FAQ

• Call for Projects: October

• Application Deadline: December

• Awards Announced: March/April

• Funding Available: July

The TPA program aligns its application process with both the Wasatch Front Regional Council's (WFRC) Transportation and Land Use Connection (TLC)  program and the Mountainland Association of Governments' (MAG) Technical Assistance to Governments (TAG) program, utilizing a shared application form and deadline. Communities applying for TLC or TAG programs within the same year are automatically eligible for TPA program awards. Additionally, projects not selected for TLC or TAG awards will be considered for TPA awards. 

In 2024, the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 335, State Grant Process Amendments, requiring UDOT to make changes to the TPA grant program in order to meet the requirements of the bill. Some of those changes include: 

1. Disbursement Schedule: Unlike previous years, UDOT will not deliver a single lump sum of funding at the beginning of the project. Instead, the disbursement schedule is as follows:

• • The first installment will cover 90% of the grant award and will be paid after a scope of work and detailed budget have been approved and after a funding agreement has been executed with UDOT.

  • The second installment will cover the remaining 10% of the grant award and will be paid after the recipient has submitted all required reports and deliverables to UDOT and after UDOT has determined that the approved scope of work has been met.

2. Detailed Budget: The grant recipient is required to provide a detailed budget on how the grant recipient will use the grant funds. A detailed budget is required prior to the disbursement of the first installment of funds. We understand that changes to the budget may occur throughout the process, and we ask that you keep us informed of any changes to the budget. If you are using a consultant, a budget from them may be submitted to meet this requirement. 

3. Reporting Requirements: In addition to the quarterly reports that have been required in the past, new reporting requirements have been added:

• • Annual reports must be submitted in the final quarter of the calendar year (December). The following information will be collected in the report:

    • All required elements of quarterly reports.

    • A sample of work products developed during the previous 12 months or since the beginning of the project.

    • A description of how well the local government has met any performance metrics described in the funding agreement with UDOT.

  • A final report must be submitted to UDOT within 30 days of completing the project. The following information will be collected in the report: 

    • The extent to which the local government fulfilled the grant’s purpose.

    • A copy of the project’s final deliverable(s).

    • The total budget expended and total budget remaining.

    • Documentation showing costs incurred, which may include invoices, time records, or other documentation. 

    • A description of how well the local government met any performance metrics described in the funding agreement with UDOT. 

4. Performance Metrics: Performance metrics include on-time delivery of quarterly and annual reports.

If you have already started your project, it is not eligible for TPA funding.

The TPA program is funded at $1.5 million annually. There is no limit on the funding that can be requested for projects, but project cost should be appropriate to the type of project. Awards are granted based on eligibility and scoring criteria. Once the funding is exhausted in a given year, no further awards will be made.

A minimum local match of 6.77% is required. However, if an applicant can demonstrate a hardship that would prevent them from providing the required match, UDOT may waive it, in whole or in part, at its discretion. If you would like to request a match waiver, please contact us. Pleaes note, however, that the amount of local match proposed in the application is a consideration in funding award decisions.

Grant funds become available in the month of July following award announcements. Recipients will receive 90% of funding upfront after a scope of work and detailed budget have been approved and after a funding agreement has been executed with UDOT. The final 10% will be delivered after a final report and all deliverables have been submitted and UDOT has determined that the scope of work has been met. Any unexpended grant funds that remain after project completion must be returned to UDOT. 

Grant recipients are responsible for selecting and procuring a qualified consultant per their agency's procurement process. They may choose consultants from UDOT’s approved consultant pool, though it is not a requirement. To request access to the statements of qualification from consultants in UDOT's pool, please submit this form to UDOT's Consultant Services division.

Applicants are also responsible for project management tasks, including but not limited to: submitting quarterly, annual, and final reports, ensuring the project follows the approved scope of work (SOW), and overseeing the project's closure with UDOT. It is very important to verify that the final product aligns with the SOW; if it becomes apparent during the project that a change in the SOW will be necessary, it is the grant recipient's responsibility to get approval from UDOT before proceeding with the changes.

UDOT Planning staff can provide guidance and answer questions about preparing TPA applications. If you need help, please reach out early to allow enough time before the application deadline.

TPA funds may not be used for construction of any kind. Limited preliminary or conceptual design may be permissible as part of a broader planning project. Please reach out if you are unsure whether or not any part of your project would be eligible for funding.