Funding Programs

NWARPC Federal Funding Programs

As Northwest Arkansas’ Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), NWARPC guides the region’s transportation future through long-range planning and federal funding programs. We support projects that improve roadways, trails, sidewalks, and transit, enhance safety, expand travel options, and reduce carbon emissions. By prioritizing and investing in mobility and multimodal alternatives, NWARPC helps create a safe, connected, and resilient transportation system for communities across the region.

The federal funding programs administered by NWARPC include:

• Surface Transportation Block Grant Program – Attributable (STBGP-A)
• Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) 
• Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)

FFY 2027 Call for Projects

FFY 2027 NWARPC STBGP-A, TAP, and CRP Project Application Timeline:
Call for Projects Notice – January 4, 2026
Project Funding Request Deadline – April 2, 2026 at 11:59 P.M. CT

FFY 2027 NWARPC Funding Request Applications: 
FFY 2027 STBGP-A Project Application (New Project) ➜
FFY 2027 STBGP-A Additional Funding Request Form (Existing Project) ➜
FFY 2027 TAP Project Application ➜
FFY 2027 CRP Project Application ➜

Overview

Since 2013, NWARPC has awarded over $140 million in federal funding to projects of regional significance.

• The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO urban area became a Transportation Management Area (TMA) in 2012.
• The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. 117-58 (Nov. 15, 2021) provides federal suballocated funding to the TMA.
• The formula funds are suballocated to the urban area based on the 2020 Census Urban Area population of 373,687.
• NWARPC, as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is responsible for administering the urban area suballocated funds.
• The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) ensures federally funded projects meet regulations, are properly designed and built, and reimburses eligible local expenses.

In the FFY 2026 funding cycle, Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission awarded over $16.6 million in federal funds to support 21 community-driven projects to improve roads, sidewalks, trails, and safety across the region. These investments, supported through STBGP-A, TAP, and CRP programs, strengthen mobility and prepare Northwest Arkansas for continued growth.

FFY 2026 NWARPC Awards ➜

Funding Program Requirements

• The STBGP-A, TAP and CRP are federally funded, 80% Federal / 20% Local, reimbursable programs.
• Awarded projects must follow the ARDOT Local Public Agency (LPA) federal-aid process for reimbursement.
• Funds must be used for eligible projects that are submitted by eligible entities and chosen through a competitive process.
• Projects must be identified in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) / Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and be consistent with the Long-Range Statewide Transportation Plan and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (23 U.S.C. 134 and 23 U.S.C. 135).

For more information on the federal programs, please visit:
STBG Fact Sheet | TAP Fact Sheet | CRP Fact Sheet

The ARDOT Local Public Agency Project Manual (LPA Manual) is a guide for cities, counties, planning organizations, and eligible not-for-profit organizations that utilize federal funds for locally administered transportation projects. The LPA Manual is available on the ARDOT.gov website here.

Program Information

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program-Attributable (STBGP-A) Funding

Federal Highway Administration funds for roadway projects on the federal-aid highway system, capital improvements for public transportation and other multimodal projects. The current policy has a focus on selecting projects of regional significance, including improvement to major routes such as north/south corridors and the east/west corridors and frontage roads that improve access, reduce crash rates, and/or relieve congestion to the north/south routes.

Transit

NWARPC is the designated recipient for the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers AR-MO Urbanized Area for the Urbanized Area Formula Grants that are apportioned by FTA. The apportioned Section 5339 and Section 5307 FTA Urbanized Area Formula funds are utilized by Ozark Regional Transit and Razorback Transit for capital, operating assistance, preventative maintenance, ADA paratransit service and enhancements.

Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)

Federal Highway Administration funds for projects designed to reduce transportation emissions, defined as carbon dioxide emissions from on-road sources. The current policy has a focus on selecting projects of regional significance which reduces carbon emissions by implementing eligible activities including: traffic monitoring, management, and control facility or program; construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities; advanced transportation and congestion management technologies; intelligent transportation systems capital improvements; street lighting and traffic control devices with energy-efficient alternatives and other eligible carbon emission reduction projects.