Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP)

IDOT’s ITEP application period begins August 1^st (8:00am CST) and ends September 30^th (5:00pm CST).

All project applications must be submitted through the online application process and should be complete and accurate.

All project applications must either complete a Community Score through the GIS mapping tool or pick from a list of existing Community Scores already created.

ITEP applicants are no longer required to submit a hard copy of the application to IDOT.

APPLICATION ATTACHMENTS:

Required Attachments:

1. GATA Uniform Grant Application
2. GATA Programmatic Risk Assessment
3. GATA Uniform Grant Budget Template | Instructions
4. BoBS 2831: Uniform Grant Agreement Affidavit of Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest - Grantee (6/30/21)
   - Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Statement
5. Government Resolution
6. Detailed Cost Estimate - Example
7. Detailed Project Map
8. Allowance Letter
9. Colored Photographs

Additional Attachments:

1. Public Involvement
2. Letters of Support

ITEP is a reimbursable grant program, which requires an interagency/joint funding agreement that details the project scope of work and cost participation. The project sponsor must pay all costs up-front and will be reimbursed as the sponsor submits the paperwork documenting implementation.

Applicants may apply for up to $3,000,000 maximum per project in ITEP funds. Total funds available for this cycle is $125 million.

Projects must meet the following criteria to qualify for ITEP funds:

• The project must have an eligible project sponsor.
• The project must relate to surface transportation.
• The project must fit within one of the eligible categories.
• The project must be selected through a competitive process.
• The project must comply with any additional IDOT policies as outlined in the guidelines.

Work that begins prior to federal authorization will not be eligible for reimbursement.

All ITEP funded projects must have all phases of work fully obligated within four years of the award notification letter or funds will be rescinded.

Federal Funding

The federal transportation bill, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act changed the method by which transportation alternative projects are funded. Funding moved to a set-aside of the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program.  The latest federal highway funding bill Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA), authorized five years of the Transportation Alternatives Set-aside (TA Set-Aside) of the STBG Program.

Federal funds will provide reimbursement up to 50 percent for right-of-way and easement acquisition costs, and up to 80 percent for preliminary engineering, utility relocations, construction engineering and construction costs.  The required match is the responsibility of the project sponsor unless they qualify for state matching funds based on the Community Map score. 

State Funding

20 ILCS 2705-615 establishes supplemental state funding, set aside from the Road Fund, for projects in the categories of pedestrian and bicycle facilities and the conversion of abandoned railroad corridors to trails. At least 25% of projects funded will be directed toward projects in high-need communities and the local matching funds required shall be determined based on a sliding scale based on the Community Map score. The state funds will provide matching funds to the federal funds on a sliding scale for those communities determined to be high need, as well as allow IDOT to award funds for additional ITEP projects. See ITEP Guidelines for further details.

Eligible applicants or project sponsors are local entities with taxing authority that can guarantee matching funds to carry out the proposed project.  Sponsors assume responsibility and accountability for the use and expenditure of program funds.  Applicants and/or implementing agencies must be able to comply with all the federal and state laws, regulations, policies and procedures required to enter into project agreements.

Under 23 U.S.C. 213(c)(4)(B), the eligible entities to receive ITEP funds are:

• local governments;
• regional transportation authorities;
• transit agencies;
• natural resource or public land agencies;
• school districts, local education agencies, or schools;
• tribal governments;
• nonprofit entities;
• MPO that represents an area with a population 200,000 or fewer;
• a State, at the request of another eligible entity; and
• any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation that the State determines to be eligible.

MPOs representing urbanized areas over 200,000 population are not eligible entities. State agencies and MPOs may partner with any eligible entity project sponsor to carry out a project.

