---
kind: "section"
citation: "23 U.S.C. § 203"
title: "23"
title_heading: "Highways"
number: "203"
heading: "Federal lands transportation program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/23/203"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — Other Highways"
---

# §203. Federal lands transportation program

- (a) **Use of Funds.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Funds made available under the Federal lands transportation program shall be used by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of Transportation and the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agency to pay the costs of—
    - (A) program administration, transportation planning, research, preventive [maintenance](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-13), engineering, rehabilitation, restoration, [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4), and reconstruction of [Federal lands transportation facilities](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-8), and—
      - (i) adjacent vehicular parking areas;
      - (ii) acquisition of necessary scenic easements and scenic or historic sites;
      - (iii) provision for pedestrians and bicycles;
      - (iv) environmental mitigation in or adjacent to Federal land open to the public—
        - (I) to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity; and
        - (II) to mitigate the damage to wildlife, aquatic organism passage, habitat, and ecosystem connectivity, including the costs of constructing, maintaining, replacing, or removing culverts and bridges, as appropriate;
      - (v) [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) and reconstruction of roadside rest areas, including sanitary and water facilities;
      - (vi) congestion mitigation; and
      - (vii) other appropriate [public road](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-23) facilities, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27);
    - (B) capital, operations, and [maintenance](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-13) of transit facilities;
    - (C) any transportation [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) eligible for assistance under this title that is on a [public road](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-23) within or adjacent to, or that provides access to, Federal lands open to the public; and
    - (D) not more $20,000,000[^1] of the amounts made available per fiscal year to carry out this section for activities eligible under [subparagraph (A)(iv)(I)](#a-1-A-iv-I).
  - (2) **Contract.—** In connection with an activity described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) and the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agency may enter into a contract or other appropriate agreement with respect to the activity with—
    - (A) a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) (including a political subdivision of a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28)); or
    - (B) an Indian tribe.
  - (3) **Administration.—** All appropriations for the [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) and improvement of [Federal lands transportation facilities](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-8) shall be administered in conformity with regulations and agreements jointly approved by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) and the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land managing agency.
  - (4) **Cooperation.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** The cooperation of [States](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28), [counties](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-5), or other local subdivisions may be accepted in [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) and improvement.
    - (B) **Funds received.—** Any funds received from a [State](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28), [county](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-5), or local subdivision shall be credited to appropriations available for the class of [Federal lands transportation facilities](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-8) to which the funds were contributed.
  - (5) **Competitive bidding.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#a-5-B), [construction](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-4) of each [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) shall be performed by contract awarded by competitive bidding.
    - (B) **Exception.—** [Subparagraph (A)](#a-5-A) shall not apply if the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) or the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agency affirmatively finds that, under the circumstances relating to the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20), a different method is in the public interest.
  - (6) **Native plant materials.—** In carrying out an activity described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the entity carrying out the activity shall consider, to the maximum extent practicable—
    - (A) the use of locally adapted native plant materials; and
    - (B) designs that minimize runoff and heat generation.
- (b) **Agency Program Distributions.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** On October 1, 2011, and on October 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall allocate the sums authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year for the Federal lands transportation program on the basis of applications of need, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27)—
    - (A) in consultation with the [Secretaries](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the applicable Federal land management agencies; and
    - (B) in coordination with the transportation plans required under [section 201](/usc/23/201.md) of the respective transportation systems of—
      - (i) the National Park Service;
      - (ii) the Forest Service;
      - (iii) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
      - (iv) the Corps of Engineers;
      - (v) the Bureau of Land Management;
      - (vi) the Bureau of Reclamation; and
      - (vii) independent Federal agencies with natural resource and land management responsibilities.
  - (2) **Applications.—**
    - (A) **Requirements.—** Each application submitted by a Federal land management agency shall include proposed programs at various potential funding levels, as defined by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) following collaborative discussions with applicable Federal land management agencies.
    - (B) **Consideration by secretary.—** In evaluating an application submitted under [subparagraph (A)](#b-2-A), the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall consider the extent to which the programs support performance management, including—
      - (i) the transportation goals of—
        - (I) a [state](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-28) of good repair of transportation facilities;
        - (II) a reduction of bridge deficiencies; and
        - (III) an improvement of safety;
      - (ii) high-use Federal recreational sites or Federal economic generators; and
      - (iii) the resource and [asset management](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-2) goals of the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the respective Federal land management agency.
    - (C) **Permissive contents.—** Applications may include proposed programs the duration of which extend over a multiple-year period to support long-term transportation planning and resource management initiatives.
- (c) **National Federal Lands Transportation Facility Inventory.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** The [Secretaries](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agencies, in cooperation with the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27), shall maintain a comprehensive national inventory of public [Federal lands transportation facilities](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-8).
  - (2) **Transportation facilities included in the inventories.—** To identify the Federal lands transportation system and determine the relative transportation needs among Federal land management agencies, the inventories shall include, at a minimum, facilities that—
    - (A) provide access to high-use Federal recreation sites or Federal economic generators, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) in coordination with the respective [Secretaries](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agencies; and
    - (B) are owned by 1 of the following agencies:
      - (i) The National Park Service.
