Transportation Enhancements funding - federal transportation dollars set aside for local projects - has been a powerful tool for communities to fund projects that enhance historic places. This program utilizes federal highway funding for new and non-traditional activities that enhance the community benefits of transportation investments, and six of the twelve approved activities involve historic preservation. For 15 years, hundreds of communities have used the enhancements program for downtown streetscape projects, visitor centers, historic preservation projects, and hike and bike trails. However, the program is in jeopardy. In 2006, the Federal Highway Administration rescinded a portion of un-obligated highway funds requiring each state to return part of their federal transportation funding to the federal government. Many states adopted a balanced approach to returning the funds, but some chose to do this in a disproportionate manner by drastically cutting their Transportation Enhancements funds. On Monday, March 19, 2007, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order to states requiring them to return an additional $3.47 billion in transportation money. Within 30 days, your governor will decide how to apply this cut to your state's transportation budget. For more information on the Transportation Enhancements program, please visit the National Trust website.
