FUNDING SOURCES
The Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln MPO is responsible for prioritizing the identified local transportation needs and then identifying funding sources to help meet these needs. Much of the funding that is used to pay for transportation projects and programs come from the US Department of Transportation, through the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. These agencies then pass through the majority of funds to the NCDOT, which in turn either allocates funds to the MPO to assign to projects or prioritizes projects in consultation with the MPO through the Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) program.
The State of North Carolina passed into law new transportation legislation on June 26, 2013 that created the STI program, and all project types, including public transportation, highway, bicycle, pedestrian, ferry, aviation, and rail freight projects compete for funding through this program, which is generally conducted every two years.
The NCDOT and other agencies receive much of their capital funds through the federal surface transportation program. The current version of the program is called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Funding Sources
The following is not an all-inclusive list of funding sources available to the GCLMPO:
Recreational Trails Program Grant
The Recreational Trails Program is a $1.5-million federal grant program designed to help states provide and maintain recreational trails for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail use. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
Community Development Block Grant
For projects that enhance the viability of communities by providing housing and suitable living environments and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for people with low and moderate incomes.
Congestion, Mitigation, and Air Quality (CMAQ)
While much of the federal and state funds are allocated through the STI process, CMAQ funds are allocated through a separate process, due to specific limitations regarding eligible entities and projects. Gaston and Lincoln counties continue to be in the Ozone maintenance areas for the Metrolina region. Because of this designation, the GCLMPO receives an annual allocation of Federal CMAQ funds from NCDOT to assign to eligible projects using an adopted ranking process. The MPO currently receives an average of $1.43 million per year, in the last three rounds. GCLMPO allocates the funds by conducting a call for projects periodically.
Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan IIJA into law, which reauthorized the nation’s surface transportation legislation for Federal Fiscal Years 2022 – 2026. The IIJA includes $110 billion for roads, bridges, and major infrastructure projects, $39 billion for public transportation, $66 billion for rail, and $25 billion for aviation.
Raise Grant
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, formerly known and Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER), will award over $1 billion in grant projects in fiscal year (FY) 2021. Eligible projects for RAISE grant include both capital and planning projects. The capital projects could include roads or bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight rail, or intermodal projects. Planning projects include the planning, preparation, or design of eligible surface transportation projects. If projects are located in rural areas, up to 100 percent of the costs of the project may be funded by the RAISE grant. The City should identify eligible projects and consider submitting a formal application.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.
Airport Improvement Program Supplemental Discretionary Grants
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $268,728,965 in fiscal year (FY) 2022 competitive supplemental discretionary grants. The purpose of the supplemental discretionary grant program is to make grants to eligible airports for airport construction projects, associated airport capital planning, noise planning and noise mitigation projects, and energy and environmental sustainability projects. FAA will implement the FY 2022 supplemental discretionary grant program consistent with Airport Improvement Program (AIP) sponsor and project eligibility and will consider project applications that align with the priorities, limitations, and requirements described in the NOFO cited in this grants.gov posting (in the link to additional information).
Areas of Persistent Poverty Program
The Areas of Persistent Poverty Program supports the President’s initiatives to mobilize American ingenuity to build modern infrastructure and an equitable, clean energy future. By supporting increased transit access for environmental justice (EJ) populations, equity-focused community outreach and public engagement of underserved communities and adoption of equity-focused policies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and addressing the effects of climate change, FTA’s AoPP Program advances the goals of Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government; Executive Order 13990: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis; and Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.
Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program
The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program (49 U.S.C. 5339(b)) makes federal resources available to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities, including technological changes or innovations to modify low or no emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants.
Low or No Emission Vehicle Program
The Low or No Emission competitive program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants (Community Charging)
Program funds will be made available each fiscal year for Community Grants, to install electric vehicle charging and alternative fuel in locations on public roads, schools, parks, and in publicly accessible parking facilities. These grants will be prioritized for rural areas, low-and moderate-income neighborhoods, and communities with low ratios of private parking, or high ratios of multiunit dwellings.
Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and CostSaving Transportation (PROTECT)
PROTECT Grants will support planning, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure. Highway, transit, and certain port projects are eligible. eligible recipients are State (or political subdivision of a State), metropolitan planning organization, local government, special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, Tribe, Federal land management agency (applying jointly with State(s)); Different eligibilities apply for at-risk coastal infrastructure grants.
Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants
On November 15, 2021 President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which is the most significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure in more than half a century. This includes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations (PHMSA) first ever Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program. The legislation designated $200 million a year in grant funding with a total of $1 billion in grant funding over the next five years.
The grant funding is to be made available to a municipality or community owned utility (not including for-profit entities) to repair, rehabilitate, or replace its natural gas distribution pipeline systems or portions thereof or to acquire equipment to (1) reduce incidents and fatalities and (2) to avoid economic losses.
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.
The SS4A program supports Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and the Department’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways.
Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, continues the competitive Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning program, that provides funding for efforts associated with an eligible transit project for which the project sponsor will seek funding through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants Program. TOD focuses growth around transit stations to create compact, mixed-use communities with easy access to jobs and services. TOD capitalizes on public investments in transit and supports transit systems by increasing ridership and fare revenue.
Thriving Communities Program
Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) discretionary grant program, funded with $1 billion over the next 5 years.
It is the first-ever Federal program dedicated to reconnecting communities that were previously cut off from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure. Funding supports planning grants and capital construction grants, as well as technical assistance, to restore community connectivity through the removal, retrofit, mitigation, or replacement of eligible transportation infrastructure facilities.
Bridge Investment Program
The Bridge Investment Program is a competitive, discretionary program that focuses on existing bridges to reduce the overall number of bridges in poor condition, or in fair condition at risk of falling into poor condition. It also expands applicant eligibilities to create opportunity for all levels of government to be direct recipients of program funds. Alongside states and federal lands management agencies, metropolitan planning organizations and local and tribal governments can also apply directly to FHWA, making it easier to advance projects at the local level that meet community needs.
Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program
This program provides funding for highway-rail or pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods.
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART)
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) discretionary grant program with $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026.
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
The Mega Grant Program
The INFRA Grants Program
INFRA (known statutorily as the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) awards competitive grants for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas.
The Rural Surface Transportation Grant
The Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program will support projects to improve and expand the surface transportation infrastructure in rural areas to increase connectivity, improve the safety and reliability of the movement of people and freight, and generate regional economic growth and improve quality of life.
NCDOT Strategic Transportation Investments
Passed in 2013, the Strategic Transportation Investments law equips the N.C. Department of Transportation to use funding efficiently and effectively to enhance infrastructure while supporting economic growth, job creation and a higher quality of life.
NCDOT-IMD Feasibility Study Grant Program
Feasibility studies bridge the gap between conceptual planning and programming of projects. They build upon higher-level planning efforts and take a comprehensive approach to identify possible route alternatives of multimodal corridors. The purpose of this type of study is to evaluate technical feasibility of a project from a design, permitting, and constructability perspective.
Bicycle Helmet Initiative
The primary goal of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative is to reduce child/youth bicycle fatalities and serious injuries, including head trauma, in North Carolina. Funding for the Bicycle Helmet Initiative is made possible through the “Share the Road” specialty license plate. Persons dedicated to bicycle safety in North Carolina have continued to support this initiative and have made thousands of helmets available to children. Bicycle safety and education is an integral part of the Integrated Mobilty Division’s purpose. To promote bicycle safety, which includes helmet usage, the Bicycle Helmet Initiative selection process has been revised to broaden its outreach and awards are no longer being limited to government agencies only. Helmets will be awarded and distributed once per calendar year in the spring and awardees will have the remainder of the calendar year to host their program. Selected applicants meeting the criteria will be awarded helmets to distribute to low income children. The applicants must file a report about the distribution event within 30 days after the event occurs
Powell Bill
North Carolina’s state street-aid program, also known as the Powell Bill program, provides funding for eligible municipalities based on mileage and population of locally-maintained roadways. The primary function of the Powell Bill program is to assist municipalities in funding resurfacing local streets; however, those funds may also be used for the planning, construction, or maintenance of sidewalks, multi-use paths, and bikeways. Powell Bill funds may be pursued as a match for future updates of this plan or a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. For Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Bessemer City received $155,000 in Powell Bill funding.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is an approach that promotes walking and bicycling to school through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, tools, safety education, and incentives to encourage walking and bicycling to school.
