Webinar – Leveraging Unobligated Funding: How to Fund Your Trail with Unspent Federal Funding
This webinar explains how communities can use unobligated federal transportation funds—especially through the August redistribution process—to advance trail projects. Speakers Stephanie Pollack and Derek Shooster highlight how formula funds work, what makes a project eligible for redistribution, and why timing and readiness matter. They emphasize building strong partnerships with MPOs and state DOTs to position projects effectively.
Takeaway 1: Know How Formula Funds Flow
- Identify the funding categories your project can use.
- Understand that projects must be in the TIP to receive federal funds.
- Use formula funds strategically since they represent most available dollars.
Takeaway 2: Prepare Projects for August Redistribution
- Complete environmental reviews and design so the project is ready to obligate quickly.
- Secure a non-federal match before pursuing redistribution dollars.
- Match your project to the correct funding “color” with remaining obligation authority.
Takeaway 3: Build Relationships With MPOs and DOTs
Coordinate with partners to identify creative funding pathways and advance your project in the queue.
Engage directly with TIP managers and planning staff.
Participate in regional planning and TIP/STIP updates to raise project visibility.
Resources
- View the “Statistics on Transportation Funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics: https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/cvki-zubk
- Read the issue brief for the “Flexible Federal Funding Opportunities for State and Local Clean Transportation Investments” from Georgetown Climate Center: https://www.georgetownclimate.org/blog/federal-transportation-funding-flexibility.html
- Check out the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) Federal Funding 101 guide: https://ampo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/AMPO_MPO101.TRANSPO101_Sep2025.pdf
- Read Jeff Davis’s article, “Grant Processing Slowdown Will Mean Larger August Redistribution,” in Eno Transportation Weekly (October 31, 2025): https://enotrans.org/article/grant-processing-slowdown-will-mean-larger-august-redistribution/
- Find out more about the Federal Aid Highway Program 101: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/hisconf/tue01_federal-aid_highway_program_101_todd_kohr.pdf
- Learn more about RTC’s Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange (TrADE), which is the nation’s go-to transportation funding data source for trails and active transportation, tracking TA spending for tens of thousands of projects: https://www.railstotrails.org/site/trade/
- Click here to find your MPO: https://www.planning.dot.gov/mpo/
- Find out more about “Financial Planning & Fiscal Constraint”: https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/transportation-planning/financial-planning-fiscal-constraint
- View the “Pedestrian and Bicycle Funding Opportunities: U.S. Department of Transportation Highway, Transit, and Safety Funds” chart: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/funding/funding_opportunities.pdf?u=092922
- Check out FHWA fact sheets: https://highways.dot.gov/iija/fact-sheets
- Contact Derek with any questions Derek.Shooster@DOT.state.ma.us.
RTC’s TrailNation Collaborative, Trail Development and Policy teams produce a free webinar series designed to help trail professionals build, grow, manage, maintain, promote or otherwise support trails and trail networks. Sign up here to get webinar alerts.
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