State TE Program Benchmarks for FY 1992 through FY 2010 (in thousands of $)
State Apportioned Rescinded Available Programmed* Obligated Reimbursed
Tennessee $273,994 -$55,831 -20% $235,368 $234,399 $177,268 $149,840.
Since 1991 more than $200 million in grants has been distributed by TDOT to 180 communities to build sidewalks, bike and pedestrian trails and to renovate historic train depots and other transportation related structures. The impact of some of the projects is primarily local, whereas the wildflowers grown on roadways across the state can be enjoyed by Tennesseans and tourists. The projects improve access and provide a better quality of life.
The 20% non-federal share of the proposed project must now be provided by the Local Agency as a hard cash match. The option of providing these funds as a soft (in-kind) match through the use of the value of preliminary engineering services, donated land, or materials and equipment is no longer available.
The following two pie charts (Federal Funding 1992 to 2010) explain why Transportation Enhancement funds are so important to Bike and Pedestrian activities. Tennessee use of federal funds is about the same proportions.
TE funding continues in high demand with most states reporting that they unable to fund all of the qualified projects. In 2010, bicycle and pedestrian related facilities, continues to contain over half of all selected projects and nearly 50% of the total funding for the TE program. However in Tennessee many recent projects have not been obligated and in 2009 and 2010 $45 Million was rescinded (over 80% of all rescissions).
In the last five years the obligation rate for all states was 68%. The worst performer was Arkansas and Massechusetts with 22%, the best was Maine with 128%. Tennessee was below average with 59% obligations. Nearly all its unobligated funding has been rescinded -- opportunity lost.