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
Since 1994 the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) awards matching grants to local governments for parks, public beach access, and improvements in state parks. A local government can request a maximum of $500,000 with each application and can be used to build or improve facilities for public use, or to acquire land for parks. PARTF funds may be used to improve the accessibility of existing facilities, including to bring them into compliance with current ADA standards. The grants require a 50% match from the applicant.
Municipal Service District
The city council of any city may by ordinance define a service district upon finding that a proposed district is in need of one or more of the services, facilities, or functions listed in G.S. 160A-536 to a demonstrably greater extent than the remainder of the city.
Tax Incremental Financing
Leverages future tax gains to finance current improvements that will create those gains. Dedicates increased tax revenues to finance the debt created by the project.
Transportation Bonds
Transportation bonds generate revenue from a tax increase on property values. In the state of North Carolina, bond referendums must be approved by the local council and later included on a ballot to be voted on by residents. The funds generated from the transportation bonds can be used toward roadway, bicycle, or sidewalk projects.
Land Development Codes
The City’s new land development code requires private developers to include sidewalks at least 5’ wide along all streets in their site plans. This allows the City to build out the pedestrian and multi-use facility recommendations without paying for it directly. In future updates, the code could consider requiring both on-and off-street facilities in addition to pedestrian benches.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation – Healthy Place Grant
Program focuses on outcome approach to improve the health and well-being of residents. Eligible projects for grants concentrate on increased physical activity and active play through support of built environment improvements like sidewalks and safe places to bike.
Duke Energy Water Resources Fund
The Water Resources Fund is a $10 million multiyear commitment from Duke Energy to help local nonprofits continue to protect and improve the environment, including waterways used year-round across the Carolinas and neighboring states.
Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina Community Grants
Provides funding to local communities to support efforts to develop community-based interventions that encourage, promote, and facilitate physical activity.
National Trails Fund
American Hiking Society’s National Trails Fund is the only privately funded, national grants program dedicated solely to building and protecting hiking trails. Created in response to the growing backlog of trail maintenance projects, the National Trails Fund has helped hundreds of grassroots organizations acquire the resources needed to protect America’s cherished hiking trails.
Rite Aid Healthy Future
Formerly known as The Rite Aid Foundation, Rite Aid Healthy Futures is a charitable, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity established by Rite Aid in 2001. Its mission is to raise funds to support charitable activities in the various communities that Rite Aid serves, with a sharpened focus on addressing racial inequities and health disparities while driving meaningful progress and sustainable change on these key issues.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Largest U.S. foundation devoted to improving the health and healthcare of all Americans. Grant making is concentrated in four areas: (1) To ensure that all Americans have access to basic health care at a reasonable cost, (2) To improve care and support for people with chronic health conditions, (3) To promote healthy communities and lifestyles, and (4) To reduce the personal, social, and economic harm caused by abuse of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
Carolina Thread Trail
Local communities and partners in the 15-county area are invited to participate in planning and building the Thread Trail. Communities and partner organizations are empowered through financial and technical support from the project to create and implement their own community-based trails. The communities, working together, may apply for grants from the private pool of capital that can serve as catalytic funding and help attract public funding sources.
Non-Profit Organizations
Non-profit organizations including health care organizations or community funds are potential sources of funding for multimodal facilities. These funds have been used in some communities to complete small-scale projects, such as wayfinding, bike-rack installation, or improvements to existing facilities.