Grant Details


National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) - FY 2023/2024

Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation
CFDA: 20.205
Federal FON: 693JJ324NF00029
Office: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 12/16/2024 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 09/17/2024
   
Match Required: Yes
Match Type: Cash/In-Kind
Actual Funds: $26,950,000 (Confirmed)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to help state departments of transportation (DOTs) and Indian tribes implement eligible projects on highways designated as National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads, state scenic byways, or Indian tribe scenic byways; and plan, design, and develop a state or Indian tribe scenic byway program. Eligible projects include access to recreation, byway facilities, construction, corridor management plans, highway improvements, interpretive information, marketing programs, resource protection, safety improvements, state and Indian tribe scenic byway programs, and tourist information.

Eligible project types include:

  • An activity related to the planning, design, or development of a state or Indian tribe scenic byway program
  • Development and implementation of a corridor management plan to maintain the scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural, and archaeological characteristics of a byway corridor while providing for accommodation of increased tourism and development of related amenities
  • Safety improvements to the extent that the improvements are necessary to accommodate increased traffic and changes in the types of vehicles using the highway as a result of the byway designation
  • Construction along a scenic byway of a facility for pedestrians and bicyclists, a rest area, a turnout, a highway shoulder improvement, an overlook, or an interpretive facility
  • An improvement to a scenic byway that will enhance access to an area for the purpose of recreation, including water-related recreation
  • Protection of scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural, and archaeological resources in an area adjacent to a scenic byway
  • Development and provision of tourist information to the public, including interpretive information about a scenic byway
  • Development and implementation of a scenic byway marketing program

Refer to pages 12-16 of the WebinarPresentation file for additional examples of eligible projects.

Priority may be given to projects that will advance two or more of the following goals:

  • Safety: advancing safe, efficient transportation
  • Climate change and sustainability: reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the transportation sector; incorporating evidence-based climate resilience measures and features; reducing the lifecycle GHG emissions from the project materials; avoiding adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species; and addressing the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities
  • Equity: creating proportional impacts to all populations in a project area, removing transportation-related disparities to all populations in a project area, and increasing equitable access to project benefits
  • Workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation: creating good-paying jobs with free and fair choice to join a union and incorporating strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages

An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.

Last Updated: November 25, 2024

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are state departments of transportation (DOTs) and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Other entities may partner with a state DOT or tribal government to submit an application; however, the eligible applicant must be a state DOT or Indian tribe.

Projects must be implemented on highways designated as National Scenic Byways, All-American Roads, state scenic byways, or Indian tribe scenic byways.

State DOTs may submit multistate byway applications and Indian tribes may submit multitribe byway applications. For the purposes of award administration, a multistate or multitribe award is an arrangement whereby one state DOT or Indian tribe agrees to serve as the lead state DOT or lead Indian tribe for preparing and submitting a single application, as well as administering the award. If the proposed project falls on or is adjacent to both state DOT or tribal land, the state DOT and tribe should coordinate to determine which applicant will act as lead for preparing and submitting the application.

Priority may be given to:

  • Projects where the majority of costs will be spent within, or on the boundary of, a census-designated rural area, as defined on page 29 of the NOFA file
  • Projects where at least part of the project falls within an economically distressed community per the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a map of which can be found online at www.statsamerica.org/distress

Applicants may submit more than one application; however, only one project may be included in each application. Applicants submitting more than one application must inform the funding agency of each application's priority over the others by numeral ranking, with one being the highest priority.

Previous award recipients of this program may apply for funding to support additional phases of their project; however, to be competitive, the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which the previously funded project phase has met estimated project schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the benefits expected for the project.

Federal land management agencies (FLMAs) are not eligible to apply. FLMAs may coordinate with states or tribes to submit an application but may not act as lead applicant. If funding is awarded, a state DOT or tribe may enter into an agreement with an FLMA to carry out project activities. In addition, a state may request that funding be directly allocated to the FLMA.

