June. Once an entity is on the STIP they can no longer be in the Exchange Program.

STP Local Urban

Funds are allocated for projects in urban areas of 5,000 population or greater. They may be used for new construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of roadways functionally classified with FHWA as urban collectors or higher. STP funds can also be used for activities such as transportation planning, corridor studies and the purchase of minimally corrosive anti-icing material. These funds may also be used for enhancement, bridge, or safety activities. The local match requirement is 7.34 percent. The Idaho Transportation Board has designated approximately $10 million annually from FY 1999 through FY 2003, the duration of the current Highway Act. The allocation is divided using population data, between the three metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) and all other cities above 5,000 population.

Project Selection: For cities greater than 5,000 population but excluding the MPO's eligible projects are identified, prioritized, and requested by local agencies through a formal project application process (January-March). Project proposals are reviewed and ranked by LHTAC and a prioritized list of projects (based on available funding) is then presented to the Idaho Transportation Board, for inclusion in the draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in June.

For additional information on the STP Local Rural and Urban contact Jerry Flatz , LHTAC Federal Aid Manager by calling (208) 344-0565.

STP Enhancement

Funds are available to state, local, federal agencies, universities and Indian Tribes, for the following transportation enhancement activities:

1. Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.

2. Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles.

3. Acquisition of scenic easement and scenic or historic sites.

4. Scenic or historic highway programs, including the provision of tourist or welcome centers.

5. Landscaping and other scenic beautification.

6. Historic preservation.

7. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities.

8. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors

9. Control and removal of outdoor advertising

10. Archaeological planning

11. Mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff

12. Mitigation of wildlife mortality caused by vehicles

13. Establishment of Transportation Museums.

Project Selection: Projects are solicited through an annual statewide application process (Nov-Feb). The Enhancement Advisory Committee (EAC), an advisory committee established by the Idaho Transportation Board, then prioritizes project applications within available funding levels. The Idaho Transportation Board has set a $500,000 maximum cap on Federal-aid funds. The local or state match requirement is from 2 to 10 percent. Final project selection is by the Idaho Transportation Board. Information and current year applications are available at the following Web site: www.state.id.us/itd/planning under "What's new".

For additional information on the Enhancement Program contact Mark McNeese , Enhancement Coordinator by calling (208) 334-8272.

Congestion Mitigation And Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)

Funds are aimed at reducing transportation related sources and emissions throughout all areas of the state. The primary purpose of Idaho's CMAQ Program is to fund projects, planning, and programs in air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas, as well as areas of concern for ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) which reduce transportation-related emissions. Geographic areas of concern will be identified in cooperation with the Idaho Division of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) as having measured air quality problems or the potential for air quality problems. CMAQ funds are available for construction and non-construction type projects. The local or state match requirement is 7.34 percent.

Project Selection: Projects are solicited through an annual statewide application process targeted to communities with an air-quality problem (Nov-Feb). A CMAQ Technical Review Committee reviews the CMAQ Program applications and recommends high-ranking projects to the Idaho Transportation Board. Projects are evaluated and ranked on a statewide basis for air quality benefits and cost effectiveness. Final project selection is by the Idaho Transportation Board. Information and current year applications are available at the following Web site: www.state.id.us/itd/planning under "What's new".

For additional information on the CMAQ Program contact Patti Raino , CMAQ Coordinator by calling (208) 334-8209.

STP Safety

Funds are for projects to reduce accidents at identified hazardous locations and for bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements, including on-road facilities, public trails, and traffic calming activities, or for projects that improve motorist protection at railroad crossings. These funds are available for any state or local public road. The local or state match requirement is 7.34 percent.

Project Selection: Accident reduction projects at hazardous locations are identified from a systematic review of high accident locations produced from the statewide accident records system. All proposed local or state projects are prioritized statewide within available funding levels on a safety benefit to project cost ratio, which is heavily dependent on accident history and project cost data. Final project selection is by the Idaho Transportation Board.

Accident reduction projects at railroad/highway crossings are identified from a systematic review of hazardous crossings. All proposed local or state projects are prioritized statewide within available funding levels on a ranking formula, which considers vehicle traffic, train traffic, accident history and other relevant crossing data. The Idaho Transportation Board makes the final project selection.

Bridge

Funds are for the replacement or rehabilitation of bridges. The bridge must be at least 20 feet long and have a qualifying "sufficiency rating," generally 50 or lower. The Idaho Transportation Board makes 35 percent of the Bridge funds available for use on local (non-state highway) bridges. The local or state match requirement is 20 percent.

Project Selection: All projects are prioritized statewide within appropriate state or local programs based on bridge condition. State project priorities heavily emphasize bridge replacement projects over bridge rehabilitation projects. Final project selection is by the Idaho Transportation Board.

For additional information on the Bridge Program contact Jerry Flatz , LHTAC Federal Aid Manager by calling (208) 334-0565.

Forest Highways

Funds are for highway improvement projects on highways serving forest highways. These highways may be state highways, local roads or Federal agency roads. Funding, project development and project contracting is administered by the Western Federal Lands Highways Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). There is no state or local match requirement on forest highway projects.

Project Selection: Statewide project priority is jointly determined by ITD, FHWA and the U.S. Forest Service based primarily on the benefits of the project to the management of the Forest Service resources. WFLHD makes the final project selection with the concurrence of the Idaho Transportation Board.

FEDERAL-AID FUNDS

Are Awarded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or Congress that can be applied for by Local Highway Jurisdictions:

Public Lands (Plh) Discretionary

PLH funds are available for any kind of transportation project eligible for assistance under Title 23, United States Code that is within, adjacent to, or provides access to the areas served by the public lands highway. These highways may be state highways, local roads or Federal agency roads. All applications for project funding must be submitted through the ITD. There is no required state or local match on PLH discretionary. In the past two years much of the funding available under this discretionary program has been ear-marked by Congress leaving less funding available to projects submitted in the traditional manner discussed below.

Project Selection: FHWA generally solicits projects in the spring for the following fiscal year. ITD forwards this information to the ITD Districts and other interested parties. Applications are submitted to the Department by a time set in June. Project submittals are prioritized by ITD and then forwarded to FHWA. Project awards are announced by FHWA sometime after the beginning of the federal fiscal year. Information on this national program is available at the following web site: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary/index.htm

For additional information on the Public Lands Discretionary Program contact Dave Amick, Highway Programming Manager by calling (208) 334-8264.

Scenic Byways

Funding is available on a nationally competitive basis for routes that have been designated as a state scenic, historic or back county byway. The Idaho Transportation Board determines routes that will be designated as a state Scenic Byway. Currently 20 routes have Byway designations in Idaho. Information on Idaho Byways is available at the following web site: www.state.id.us/itd/planning under "Published Reports". Projects can include the development of a corridor management plan for a specific byway or for road or enhancement work on the corridor once a management plan has been completed. Scenic Byway funds are announced and awarded at the Federal level and administered once awarded by ITD. The local or state match requirement is 20 percent.

Project Selection: All applications for project funding must be submitted through the state's transportation department and reviewed by its appropriate ITD District office. The Scenic Advisory Committee appointed by the Board then prioritizes project applications. The Board makes a final determination as to which projects are submitted to FHWA for funding consideration. Project awards are announced by FHWA some time after the beginning of the federal fiscal year. Application information is available on the National Web site at: www.byways.org

For additional information on the Scenic Byway Program contact Garry Young, Scenic Byway Coordinator by calling (208) 334-8214.