Dedicated to improving the quality of life for North Carolina communities and citizens by promoting, fostering and administering the Enhancement Program
The United States Congress develops and enacts surface transportation authorizing legislation. Within the Surface Transportation Program, or "STP", and after various administrative adjustments for specific programs, there is a 10% set-aside for Transportation Enhancements.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is responsible for administering the Enhancement provisions of federal law. This is accomplished through the FHWA Office of Human Environment and in the FHWA field offices in each state (the FHWA field office for North Carolina is located in Raleigh). Enhancement funds are made available annually to North Carolina and are administered by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The purpose of Federal Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding is to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the Nation's intermodal transportation system.
(TEA-21) Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
1998-2003
(SAFETEA-LU) Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
2004-2009
State Implementation
In North Carolina the Enhancement Program is a federally funded cost reimbursement program whose focus is to improve the transportation experience in and through local North Carolina communities either culturally, aesthetically, or environmentally. The 10% set-aside is allocated within NCDOT to internal programs such as the Bicycle/Pedestrian Division, the Rail Division, the Roadside Environmental Unit, and others. The Enhancement Unit administers a portion of the set-aside through the Call for Projects process. The program seeks to encourage diverse modes of travel, increase benefits to communities and to encourage citizen involvement. This is accomplished through the following twelve qualifying activities:
NC DOT
NC DOH
NC GOV
