recreation development and land acquisition by local governments and state agencies. In North Carolina, the program is administered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Since 1965, the LWCF program has built a park legacy for present and future generations. In North Carolina alone, the LWCF program has provided more than $75 million in matching grants to protect land and support more than 875 state and local park projects. More than 38,500 acres have been acquired with LWCF assistance to establish a park legacy in our state. As of August 2020, the LWCF is now permanently funded by the federal government for $900 million every year. This is hundreds of millions more per year than the fund typically receives. For more information: https://www.ncparks. gov/more-about-us/grants/lwcf-grants RIVERS, TRAILS, AND CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) is a National Parks Service (NPS) program that provides technical assistance via direct NPS staff involvement to establish and restore greenways, rivers, trails, watersheds and open space. The RTCA program only provides planning assistance; there are no implementation funds available. Projects are prioritized for assistance based on criteria, including conserving significant community resources, fostering cooperation between agencies, serving a large number of users, encouraging public involvement in planning and implementation, and focusing on lasting accomplishments. Project applicants may be state and local agencies, tribes, nonprofit organizations, or citizen groups. National parks and other federal agencies may apply in partnership with other local organizations. This program may benefit trail development in North Carolina indirectly through technical assistance, particularly for community organizations, but is not a capital funding source. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/ orgs/rtca/index.htm
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ENHANCED MOBILITY OF SENIORS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES This program can be used for capital expenses that support transportation to meet the special needs of older adults and persons with disabilities, including providing access to an eligible public transportation facility when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs. For more information: https://www.transit. dot.gov/funding/grants/enhanced-mobility- seniors-individuals-disabilities-section-5310 FEDERAL LANDS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM (FLTP) The FLTP funds projects that improve transportation infrastructure owned and maintained by the following Federal Lands Management Agencies: National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and independent Federal agencies with land and natural resource management responsibilities. FLTP funds are for available for program administration, transportation planning, research, engineering, rehabilitation, construction, and restoration of Federal Lands Transportation Facilities. Transportation projects that are on the public network that provide access to, adjacent to, or through Federal lands are also eligible for funding. Under the FAST Act, $335 - $375 million has been allocated to the program per fiscal year from 2016 - 2020. For more information: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/ programs/fltp/documents/FAST%20FLTP%20 fact%20sheet.pdf
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION CLEANUP FUNDING SOURCES EPA’s Brownfields Program provides direct funding for brownfields assessment, cleanup, revolving loans, and environmental job training. EPA’s Brownfields Program collaborates with other EPA programs, other federal partners, and state agencies to identify and leverage more resources for brownfields activities. The EPA provides assessment grants to recipients to characterize, assess, and conduct community involvement related to brownfields sites. They also provide area-wide planning grants (AWP) which provides communities with funds to research, plan, and develop implementation strategies for areas affected by one or more brownfields. For more information: https://www.epa.gov/ brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION: FIVE STAR & URBAN WATERS RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM The Five Star & Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships for wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration, urban wildlife conservation, stormwater management as well as outreach, education and stewardship. Projects should focus on water quality, watersheds and the habitats they support. The program focuses on five priorities: on-the-ground restoration, community partnerships, environmental outreach, education, and training, measurable results, and sustainability. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribes, and educational institutions. Projects are required to meet or exceed a 1:1 match to be competitive. For more information: http://www.nfwf.org/ fivestar/Pages/home.aspx
State and State- Administered Funding Sources
There are multiple sources for state funding of bicycle and pedestrian transportation projects. However, state transportation funds cannot be used to match federally funded transportation projects, according to a law passed by the North Carolina Legislature. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (NCDOT) STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS (STI) Passed in 2013, the Strategic Transportation Investments law (STI) allows NCDOT to use its funding more efficiently and effectively to enhance the state’s infrastructure, while supporting economic growth, job creation and a higher quality of life. This process encourages thinking from a statewide and regional perspective while also providing flexibility to address local needs. STI also establishes a way of allocating available revenues based on data- driven scoring and local input. It is used for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), which identifies the transportation projects that will receive funding during a 10-year period. STIP is a state and federal requirement, which NCDOT updates every two years.
STI’s Quantitative Scoring Process
All independent bicycle and pedestrian projects are ranked based on a quantitative scoring process, with the following main steps: • Initial Project Review (NCDOT Strategic Prioritization Office (SPOT)) • Review Projects and Data (NCDOT Integrated Mobility Division (IMD)) • Review Data (MPOs, RPOs, Divisions) • Review Updates and Calculate Measures (NCDOT IMD) • Score Projects (NCDOT SPOT)
FEDERAL LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has historically been a primary funding source of the U.S. Department of the Interior for outdoor
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APPENDIX B: FUNDING RESOURCES
FUQUAY-VARINA PEDESTRIAN PLAN
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