Funding Opportunities

https://iowadot.gov/grants-programs

Regional Planning Affiliation 13 (RPA-13) accepts applications in January of each year for its Regional Transportation Alternatives Program fund for projects in Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page Counties.  Eligible applicants include:

• Local governments,
• Regional transportation authorities,
• Transit agencies,
• Natural resource or public land agencies,
• School districts and local education agencies,
• Tribal governments,
• A non-profit entity responsible for the administration of local transportation safety programs (such as a local program implementing construction, planning, and design of infrastructure related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs or a SRTS program.) and
• Any other local or regional government entity responsible for oversight of transportations or recreational trails.

To be eligible for funds, the project or area served must fit one or more of the following:

• Construction, planning and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation.
• Construction, planning and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non drivers, including children, older adults and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs.
• Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists or other non-motorized transportation users.
• Construction of turnouts, overlooks and viewing areas.
• Inventory, control or removal of outdoor advertising.
• Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities.
• Vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control.
• Archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of transportation project eligible under this title.
• Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to address storm water management, control and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff.
• A construction or non construction project eligible under the Safe Routes to School program.
• A project eligible under the Recreational Trail Program as defined by section 206 of Title 23.

Additionally, the projects must:                                                                                         

• Provide a commitment of at least 20 percent of eligible costs.
• Minimum cost of $25,000
• Project sponsors may be a city, county, public agency, private non-profit or an individual.  Public agencies, private non-profits, and individuals must have a city or county as a co-sponsor.
• Sponsors must be willing to maintain the project for 20 years, including an official endorsement in the form of a fully executed resolution by the elected body or board stating such.
• Narrative discussing public input process.
• Projects must demonstrate a relationship to transportation.

The application and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically to Tammy DeBord (tammy.debord@swipco.org) by January 27, 2023.

All project funding is subject to the availability of transportation funds.

Eligibility

• Projects must be consistent with the goals of the RPA13 Long Range Transportation Plan.  The project does not need to be listed in the plan.
• Projects must fall into at least one of the following categories:
  • Construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of qualified routes.
  • Capital costs for transit projects and publicly owned intra-city and/or intercity bus terminals or facilities. 
  • Highway and transit safety programs.
  • Surface transportation planning, highway and transit technology transfer activities.
• Must be sponsored by state, county, or municipal governmental entity.
• Projects will be let through the Iowa DOT’s Office of Contracts and must meet the documentation requirements specified by that office.
  • All funds will be received and disbursed by the Iowa DOT.  Reimbursement will be received from the Iowa DOT for expenditures on the project.
  • The maximum amount is 80% of the total cost of a project for STBG funds and 100% for SWAP funds.
• An engineer, licensed in Iowa, must prepare all plans and specifications for the project.  Additionally, the engineer must oversee work on the project.
• RPA 13 receives federal funding and may not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, or national origin, according to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  By applying to receive these funds the applicant acknowledges they understand and adhere to the principles of Title VI when performing activities related to the funding they receive.