The regional Surface Transportation Program (STP) is a federal transportation program funded through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).  This program is administered through CMAP and IDOT.  Each of the 11 subregional councils receives individual funding and each council has a self-determined methodology for selecting the most beneficial projects.  All of the projects must follow federal guidelines and are included in the regional TIP.  Each subregional council has a Planning Liaison who coordinates the project selection process with each council's vetting and approval. 

The STP may be used to finance improvements to the surface transportation system.  The funds can be used to improve eligible arterial and collector streets (highway) or Transportation Control Measure (TCM) projects. Examples of the types of highway projects that may be funded include those categorized as reconstruct, rehabilitate and restore; widen or add lanes; intersection improvements; or traffic signal improvements.  TCM projects may include pedestrian or bicycle improvements; commuter parking; transit improvements- capital expenditures; and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) projects.

RESOURCES FOR PROJECT SPONSORS

Local agencies that wish to participate in the local STP must do so through their designated subregional council, according to the methodology of that council.  A list of municipalities belonging to each council can be downloaded here.

The following links lead to the current STP project selection criteria for each of the subregional councils:

North Shore	Central	DuPage	McHenry
Northwest	Southwest	Kane/Kendall	Will
North Central	South	Lake

For a memo on Surface Transportation Program eligible projects, please click here.

IDOT Agreement Process for Federally Funded Projects (D1PIPDF1) or State Funded Projects (D1PIPDF2).

RESOURCES FOR COUNCILS

Programming Marks

Updated Federal Fiscal Year 2012-2016 Suburban Surface Transportation Program marks were approved by the Council of Mayors Executive Committee on November 8, 2011.  These marks are used by the Council of Mayors to program locally selected projects in each of the subregional councils.  Upon passage of a new federal transportation bill, the city of Chicago and the Council of Mayors agree to a distribution of locally programmed funds.  The current agreement was adopted in 2008.  The agreement calls for 5% of the total regional mark to go to projects that are beneficial to the entire region.  The remaining funds are split 55% to the suburban Council of Mayors and 45% to the City of Chicago.

Expenditures

The STP expenditure report shows a summary of project accomplishments, marks, appropriation, and programs for the Surface Transportation Program.  The current expenditure report is through the January letting of State Fiscal Year 2011.

Letting Schedule

The current IDOT letting schedule includes the federal authorization date for projects.  It is important to note these dates because once a project is authorized by USDOT it is safe from rescissions.  

Federal Aid Designation

CMAP has prepared a workbook to assist municipalities and council of mayors in having a route redesignated to obtain federal aid status.  This workbook and other federal-aid route information is available by clicking here.

Questions?

For questions with any of the materials posted on this webpage, please contact Russell Pietrowiak at (312) 386-8798 or rpietrowiak@cmap.illinois.gov