Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Federal Requirements – Guidance for Local & Tribal Agencies

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announces new training to assist local and Tribal agencies with applying for transportation funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Approximately $567 billion is available across all transportation modes over five years with about $351 billion of that for highway-specific programs. An introductory training webinar was held in September 2023. Training topics that were covered include funding opportunities, federal project delivery requirements, steps to take prior to application, pre-award requirements and resources to leverage throughout the Federal project and grant application processes.

Federal Aid Essentials

Need an answer about federal aid requirements? Take advantage of the Federal Highway Administration’s online video library of Federal Aid Essentials designed specifically for LPAs, which illustrate key components of the Federal-aid program. The informational videos highlight the purposes and benefits of policies, regulations, and best practices. Over one hundred videos cover a wide range of topics of topics, including:FEDAID

  • Civil Rights
  • Project Development
  • Project Construction & Contract Administration
  • Federal-Aid Overview
  • Finance
  • Right-of-Way (ROW)
  • Environment

Topics have been condensed from complex federal regulations into easy-to-understand modules complete with real world examples. With each video under 10 minutes long, critical topics are addressed quickly and to the point. The videos are further accompanied by links to State and Federal resources such as web sites, manuals, and local technical assistance programs, ensuring you get a complete answer to your most pressing Federal-Aid questions.

FHWA announcement on federal aid resources
Federal Highway Administration
Photo courtesy Washington State DOT.
Road workers fixing pavement
Photo courtesy Washington State DOT.

Technical Briefs

For your convenience, the New Jersey Local Technical Assistance Program has made available a series of educational materials covering a wide range of topics that could be useful to your municipality. Whether its the best way to maintain your asphalt roads or fact sheets to help you manage your federal dollars, NJLTAP has the information you need.

New Jersey’s Build a Better Mousetrap Competition: What’s your bright idea?

Whether it’s a new gadget that maximizes efficiency or an innovative process that increases safety, reduces costs, or ensures quality of road maintenance and improvement projects, it’s typically the people on the front lines who discover the latest and best practices, New Jersey’s Build a Better Mousetrap Competition provides a great opportunity to share those new ideas with others!

Click here for more information!

To check out the 2025 Build a Better Mousetrap Booklet, click here!

Federal Highway Administration
The Safe System Approach Video Resources
The Safe System Approach has been embraced by the transportation community as an effective way to address and mitigate the risks inherent in our enormous and complex transportation system. It works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening in the first place and minimize the harm caused to those involved when crashes do occur. It is a holistic and comprehensive approach that provides a guiding framework to make places safer for people. FHWA has released a short overview video of the Safe System Approach, designed to be shared with state and local stakeholders.

FHWA Every Day Counts Round 8

EDC is a State-based model that identifies and rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations that make our transportation system adaptable, sustainable, equitable and safer for all. Visit the EDC Website to see the latest round of EDC Initiatives.

State of New Jersey Highway Safety Plan

New Jersey’s Highway Safety Plan is a statewide, coordinated safety plan that provides a comprehensive framework for reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads under state, county, or local jurisdiction. The plan is developed in consultation with federal, state, local and private safety stakeholders.

FHWA Center for Local Aid Support

Center for Local Aid Support provides information, training and technical assistance to local governments, tribes and Federal land management agencies that will enhance roadway networks and create economic opportunity. The website has a wealth of online courses, electronic resources, and grand opportunities that your organization can follow. 

NJ Target Zero Action Plan

The Target Zero Commission is tasked with the responsibility “to study, examine, and review all aspects of traffic safety with a particular focus on access, equity, and mobility for all road users using the safe system approach. This Target Zero Action Plan provides a roadmap for creating a safer environment for all road users, while also supporting safer travel behaviors. Read more to see how the plan’s recommendations can be adopted by your organiation.

Technical Support For Local Agencies

NJ LTAP offers no-cost technical assistance and support to counties and municipalities who are facing engineering challenges such as safety improvement and infrastructure management. While NJLTAP cannot provide design, professional engineering, or consulting services, we can give guidance before or during your itneractions with professional engineering consultants and contractors and assist in interpreting regulations such as those set forth in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

road widening project in Washington state
Road improvement project. Photo: Washington State DOT.
Worker directing traffic in a work zone
Photo: Rutgers CAIT.

Helpful Links

High Visibility Safety Guidelines

2023 NJDOT Workzone Setup Guide

National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA)

National Association of County Engineers

New Jersey Department of Transportation Bureau of Research

Federal Highway Administration

New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety

American Public Works Association

New Jersey Department of Transportation Technology Transfer

Federal Highway Administration – Every Day Counts

Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council

National Transportation Training Directors

Federal Highway Administration – Center for Local Aid Support

New Jersey Strategic Highway Safety Plan (2020)

New Jersey Work Zone Safety Partnership’s Work Zone Safety Accountability Campaign Flier with Safety Checklist

Proven Safety Countermeasures (PSCs) in Rural Communities

NJDOT’S LOCAL AID RESOURCE CENTER

The Local Aid Resource Center is a centralized source for information and your connection to a team of experts ready to guide you through the grant application process,assist you with project selection or provide guidance for other technical needs. The Resource Center is a new statewide effort designed to serve the needs of the 21 counties and 565 local governments throughout the state. The center will fulfill the vision of Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti to assist the local government community by guiding grant applications and the project delivery process while enhancing collaboration with the common goal of a connected and efficient transportation network.

The new Resource Center team is available to assist your community with project planning, project delivery, communications, grant application, guidance through the federal process, and much more. We have created a dedicated hotline to provide prompt responses to your questions and concerns. We also plan to establish and maintain a social media presence for information sharing that promotes your successes and best practices.