The "Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century", commonly referred to as TEA-21, is an Act to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit program, and other purposes. The Department of Transportation has the full text of the TEA-21 legislation on their web site. It is over 400 pages long and is provided in several formats. Read the entire Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) or jump directly to the following sections of particular interest to the National Wildlife Refuge System:

Sec. 1115. FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAM. TEA-21 established the Refuge Roads Program beginning in 1999 and continuing through 2003. This section also includes statutes regarding planning, the development of management systems, and the provision to use FLHP funds to pay the non-Federal share for projects under section 104.

Examples of Federal transportation programs that Refuges could leverage dollars from include the following:

Sec. 1108. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. This includes Transportation Enhancement activities.

Sec. 1110. CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

Sec. 1112. RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM.

Sec. 1219. NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM.

High Priority Projects - TEA-21 includes specific funding authorizations for mandated and "high priority" projects. Each project has specific authorizations and limitations prescribed in the legislation.

Examples of authorizations are listed below by the section of legislation:

Sec. 1214. FEDERAL ACTIVITIES

Sec.1215. DESIGNATED TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES

Sec. 1601. HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS PROGRAM

Sec. 1602. PROJECT AUTHORIZATIONS (For Sec. 1601)

Authorized study to identify transportation strategies for the FWS:

Sec. 3039. STUDY OF TRANSIT NEEDS IN NATIONAL PARKS AND RELATED PUBLIC LANDS.

For a Refuge System Visitors Guide
call 1-800-344-WILD