Your Chance to Shape Federal Transportation Reporting

You might care about this because the Federal Highway Administration is asking for public comments on how it collects information about two important transportation funding programs. These are the Transportation Alternatives Program or TAP and the Recreational Trails Program or RTP. This notice explains that the FHWA has sent a request to the Office of Management and Budget or OMB for approval of a new information collection. This process is required by law. The report asks states to provide details on applications and selections for TAP and RTP funds. TAP supports various smaller transportation projects. These projects include facilities for walkers and bicyclists. They also cover building viewing areas, community improvements like historic preservation, and managing vegetation. Other TAP projects involve environmental work such as stormwater management and improving habitat connections. It also funds recreational trails and Safe Routes to School. RTP focuses specifically on funds for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trails and related projects. Federal law requires the FHWA to post reports on these project applications and selections online. The public has until July 27, 2026, to submit comments on this collection of information. This document is particularly interesting because it shows a direct conversation between federal and state agencies regarding reporting requirements. Several State Departments of Transportation or DOTs submitted comments during a previous public comment period. For example, Texas DOT supported the estimated time it takes to complete the report. However, Washington DOT questioned this estimate. The FHWA clarified that its estimate is an average for all states and the District of Columbia. Preparation time can vary greatly depending on how many applications a state processes. States also made several suggestions. One suggestion was to eliminate the reporting requirement. FHWA explained this is not possible without changing the federal law that requires the report. Other suggestions included making the report more useful by adding details on completed projects or creating a web platform for submissions. FHWA responded that the current law focuses on applications and selections to keep the burden on states low. They also noted that developing a web platform would take significant time and resources. This back and forth highlights the ongoing effort to balance legal requirements with practical challenges for states. People who would be most interested in this legal document include State Departments of Transportation or DOTs and their staff. Metropolitan Planning Organizations or MPOs, which represent urban areas, also need to know about this. State agencies that manage RTP funds, such as state resource agencies, are directly involved. Anyone who works with or benefits from federal transportation funding should pay attention. This includes planners and engineers working on infrastructure projects. Community groups focused on walking and biking trails, pedestrian safety, or environmental projects will find this relevant. Businesses that bid on these types of smaller-scale transportation projects might also be interested. Researchers and academics studying federal grant programs and their impact on states and local communities could use this information. Basically, anyone invested in how federal money is tracked for local transportation and recreational projects should take note.