The project sponsor is responsible for the following:

• Secure required sponsor match through cash, right-of-way donations, FFM, or other means
• Complete environmental documents, clearances, permits and mitigation
• Ensure necessary environmental studies and sign-off by appropriate federal, state and local agencies
• Acquire local assurance from the proper authorities to ensure commitment
• Complete GATA pre-award requirements
• Submit all GATA documents required in the application
• Complete all GATA periodic reporting requirements and consolidated year-end financial review CYFER
• Coordinate project with Local IDOT District Office; conduct kick-off meeting
• Provide a project milestone schedule
• Schedule start dates for all types of work according to the award notification and Sunset Clause)
• Acquire sponsor and agency joint agreements
• Complete preliminary engineering
• Prepare contract plans
• Perform utility relocations (as required)
• Manage, administer, and implement the project
• Acquire necessary right-of-way and easements
• Maintain the project after completion
• Provide project status or timeline upon request
• Responsible for the cost of all ineligible items

1. Pedestrian/Bicycle Facilities
2. Streetscapes
3. Conversion of Abandoned Railroad Corridors to Trails
4. Historic Preservation and Rehabilitation of Historic Transportation Facilities
5. Vegetation Management in Transportation Rights-of-Way
6. Archaeological Activities Relating to Impacts from Implementation of a Transportation Project
7. Storm Water Management, Control and Water Pollution Prevention or Abatement Related to Highway Construction or Due to Highway Runoff
8. Reduce Vehicle-Caused Wildlife Mortality or Restore and Maintain Connectivity Among Terrestrial or Aquatic Habitats
9. Construction of Turnouts, Overlooks, and Viewing Areas

Ineligible Items:

• Road work (i.e. resurfacing)
• Parking lots/parking spaces/striping that support traditional modes of transportation such as cars, trucks, and buses
• General recreation and park facilities, playground equipment, sports fields, campgrounds, picnic areas and pavilions
• Recreational trails
• Equestrian and snowmobile trails
• Bike sharing programs – capital and operational costs
• Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities)
• Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites
• Routine maintenance and operation such as re-striping a trail, cleaning up debris or repairing broken curb
• Trail resurfacing (maintenance)
• Bike/bus/picnic shelters
• Courthouses
• Building purchase
• Establishment of transportation museums
• Landscape work (as a stand-alone project)
• Storm sewers (see storm sewers in streetscape category)
• Trash receptacles
• Alleyway improvements
• Bicycle lockers/racks (as a stand-alone project)
• Pedestrian crossings (as a stand-alone project)
• Street lighting (with no co-located alternate transportation facility or as a stand-alone project; unless in a designated historic district)
• Pedestrian lighting (as a stand-alone project)
• Fences (unless addressing a significant safety issue)
• Benches (unless permanent in nature, limited use)
• Utility Relocations 50% or more of the project’s total construction costs
• Any work performed before FHWA authorization
• Utility relocation as a result of a Federal-Aid funded roadway improvement such as a widening project
• Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists
• State or MPO administrative purposes
• Promotional activities
• Feasibility and planning studies
• Contingencies and inflation factors

Project Evaluation

All ITEP projects must be selected through a competitive process.  In order to comply with federal guidelines, IDOT has developed a numerical-based scoring process.  After IDOT receives the candidate project applications, an initial review will be conducted to determine eligibility and ensure GATA compliance.  All eligible project applications are organized and assigned to reviewers statewide for a more comprehensive review based on established review criteria listed below.  These reviewers consist of MPOs, IDOT districts, other state agencies and internal IDOT staff.  A Selection Committee will review the candidate projects in ranking order from highest to lowest and discuss the cut off for approval based on the funding available.

Review Criteria

1. Eligibility
2. Strength of transportation relationship
3. Project meets category intent
4. Public benefits and accessibility
5. Cost effectiveness
6. Project support / local commitment
7. Connectivity to existing facilities / Linkage
8. Prior sponsor investment
9. Inclusion in a local, state or regional plan
10. Planning and coordination
11. Project sponsor capacity and past performance
12. Project readiness
13. Status of Land Acquisition
14. Status of Phase I Engineering
15. Application completeness/Information provided
16. Safety Improvements

Project Selection and Approval

An award status notification letter will be sent to all applicants after the ITEP awards are announced.

If your project receives an ITEP award additional instructions and contact information will be included to aid in project initiation.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

• ITEP Sample Application

(if file does not open, right click on link, choose Open in New Tab; or download file and open the file from your download folder)

1. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
2. Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside  Implementation Guidance as Revised by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (30MAR2022)
3. BIP-IIJA | FHWA | TA Set-Aside Fact Sheet
4. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, 1995
5. Federal-aid Essentials for Local Public Agencies
6. DUNS to UEI Identifier Migration Circular Letter (CL2022-10) 
7. Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organizations and IDOT MPO Managers

• Program Guidelines
• FAQ's
• Contacts
• Awarded Projects