The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced it would make up to $17.8 million in grants available over the next five years to re-establish seven Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Centers across the country.
The TTAP Centers will assist Tribal governments in managing and administrating their transportation programs and systems.
“The Tribal Technical Assistance Program Centers will help Tribal nations build capacity within their organizations, deliver important training resources, and help Tribal communities plan, construct and maintain their transportation networks,” said Arlando Teller, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs.
TTAP Centers will deliver the Tribal component of the FHWA’s Local Technical Assistance Program (FTAP) by providing American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal governments with training, technical assistance, and technology services that best meet the needs of the Tribal community.
“Re-establishing regional TTAP Centers will help Tribal governments increase their ability to plan, develop, deliver and manage transportation programs, projects, and critical infrastructure,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “These capacity building resources are particularly critical now with new resources flowing to Tribes thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
Under the program, there will be seven TTAP Centers serving the 12 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regions and associated Tribes. The seven TTAP Centers expired in 2017 when FHWA established one centralized, nationwide TTAP Center. Feedback on moving to one TTAP Center led the FHWA to reinstitute the regional delivery model to better meet the needs of the Tribal stakeholders.
The FHWA said that given the additional funding provided for Tribes under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Tribes are eligible for several new discretionary programs, the re-established centers would be a valuable resource for Tribes in competing for funding under the new law. The centers would also advance programs and projects to improve the safety on Tribal lands, foster economic opportunity, and build economic strength.