Transportation Enhancements Program

Total Funds: 10% set-aside of STP funds.

Eligibility: Transportation enhancements (TE) are transportation-related activities that are designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation= s intermodal transportation system. The transportation enhancements program provides for implementation of a variety of non-traditional projects, ranging from the restoration of historic transportation facilities, to bike and pedestrian facilities, to landscaping and scenic beautification, and the mitigation of water pollution from highway runoff.  Transportation enhancement activities must relate to surface transportation. TEA-21 expands the definition of transportation enhancements eligibility to specifically include the following: provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists, scenic or historic highway programs (including provision of tourist and welcome center facilities), environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or to reduce vehicle-caused wild-life mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity, and establishment of transportation museums. TEP encourages use of qualified youth conservation or service corps to perform appropriate TEP activities.  For further information, see FHWA's web site at:  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tea21/factsheets/te.htm  

Examples of approved rail and rail-related projects under Transportation Enhancements Program :

Lehigh Valley Railroad Station Project (Pennsylvania). $250,000 in Transportation Enhancement Program funds were used to rehabilitate the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station for use as a railroad museum and visitors information center.

Lemont Historic Rail Line rehabilitation (Pennsylvania). $77,000 in Transportation Enhancement Program funds were used to replace 880 cross ties, 168 linear feet of switch ties, 640 linear feet of ditching, 100 track feet of line and surface raising, brush cutting and weed spraying of the road bed at Bellefonte Historical Railroad.

Muddy Creek Valley Railroad Restoration (Pennsylvania). $325,000 in Transportation Enhancement Program funds were used for stream bank and erosion repair, rebuilding abutments, replacing steel stringers and other necessary improvements for upgrading the rail line that runs through the Muddy Creek Valley. Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Preservation Society and Authority are the lead agencies.

Lafayette Depot Plaza (Indiana).   Enhancement funds are being used to supplement a project to relocate the historic Big Four Depot and restore it as the focal point of an intermodal civic plaza, with train and transit service. The project is an integral part of the relocation of the railroad line that serves the City of Lafayette.  The relocated and renovated depot, surrounding plaza, elevators, platforms, and bus transfer island provide waiting, boarding, and administrative services for Amtrak, the local bus company, and Greyhound. The railroad relocation project began in the early 1970s. The current contract is the fifteenth since construction began in 1986. The sixteenth contract will restore the old corridor in 2001. In 2002, landscaping will be added in a final contract. When complete, 41 rail grade crossings will have been eliminated.