Tribal Transportation Program
Established on May 26, 1928, 25 U.S.C. 318(a), the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Program, as it was first called, authorized the Secretary of Agriculture (which had responsibility for Federal roads at that time) to cooperate with state highway agencies and the Department of the Interior to survey, construct, reconstruct, and maintain Indian reservation roads serving Indian lands.
Today, the Office of Indian Services, Division of Transportation, provides and assists tribes in developing their capacity to plan, construct, and maintain safe and efficient transportation networks through two programs, the Road Maintenance Program and the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP), through joint management with the Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The Department of Transportation, Office of Tribal Transportation (OTT) administers the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) and provides stewardship and oversight for direct funding agreements with 135 federally recognized Tribes. The OTT also provides support for all FHWA activities affecting tribal transportation. This support includes the administration of grant programs awarded to Tribes, and the transfer of funds from States and other local governments to Tribes through the 202(a)(9) transfer process.
In addition, the FHWA Office of Tribal Transportation manages the Tribal Transportation Program Bridge Program and the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund for all federally recognized Tribes. These grant programs are set-asides from the overall Tribal Transportation Program.
Regulations
In 2012, Congress passed the Moving Ahead for Programs in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21 Law), which replaced the existing Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program with the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP). Indian Affairs worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration to update regulations to comply with these changes through a formal consultation process. For a history of the consultations, please visit: Tribal Transportation Program (25 CFR 170) (formerly Indian Reservation Roads) | Indian Affairs
- Tribal Shares and Planning Funds under the IIJA and the FAST Act
- 25 CFR 170 Final Rule (published on November 7, 2016)
- Amendment to 25 CFR 170 Final Rule (Delay of Compliance Date) (published on February 28, 2018)
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