Plans & Projects > Economic recovery projects > Local recovery projects >

Local recovery projects - Eligibility

General requirements for qualification

Economic recovery projects must meet all federal and state requirements to be considered. A project may be eligible for Recovery Act local funding if:

• It is currently scheduled from January 1 through September 30, 2010. Construction activity for these projects must be accelerated to be let this construction season with PS&E due June 1, 2009.
• It qualifies for the Surface Transportation Program - Rural, the Surface Transportation Program - Urban, or the Local Bridge Program.
• It is a Transportation Enhancement project that fits within one of the twelve categories on the enhancement application.
• It meets all provisions of the WisDOT Facilities Development Manual, including FDM 11-40-1 . This includes all safety upgrades and the requirement that the improvement will extend the service life of the roadway for 10 years without another federally funded improvement.

NOT eligible for Recovery Act local funding if:

• It addresses roadways classified as “Local Roads,” “Minor Collectors,” “Connecting Highways,” or “State Trunk Highways.”
• It is funded under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program, the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), or the Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP)
• It is a Transportation Enhancement application requesting funds for road construction only.
• It is already in an existing program and scheduled before January 1, 2010. 

Of special note:

• All projects must be in the TIP/STIP.
• All Recovery Act projects must be state let, including all enhancement projects.
• The functional classification of a roadway must be obtained from a WisDOT map.
• Bridges must be listed on the 2008 National Bridge Inventory (NBI) list (672 KB).
• Funding may be eligible for design work, but only on projects whose construction will be funded with recovery dollars.

Requirements for specific programs

STP-Rural Program federal eligibility requirement:

• Roadways must be functionally classified as a Major Collector or higher.

STP-Urban Program federal eligibility requirement:

• Roadways must to be functionally classified as a Collector or higher.

Local Bridge Program federal eligibility requirements for Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (HBRRP):

• Bridges must be located on a locally owned public roadway.
• Bridges must be greater than 20 feet in length.
• Bridges must be on the 2008 National Bridge Inventory (NBI) list (672 KB).
• Bridges must be classified as deficient (structurally deficient or functionally obsolete).
• If a bridge is deficient, it must meet the following Sufficiency Rating (SR) requirements:
  • If the SR is less than 50, the bridge is eligible for either replacement or rehabilitation.
  • If the SR is from 80 down through 50, the bridge is eligible for rehabilitation only.
  • An eligible local bridge with a SR rating of 80 or less shall have an engineering study undertaken and funded independently by the eligible applicant that indicates that any rehabilitation would be cost effective, would extend the life of the bridge by at least 10 years, and would correct all deficiencies.
  • If the SR is greater than 80, the bridge is not eligible for HBRRP funding. However, bridge work that is otherwise justified may be funded with other federal fund types, such as NHS or STP funds.
• A bridge is not eligible for HBRRP funding if it has been reconstructed within the last ten years regardless of the funding used to accomplish the work.

Transportation Enhancements Program federal eligibility requirements:

The project must "relate to surface transportation."

The project must fit into one of the following twelve categories:

• Provision of facilities for pedestrians/bicycles
• Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians & bicyclists
• Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use thereof for pedestrian or bicycle trails)
• Historic Preservation
• Rehabilitation/operation of historic transportation buildings (including historic railroad facilities and canals)
• Establishment of transportation museums
• Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites
• Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities)
• Landscaping and other scenic beautification
• Control and removal of outdoor advertising
• Environmental mitigation of water pollution due to highway run-off or reduce vehicle caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity
• Archeological planning and research

Requirements for plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E)

The following federal/state requirements must be completed by the PS&E dates noted in the application timeline:

• Environmental document must be approved, including tribal notification letters, final DNR concurrence and 401 permit. Environmental commitments also need to be included.
• Design Study Report (DSR) must be completed and approved.
• If required, a 404 Permit must be in hand from the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Railroad coordination and certification must be complete.
• Utility coordination must be complete, including all right-of-way issues.
• All right-of-way must be owned and easements with utilities and railroads secured.
• Traffic Management Plan (TMP) must be complete.
• Latest start date and required construction windows must be known and clearly identified.
• Projects must be in the TIP/STIP.
• Electronic PS&E package successfully submitted to WisDOT.

You will need Microsoft Excel 2000 to view Excel files. If you do not have a copy of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, you can use the Microsoft Excel Viewer (provided free of charge) to view Excel files. For more information about getting your free copy of Microsoft Excel Viewer, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

You will need the Adobe Reader (provided free of charge) to view PDF files. For more information about getting your free copy of the Adobe Reader, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

Questions about the content of this page:
Office of Public Affairs, opa.exec@dot.wi.gov 
Last modified: November 17, 2009