      - (ii) The Forest Service.
      - (iii) The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
      - (iv) The Bureau of Land Management.
      - (v) The Corps of Engineers.
      - (vi) The Bureau of Reclamation.
  - (3) **Availability.—** The inventories shall be made available to the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27).
  - (4) **Updates.—** The [Secretaries](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agencies shall update the inventories of the appropriate Federal land management agencies, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) after collaborative discussions with the [Secretaries](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agencies.
  - (5) **Review.—** A decision to add or remove a facility from the inventory shall not be considered a Federal action for purposes of review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.).
- (d) **Bicycle Safety.—** The [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) of the appropriate Federal land management agency shall prohibit the use of bicycles on each federally owned road that has a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or greater and an adjacent paved path for use by bicycles within 100 yards of the road unless the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) determines that the bicycle level of service on that roadway is rated B or higher.
- (e) **Efficient Implementation of NEPA.—**
  - (1) **Definitions.—** In this subsection:
    - (A) **Environmental document.—** The term “environmental document” means an environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, categorical exclusion, or other document prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.).
    - (B) **Project.—** The term “[project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20)” means a [highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20), public transportation capital [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20), or multimodal [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) that—
      - (i) receives funds under this title; and
      - (ii) is authorized under this section or section 204.
    - (C) **Project sponsor.—** The term “[project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor” means the Federal land management agency that seeks or receives funds under this title for a [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20).
  - (2) **Environmental review to be completed by federal highway administration.—** The Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration may prepare an environmental document pursuant to the implementing procedures of the Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration to comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.) if—
    - (A) requested by a [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor; and
    - (B) all areas of analysis required by the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor can be addressed.
  - (3) **Federal land management agencies adoption of existing environmental review documents.—**
    - (A) **In general.—** To the maximum extent practicable, if the Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration prepares an environmental document pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#e-2), that environmental document shall address all areas of analysis required by a Federal land management agency.
    - (B) **Independent evaluation.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Federal land management agency shall not be required to conduct an independent evaluation to determine the adequacy of an environmental document prepared by the Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#e-2).
    - (C) **Use of same document.—** In authorizing or implementing a [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20), a Federal land management agency may use an environmental document previously prepared by the Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration for a [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) addressing the same or substantially the same action to the same extent that the Federal land management agency could adopt or use a document previously prepared by another Federal agency.
  - (4) **Application by federal land management agencies of categorical exclusions established by federal highway administration.—** In carrying out requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.) for a [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20), the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor may use categorical exclusions designated under that Act in the implementing regulations of the Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration, subject to the conditions that—
    - (A) the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor makes a determination, in consultation with the Federal [Highway](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-11) Administration, that the categorical exclusion applies to the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20);
    - (B) the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) satisfies the conditions for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.); and
    - (C) the use of the categorical exclusion does not otherwise conflict with the implementing regulations of the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor, except any list of the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor that designates categorical exclusions.
  - (5) **Mitigation commitments.—** The [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) shall assist the Federal land management agency with all design and mitigation commitments made jointly by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) and the [project](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-20) sponsor in any environmental document prepared by the [Secretary](/usc/23/101.md?p=a-27) in accordance with this subsection.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1119(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 486; amended Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title I, § 1119, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1358; Pub. L. 117–58, div. A, title I, §§ 11112, 11311, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 479, 536.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in subsecs. (c)(5) and (e), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4321 of Title 42 and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 203, Pub. L. 85–767, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 86–657, § 8(b), July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 524; Pub. L. 87–866, § 7, Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1147; Pub. L. 94–280, title I, § 117(b), May 5, 1976, 90 Stat. 437; Pub. L. 97–424, title I, § 126(f), Jan. 6, 1983, 96 Stat. 2116; Pub. L. 102–240, title I, § 1032(f), Dec. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 1975; Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1115(c), (e)(3), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 156, 158, related to availability of funds, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1119(a), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 473.

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11112(1), substituted “$20,000,000” for “$10,000,000”.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11112(2), added par. (6).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–58, § 11311, added subsec. (e).

2015—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1119(1)(A), substituted “capital, operations,” for “operation”.

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1119(1)(B), substituted “subparagraph (A)(iv)(I)” for “subparagraph (A)(iv)”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(vi), (vii). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1119(2)(A), added cls. (vi) and (vii).

Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1119(2)(B)(i), inserted “performance management, including” after “support” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i)(II). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1119(2)(B)(ii), substituted “; and” for “, and”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(B)(vi). Pub. L. 114–94, § 1119(3), added cl. (vi).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–58 effective Oct. 1, 2021, see section 10003 of Pub. L. 117–58, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective Oct. 1, 2015, see section 1003 of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 5313 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of this title.