TOPIC VII: FUNDING FOR BIKING & WALKING

Data on federal transportation funding is available from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) based upon reporting from the Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS) and program-specific reporting, which is sometimes required by Congress. Data users are cautioned against comparing states based on FHWA data. However, since no other national source of transportation funding use exists, FHWA data is presented here in tables that facilitate comparisons between states.

Federal funding is reported as obligations, which occur when an entity creates an obligation for the federal government to reimburse that entity for project costs. Federal law specifies which entities have the authority to create an obligation. 

State funding for biking and walking is often not reported in any public manner. The data provided on this page was obtained through surveys of state Department of Transportations. State laws that constrain local funding tools are also shown.

Data on this page:

• Amount of Federal Funds Obligated to Biking and Walking
• Federal Funds per Capita Obligated to Biking and Walking
• Percentage of Federal Funds Obligated to Biking and Walking
• Highway Safety Improvement Program Funding for Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety
• Selected National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Funding
• Reported State Funding for Bicycling & Walking
• Map: State Constitution Transportation Funding Limitations
• State-Authorized Local Transportation Funding Options

Amount of Federal Funds Obligated to Biking and Walking

Footnote ⁷³

Federal Funds per Capita Obligated to Biking and Walking

Percentage of Federal Funds Obligated to Biking and Walking

Footnote ⁷⁴

Highway Safety Improvement Program Funding for Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety

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Note regarding Figure 2.9.3: The Highway Safety Improvement Program provides roughly $2 billion each year for projects that will lead to a “significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries” using a “data-driven, strategic approach.” The funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects from HSIP between 2014 and 2019 represents less than 1% of the funding that was available through the HSIP program despite bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities increasing to roughly 20% of all traffic fatalities during that time.

Negative obligations may result when unused funds are credited back when not used at the completion of a project phase.

Selected National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Funding

Funding eligibility under 23 USC 405h is determined  by the percentage of traffic fatalities that are bicyclists or pedestrians in the prior year. States that have bicyclists and pedestrians representing more than 15% of all traffic fatalities in the state are eligible for 405h grants.

Reported State Funding for Bicycling & Walking

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Map: State Constitution Transportation Funding Limitations

State-Authorized Local Transportation Funding Options

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Note: “Constitutional Limitations on Use of Funding from Gas Tax” may or may not mean those limitations do not allow bicycle or pedestrian infrastructure to be funded by a state gas tax. For example, Kansas allows counties, cities, and townships to direct up to 10% of their gas tax funds to footpaths and bicycle paths. ⁸⁷