Q. What is the application process to submit transportation facility improvements for FLTP funding?
A. Applying for FLTP funding is done through the recreation budget process. In the work package information in CW-IFD, the Asset Information tab includes a check box for "Public Roads/Parking (eligible for FLTP)". Checking that box submits a work package for FLTP funding.
Q. What criteria does HQ USACE use to select FLTP transportation facility improvements to receive FLTP funding?
A. HQ USACE takes the list of packages submitted for FLTP funding and ranks them on a series of criteria such as condition (OCA score), economic impact, visitation, cost-benefit, and improvement to underserved communities.
Q. What can a project do to better their chances at receiving FLTP funding?
A.
- One way to better the chances of ranking well is to get Operational Condition Assessments (OCAs) completed so that ranking criteria is accurate and up to date.
- Another way to compete well in the ranking is to have a good cost estimate for the project. Submitting a work package dollar amount that is too low may mean that there’s not enough funding to cover the work – and submitting a work package with a dollar amount that is too high may knock that project out of eligibility for receiving FLTP funds.
- A third way to improve FLTP ranking is to write good justifications thoroughly describing the work that is proposed and why the work is needed.
- Lastly, ensure you have good visitation data. Pay close attention to the VERS program at the project to maintain meter accuracy and correct counts so the visitation ranking factor is clear-cut.
Q. What about bridges that need repair?
A. USACE bridge improvements funded by FLTP are managed by the USACE Bridge Safety Program. For more information, contact Tom North (thomas.l.north@usace.army.mil)
Q. Does USACE need to work an improvement project start to finish? Can FLH help?
A. Federal Highways can deliver a transportation improvement project and in many ways is the preferable manager of the work, as they would handle the engineering work, contract management, etc. This leaves USACE staff free from the extra workload of managing the transportation improvement. There are situations where FLH may not have the capacity to perform the work for the Corps, especially for small improvement projects and/or in parts of the country with lots of other federal lands and transportation improvement work going on. The Corps may take on the project management if FLH is unable to do the work, or if it is the USACE district’s preference to manage the work themselves.
Q. If a project is selected to receive funds in an FY, at what point in the year can the district expect to receive funding?
A. Both new and carry-in funding must be sent or approved for use by FLH each FY before use. New funding should be received by USACE by the end of Q1, though will be delayed in the event of a continuing resolution. Carry-in (or carry-over) funding will be blocked at the change of the FY and need to be approved (also called "restated") each FY before use, and the restatement should occur mid-Q1. FLTP funds may not be used in a new FY until approval from FLH has been granted.
Q. Do FLTP funds need to be expended or returned at the end of the FY?
A. FLTP funds may be kept at the district level and carried into a new FY. However, it is to the advantage of the district to have any contracts obligated by the end of the FY because of the delay time needed to wait for FLH approval to start using funding in the new FY.
Q. What do we do if we have leftover funds after an improvement project is complete?
A. Funds can be retained until closeout is complete to ensure that there's enough labor funding for closeout activities. Once closeout is complete, funds will be returned to USACE HQ to be reprogrammed for other USACE FLTP projects.
