Federal Lands Access Program (20.224)
Federal Lands Access Program (Assistance Listing 20.224) is run by the Federal Highway Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $243 million in 434 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $560,934 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $220,203. Half of the 434 awards fell between $60,696 and $600,000, and they ranged from $612 to $8.4 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$243 million
- Grant awards434
- Typical award$220,203
- Awarded in FY 2025$38.5 million
- Size rank561 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceFormula grants, project grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $36.5 million in fiscal 2021 to $38.5 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 561st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 76% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 40 states and territories.
What the program funds
The goal of the Federal Lands Access Program is to improve transportation facilities that provide access to, are adjacent to, or are located within Federal lands. The Access Program supplements State and local resources for public roads, transit systems, and other transportation facilities, with an emphasis on high-use recreation sites and economic generators. The program is designed to provide flexibility for a wide range of transportation projects in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. A Programming Decisions Committee (PDC) within each State will make programming decisions and should develop a multi-year program of projects.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Only the owner of the affected transportation asset or assets may submit an application.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds made available under the Access Program shall be used to pay the cost of: A. transportation planning, research, engineering, preventive maintenance, rehabilitation, restoration, construction, and reconstruction of Federal Lands Access Transportation Facilities located on or adjacent to, or that provide access to, Federal land, and- i. adjacent vehicular parking areas; ii. acquisition of necessary scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; iii. provisions for pedestrians and bicycles; iv. environmental mitigation in or adjacent to Federal land to improve public safety and reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity; v. construction and reconstruction of roadside rest areas, including sanitary and water facilities; and vi. other appropriate public road facilities, as determined by the Secretary; B. operation and maintenance of transit facilities; and C. any transportation project eligible for assistance under title 23 that is within or adjacent to, or that provides access to, Federal land. In regard to (B) above, "operation and maintenance of transit facilities" includes the operation of all components of a transit system, including vehicles. The eligibility under (C) above includes transit capital projects eligible under Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, that are also eligible under title 23 and that are within or adjacent to, or that provides access to, Federal lands open to the public.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. The FLAP program no longer has a match requirement, and FLAP funds are eligible to fund up to 100 percent of the project’s costs. Funding from sources other than FLAP (e.g. grants, direct funding, discretionary sources, etc.) are allowed but cannot be used as a factor in the evaluation of projects.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2016: Completed: The City of Crystal River Florida of Citrus County, project for Three Sisters Spring Site, FL – This project constructed a 44-foot wide entranceway to Three Sister Spring site at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The roadway cross section now has two lanes heading out of the refuge and one lane heading into the refuge with an 8-foot median in the middle. A 5-foot by 7-foot precast box culvert with concrete end walls, curbs and gutters, and a sidewalk for the entranceway. Native species were planted for landscaping and the roadway was sloped toward a bios wale. The Crystal River NWR was established specifically to protect the endangered West Indian Manatee, for a population of nearly 600 manatees as this is their primary habitat and safe haven during winter months. The refuge attracts 100,000 visitors annually to see and swim with manatees, and manatee viewing opportunities are predominantly only available from the water. Other recreational opportunities are sport fishing, snorkeling, motorized and non-motorized boating, wildlife observation and nature photography. Fiscal Year2017: La Sal Mountain Loop Road, UT: Grand County Road 73/San Juan County Road B127 (La Sal Mountain Loop Road) is a primary access route to the Manti-La Sal National Forest near Moab in southeastern Utah.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Federal Lands Access Program (20.224) awarded $243 million across 434 grant awards, an average of $560,934 per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 98% of the money, businesses 1.3% and tribes 0.4%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 404 | $238 million | 98% |
| Businesses | 3 | $3.1 million | 1.3% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 3 | $1.1 million | 0.4% |
| Colleges and universities | 23 | $781,720 | 0.3% |
| Nonprofits | 1 | $165,000 | less than 0.1% |
By state
30 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 56 | $43.0 million |
| Oregon | 52 | $30.3 million |
| Montana | 14 | $16.1 million |
| Arkansas | 5 | $14.4 million |
| Washington | 53 | $14.0 million |
| North Carolina | 17 | $11.1 million |
| Michigan | 16 | $10.5 million |
| Mississippi | 8 | $10.5 million |
| Virginia | 28 | $10.2 million |
| Wisconsin | 15 | $9.2 million |
| Minnesota | 12 | $8.7 million |
| District of Columbia | 3 | $6.9 million |
| Georgia | 6 | $5.3 million |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | $5.0 million |
| Idaho | 10 | $4.8 million |
| Missouri | 20 | $4.5 million |
| Kentucky | 14 | $4.4 million |
| Texas | 2 | $3.7 million |
| Louisiana | 4 | $3.6 million |
| Maryland | 4 | $3.4 million |
| Nebraska | 3 | $2.8 million |
| West Virginia | 7 | $2.7 million |
| Alabama | 8 | $2.3 million |
| Ohio | 12 | $2.3 million |
| Iowa | 2 | $2.2 million |
| Florida | 4 | $1.8 million |
| California | 3 | $1.8 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Illinois | 8 | $1.3 million |
| Tennessee | 12 | $1.1 million |
| Vermont | 4 | $807,585 |
| Maine | 2 | $747,945 |
| New York | 3 | $690,969 |
| South Carolina | 2 | $621,120 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $609,400 |
| New Hampshire | 3 | $240,524 |
| Delaware | 1 | $125,000 |
| Connecticut | 2 | $90,698 |
| Utah | 2 | $75,000 |
| Wyoming | 2 | $53,657 |