§204 Federal Lands Access Program

Summary

Pays for building, fixing, and planning roads and related things that give people access to Federal land. Money can be used for work like planning, engineering, maintenance, rebuilding, and construction of access roads. It also covers nearby parking and signs, buying scenic easements or historic sites, sidewalks and bike paths, fixes that reduce vehicle-wildlife crashes while keeping habitat connected, rest areas with water and toilets, wayfinding markers, landscaping, and fixing visual blight. Transit operation and maintenance and any other Title 23 transportation project that is on, next to, or gives access to Federal land are also eligible. The Transportation Secretary and the land agency can make contracts with States or Indian tribes. Projects must follow approved rules. States and local governments can help and their money will count toward the program. Most projects must be awarded by competitive bidding unless an agency finds another method is needed. When planting or landscaping, project teams must try to use local native plants and designs that reduce runoff and heat. The money is split among States that have Federal land. States with at least 1 1/2 percent of total public land get 80% of the funds. The other States get 20%. In each group, funds are divided 30% by share of recreational visits, 5% by share of Federal land area, 55% by share of Federal public road miles, and 10% by share of Federal public bridges. Data for this split comes from the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Corps of Engineers. Each State makes programming choices through a committee with a Federal Highway Administration representative, a State Department of Transportation representative, and a local government representative. That committee must work with the relevant Federal agencies and give priority to projects that serve high-use recreation sites or Federal economic generators identified by the land agencies.