Eastern Federal Lands Access Program

Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the purpose of the program?

The goal of the Federal Lands Access Program is to improve transportation facilities that provide access to, are

adjacent to, or are located within Federal lands. The program is managed through the Federal Highway

Administration - Federal Lands Highway Divisions. Please note that this is a Title 23 Federal Aid Highway

Reimbursable Program and not a lump-sum grant program. https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs-access

Who is eligible to apply for FLAP project funding?

Eligible applicants include only state, county, tribal, or city government agencies that own or maintain the 

transportation facility. The term “Transportation Facility” means a public highway, road, bridge, trail or transit 

system that is located on, is adjacent to, or provides access to Federal lands for which title or maintenance 

responsibility is vested in a state, county, town, township, tribal, municipal, or local government. “Maintenance”

means the preservation of theentire roadway surface, shoulders, roadside ditches, drainage structures, bridges, and 

traffic control devices necessary for safe and efficient operations. “Vested maintenance responsibility” means that 

the majority of the cost forthese activities is borne by the state, county, town, township, tribal, municipal, or local

government.

The FLAP program applicant must be the facility owner, have maintenance responsibility or must supply a letter

from the facility owner/maintainer indicating that the application is being submitted on their behalf. Early

coordination between the appropriate Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA) whose access would be improved

by the proposed action and the applicant state/county/local/tribal government is strongly encouraged to ensure 

adequate time for input and signature of agreement / concurrence of the proposed action by all involved parties 

before the submittal due date.

What types of projects will be considered?

The Federal Lands Access Program supplements State and local resources for public roads, multiuse trails, transit 

systems, and othertransportation facilities, with an emphasis on the improvement of access to federally owned highuse recreation sites and Federal economic generators. Federal Lands Access Program funds are intended for:

Capital Improvements- These proposals include rehabilitation, restoration, construction, and reconstruction of

roads, bridges, multiuse trails, and other long-term transportation system asset improvements. This includes

improvements such as safety improvements, pavement widening, realignments, surfacing, culverts, signing, 

guardrail, wallsand associated roadway appurtenances.

Enhancements- These proposals are road and trail related improvements such as interpretative signing, kiosks,

viewpoints, adjacent vehicular parking areas, roadside rest areas (including sanitary and water facilities), provisions

for pedestrians and bicycles, acquisition of scenic easement and scenic or historic sites, trailheads, trails, and

improvements that improve public safety and reduce vehicle-wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat

connectivity.

Surface Preservation- These proposals include surface preservation of roads, trails, and adjacent vehicular parking

areas. They include chip sealing, crack sealing, and aggregate courses. FLAP funds are not intended for routine

maintenance projects (e.g., potholes, mowing, snow removal, same type guardrail replacement, etc.).

Transit- These proposals include construction of transit facilities (e.g. ferry docks, helipads, boat ramps, and bus 

stops) and limitedduration operation/maintenance funding of transit services and facilities (including vehicles) and 

the purchase of transit vehicles.

Planning- These proposals include engineering feasibility studies, corridor management planning, bicycle/pedestrian

planning and alternative transportation system planning that will provide valuable information for future FLAP

proposals.

Research- These proposals include evaluating solutions that enhance access, safety or sustainability. They address

issues such as wildlife-vehicle collision avoidance measures, context sensitive roadside safety features, and

congestion management strategies.
Eastern Federal Lands Access Program

Are matching funds required?

As a result of recent legislative action, the program does not require any matching funds. Project award values 

represent 100% federal funding. Applicants may also provide additional funds beyond the requested amount of 

FLAP funds to contribute to the project. Because of the limited amount of FLAP funding available in each state in 

any given federal fiscal year, proposals will receive additional consideration when funding is leveraged from other

sources.

Typically, most states prefer cash funding for any such supplemental project funding. However, the project’s 

preliminary engineering phase (planning,engineering design, NEPA and permitting, etc.), and the right-of-way 

acquisition and construction phases of the project may use a cash and/or “in-kind services” such as toll credits, the 

assessed value of donated property, labor, materials, and CEI services. The use of any such “in-kind services” are 

subject to Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) and State DOT review and approval. Funds authorized 

under the Tribal Transportation Program and the Federal Lands Transportation Program as well as other Federal 

funds not authorized under Title 23 or 49 may also be used for supplemental project funding. The use of such funds

must be mutually acceptable to both EFLHD and the proposal applicants.

How would the projects be delivered?

On the application form you will select from EFLHD, State DOT or Local Public Agency or “other” as the 

preferred delivery organization. EFLHD welcomes the opportunity to provide “cradle to grave” project delivery 

services under this program. This approach allows State or local resources to be utilized on their other priorities. If 

you would like to request EFLHD to deliver your project, please coordinate with EFLHD at a minimum of 30 days 

prior to the closing of the Call for Projects to request development of an independent project cost estimate by 

EFLHD staff. Contact Lewis Grimm, EFLHD Planning Team Leader, 703-404-6289 or at Lewis.Grimm@dot.gov.

State DOTs are eligible to deliver their own projects. Local agencies requesting to deliver their own project must be

certified by the State DOT or demonstrate prior experience with the use of federal transportation funds (Title 23) to

deliver projects in compliance with Federal Highway Administration regulations. Additional information regarding

local agency project delivery roles and responsibilities may be found at the following website:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/federal-aidessentials/stateresources.cfm

What happens if my project is selected?

After the Programming Decisions Committee (PDC) has reviewed, rated, and ranked the applications received in 

response to the Call for Projects, successful applicants will receive a selection notification letter from EFLHD 

stating that their project has been “Recommended for Programming”. The applicant will then be contacted by the 

EFLHD Programs Office and will receive a detailed letter stipulating the scope of the project, the specific roles and 

responsibilities of all signatory parties, the anticipated project schedule and the funding arrangements. Please note 

that the outreach and execution of the programming process will be prioritized by the Federal Fiscal Year for which 

the project is programmed for the receipt of FLAPfunds.