The Quad Cities Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) receives certain federal transportation funds to prioritize and locally select projects for those funds. This is known as the project selection and programming process. The Quad Cities MPO Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) is delegated the authority to program funds by the Bi-State Regional Commission. The Bi-State Regional Commission, as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), receives its authority under the currently authorized federal transportation act.
The Quad Cities TPC is responsible for programming monies for Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG); Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA); and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307, 5310, and 5339 funding under FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act.A general explanation of these funds and the funding levels available is located in the Quad Cities Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).Cross-reference the document on the TIP page of this website for more information on these funding programs.
Project Selection – Roads, Trails/Pedestrians and Transit
Federal Highway Administration Funds. Bi-State Regional Commission staff in cooperation with the Quad Cities MPO Technical Committee have developed two manuals to outline the project selection and programming process for STBG and TASA funds. STBG funds have typically been used to fund road improvements but allow for transit and trails improvements. Transportation Alternatives or TASA funds have typically been used on bicycle trails but allow for sidewalk improvements, safe routes to schools pedestrian improvements, and other related projects. The manuals detail program eligibility, application information, selection process, and evaluation criteria.
2019 Surface Transportation Block Grant Program Evaluation Manual - Adopted 2019
STBG Program Manual 2019
2019 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Evaluation Manual - Adopted February 2019
TASA Manual 2019
As federal funds, approved projects are required to be amended into an annual element of the current TIP and follow the federal project development process in cooperation with the respective Illinois or Iowa Department of Transportation to move a programmed project to an implemented project.
Federal Transit Administration Funds. FTA transit funds in the metropolitan area are apportioned to the Quad Cities (Davenport, IA-IL) Urbanized Area by formula. The national apportionments by FTA appear in the Federal Register annually. It is an annual lump sum for the Iowa-Illinois metropolitan area for certain FTA funding sources. The following funds, 5307 – Urbanized Area Formula Funds, 5310 – Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities, and 5339- Bus and Bus Facilities, are suballocated by a local mutually agreed on formula and facilitated by Bi-State Regional Commission.
5307 Funds. The local 5307 formula reflects the formula used by FTA, including population, density, ridership, revenues, and mileage. The three public fixed-route transit systems – Bettendorf Transit, Davenport CitiBus, and Illinois Quad Cities MetroLINK – are direct recipients of 5307 monies. These 5307 monies are dispensed to the direct recipients by Bi-State Regional Commission, the designated recipient for FTA funds in the metro area.
5310 Funds. The 5310 is suballocated by population. These 5310 monies are dispensed to Bettendorf Transit and Davenport CitiBus through a supplemental agreement. The 5310 monies in the Illinois Quad Cities are dispensed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bi-State Regional Commission and Illinois Department of Transportation (ILDOT). The portion of 5310 funds attributed to the Illinois Quad Cities is directed through the ILDOT’s Commercial Vehicle Procurement (CVP) funding application process. Eligible applicants in the metro area submit projects through a competitive grant program administered by ILDOT.
5339 Funds. The 5339 funds are suballocated by formula. For 5339 funds, Bi-State Regional Commission acts as the designated and direct recipient of the funds and dispenses these funds through a subrecipient agreement with the three fixed-route systems.
As federal funds, transit projects using 5307, 5310, or 5339 funds are required to be amended into an annual element of the current TIP. They can then be placed in a FTA grant to begin implementation of the project.