Support Transportation Programs in Public Lands Counties

Action Needed

Urge your Members of Congress to support federal lands transportation programs and partner with counties in project planning and permitting in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.

Background

The federal government owns and manages nearly 30 percent of all land in the U.S., including thousands of miles of roads and highways on these federal public lands across the country. 62 percent of counties have federal lands within their boundaries and partner with the federal government to manage and deliver essential services to these areas. As key partners of federal land management agencies, public lands counties rely on these roads and highways for transportation, recreational access and other county services. Ongoing congressional support for public lands transportation programs is essential to the well-being of public lands communities across the country.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Federal Lands Highway (FLH) oversees programs that facilitate access to or within federal lands by partnering with land management agencies, like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. The FLH programs are often authorized under the Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Programs title in federal surface transportation bills. 

Key transportation programs for public lands counties include: 

• Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP)
• Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP)
• Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP)
• Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO)

While counties annually invest over $146 billion in our nation’s infrastructure and more than $60 billion in transportation systems, these key federal programs help fund and coordinate road and highway construction both on and near federal land holdings. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), often known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, increased eligibility or funding for many FLH programs, but federal landholding agencies still have billions in deferred maintenance backlogs, including transportation facilities projects. 
Counties rely on funding from these key programs to maintain infrastructure in areas that are vital to local communities but under federal ownership, especially since many public lands counties have reduced revenue for infrastructure due to a limited taxable land base.
As intergovernmental partners, counties seek meaningful engagement with the federal government to ensure efficiency in infrastructure planning and permitting processes, particularly for historical preservation review and archaeological review. Close partnership with counties is also essential as the federal government makes changes to the Roadless Rule, which previously prohibited the construction or reconstruction of roads on millions of acres of U.S. Forest Service land.

Key Talking Points

• Urge your Members of Congress to support key federal lands infrastructure programs, such as the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP), The Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) program and Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO), in the next surface transportation bill.
• 62 percent of counties have federal land within their borders, and public lands generate millions of visits and billions of dollars for local economies. However, counties with large shares of federal land face a limited tax base that restricts available resources for infrastructure projects. Federal funding is necessary to ensure quality infrastructure.
• Thousands of miles of roads, highways and bridges on and providing access to federal lands are critical infrastructure for surrounding communities. Federal programs supporting public lands transportation infrastructure are vital to their well-being.
• Counties are essential partners in construction and maintenance projects for our nation’s infrastructure.