State-recognized Indian tribes and other nonfederally recognized Indian tribes are not eligible to apply.

Previous award recipients include:

  • California Department of Transportation (CA)
  • Iowa Department of Transportation (IA)
  • Forest County Potawatomi Community Tribe (WI)
  • Oklahoma Department of Transportation (OK)
  • Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RI)

Refer to the Award file for additional information on previous award recipients.

Eligible Applicants:
Consortia
Native American Tribe
State Government
Application Notes:

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 16, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • SF 424A or SF 424C (as applicable)
  • SF 424B or SF 424D (as applicable)
  • SF LLL
  • Grants.gov lobbying form
  • Project narrative (10 pages max)
  • Appendices to the project narrative (if applicable)

The project narrative must be submitted as a single .pdf document. The funding agency recommends that the project narrative be prepared with standard formatting preferences, such as single-spacing, one-inch margins, and a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman.

The following are required in order to submit an application:

  • Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
  • SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

An optional webinar will be held for this program as follows:

October 10, 2024
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com

A recording of the webinar held for this program can be found online at usdot.zoomgov.com/rec, which can be accessed using the passcode "7Dj@=D1J."

Applications will be evaluated according to the merit criteria, statutorily required project selection priorities, and the funding agency's priority selection considerations detailed on pages 26-31 of the NOFA file.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Required: Yes
Match Type: Cash/In-Kind
Actual Funds: $26,950,000 (Confirmed)
Match Notes:

Applicants must provide at least 20 percent of the total project costs via cash or in-kind contributions. Priority may be given to applicants that provide matching contributions in excess of the required minimum.

Matching contributions may include private, local, tribal, or state funds. Property and materials may be used as matching contributions if the source is an individual or a private entity, local government, or tribe applying through the state department of transportation (DOT). Services may be used as matching contributions if the source is an individual or a private entity, local government, or tribe applying  through the state DOT directly to the funding agency.

In general, matching contributions may not include federal funds; however, a federal land management agency (FLMA) may use funds authorized for its use as matching contributions for scenic byway projects along public roads that provide access to or within federal or Indian land.

Matching contributions may not include previously incurred costs or previously expended or encumbered funds.

Funding Notes:

A total of $26.95 million is available through this program to support between 30 and 40 awards. There is no minimum or maximum award size.

Of the total funds available, $20 million is appropriated from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and an additional $7.5 million is appropriated from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. A set-aside of 2 percent of the appropriated funds will be used by the funding agency for administrative activities and technical assistance.

In general, funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.

Awards are anticipated to be made in the first half of 2025.

If the successful applicant is a state DOT or if a state DOT will serve as a pass-through entity to a non-state DOT, funds will be awarded upon the execution of a project agreement, which is a type of award agreement for administration of funds to a state DOT in the Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS). The start of the project period will begin on the date that the funds are obligated in FMIS and end on the project end date in FMIS.

If the successful applicant is a tribe, funds will be awarded upon the execution of a grant agreement. The start of the project period will begin on the date that the award agreement is executed by the funding agency and end on the date that is listed in the award agreement.

Awards provided with FY 2023 appropriated funds must be obligated by September 30, 2026, and expended by September 30, 2031. Awards provided with FY 2024 appropriated funds must be obligated by September 30, 2027, and expended by September 30, 2032.

For projects that will be administered by a state DOT, funds may be used for costs incurred prior to the funding agency's obligation of funds under an advance construction authorization project agreement. For projects that will be administered by a non-state DOT, unless authorized by the funding agency in writing, funds may not be used for pre-award costs incurred prior to the execution of a project agreement.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Projects that would not protect the scenic, historical, recreational, cultural, natural, or archaeological integrity of a highway or adjacent areas
  • Supporting or opposing union organizing, whether directly or as an offset for other funds
  • Direct costs of ongoing administrative, operating or maintenance expenses of the following project activities
    • State department of transportation (DOT) or Indian tribe scenic byway programs
    • Byway marketing programs
    • Corridor management plan expenses of a byway organization
  • Expenses for such activities as general staffing, hosting, and maintenance of a website; organizing and sponsoring annual promotional events or festivals; toll-free number maintenance; and costs associated with the fulfillment of individual information requests

For FY 2022, a total of $21.8 million was distributed via 33 awards ranging from $40,000 to $3,440,834 through this program. Refer to the Award file for details.

Contacts:

Primary Contact:

Kenan Hall
Agreement Specialist
(202) 366-1533
scenicbyways@dot.gov

Alternate Contact:

Ryan Buck
Team Leader, Grants Support
(202) 366-4229
scenicbyways@dot.gov

Agency Address
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to the appropriate program contact. Emailed questions are preferred, and applicants are encouraged to submit questions by close of business on November 5, 2024. Answers to questions and requests for clarification will be posted online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/hep/scenic_byways/grants.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US3693_NOFA_FY2023-24.pdf (420.4 Kb)
Award File: US3693_Award_FY2023-24.pdf (364.9 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US3693_WebinarPresentation_FY2023-24.pdf (6.4 Mb)
Other Pre-Award File: US3693_FAQ_FY2023-24.pdf (540.0 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The WebinarPresentation file contains the presentation slides for the webinar held for this program. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients.

November 22, 2024
A list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program has been released and attached as the FAQ file. All relevant sections have been updated accordingly.

October 21, 2024
A recording of the webinar for this program has been released, and a link to the presentation is available in the Application section. In addition, presentation slides for the webinar have been released and attached as the WebinarPresentation file. The Summary section has been updated accordingly.

Project: Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway Visitors Project (3.8 Mb)
Applicant: The town of Jackson, WY
Summary:

The purpose of the National Scenic Byways Program: Discretionary Grants program is to identify, preserve, and enhance selected roadways throughout the United States. This program aims to provide resources to maintain byway corridors to improve the quality and continuity of the traveler's experience, which is essential to attracting more visitors or enticing them to stay longer. Supported activities through this program include efforts toward planning, designing, and developing a state scenic byway program. The town of Jackson, WY, asked for and received $2,858,450 to construct a comprehensive transportation, information, and visitor reception center as a welcoming and orienting point for visitors traveling and recreating along the Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway in the northwest Wyoming portion of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Aside from the $2,858,450 funded, the town received $13,078,458 in cash matches from seven other funding sources, bringing the total funding amount to $15,936,908.

 
Grant Keywords
DOT, FHWA, NSBP, byway, scenic byway, highway, transport, transportation, USDOT, infrastructure, accessibility, accessible, connect, connectivity, beltway, bypass, expressway, freeway, interstate, parkway, ramp, road, roadway, signage, archaeological, archeology, infrastructure development, fix, rebuild, redevelopment, refurbish, rehab, rehabilitate, rehabilitation, renewal, renovate, renovation, repair, restoration, restore, sustainable development, architectural improvement, construction, engineering, planning, community center, National Scenic Byway, All-American Road, State scenic byway, Indian tribe scenic byway, tribal scenic byway, recreational access, byway facilities, byway facility, highway facilities, highway facility, corridor management, corridor management plan, highway improvement, interpretive information, marketing, resource protection, safety improvement, tourist information, highway safety, conservation, conserve, ecosystem, environment, environmental, natural resource, outdoor, preservation, preserve, protect, protection, stewardship, facilities, facility, greenway, non-motorized, open space, park, parks and rec, parks and recreation, scenery, scenic trail, tourism, tourist, trail, view, conservation easement, land use, land management, climate change, sustainability, rest area, turnout, highway shoulder, interpretive facility, interpretive facilities, scenic byway marketing, tourist service, water-related recreation, cultural preservation, cultural resource, historic resource, archaeological resource, pedestrian, bicyclist, overlook, rural improvement, rural project, TA, technical assistance, state DOT, tribal DOT, tribe, tribal, Discretionary Grants
Grant Categories
Community Development
Environment/Natural Resources
Parks & Recreation
Transportation
Tourism and Hospitality