State Recreation Road (SRR) Program

The State Recreation Road Fund was established by the Nebraska Legislature to provide financial support for the construction and maintenance of state recreation roads throughout Nebraska. These roads, formally designated as State Recreation Roads (SRRs), are defined as dustless-surface roads that provide direct and immediate access to or are located within state parks, state recreation areas, or other state-managed recreational or historical areas. The fund is managed through a cooperative framework involving the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NG&P), with the final certification of SRR designation requiring approval by the Governor. The purpose of the fund is to ensure that the infrastructure supporting Nebraska’s recreational and historical assets is adequately maintained and improved to enhance public access, safety, and usability. Eligible projects include new road construction, major rehabilitation projects, and routine and non-routine maintenance activities. Projects can take place within or outside of designated State Recreation Areas, but must meet specific eligibility requirements and follow established prioritization and approval processes. NDOT and NG&P retain full authority to determine prioritization, allocate funds, and defund projects if deemed necessary for the stewardship of the fund. The fund is divided into three program types: Construction Programs, Emergency Response Programs (ER), and Maintenance Programs. The Construction Program is reserved for non-routine infrastructure upgrades such as major overlays and road reconstructions. The Emergency Response Program funds urgent repairs due to natural disasters or sudden catastrophic failures, with eligibility assessed annually. The Maintenance Program supports both preventative and heavy maintenance work, although only heavy maintenance is eligible for funding outside of State Recreation Areas. Maintenance activities within recreation areas can include routine tasks such as crack sealing and larger tasks like chip seals or minor overlays. Funding distribution, particularly for roads outside of designated State Recreation Areas, is determined using a Percent of Participation (POP) model. This model calculates the percentage of funding a Local Public Agency (LPA) is eligible to receive based on traffic counts (Average Daily Travel) demonstrating the proportion of road use for recreational purposes. The minimum state contribution is 25%, which can be increased based on analysis. LPAs must submit POP data and a formal Request for Funding via the official Funding Request Form. Projects initiated without prior NDOT and NG&P approval are not eligible for reimbursement. LPAs must demonstrate jurisdictional responsibility over the proposed SRR and agree to perform ongoing maintenance to preserve the infrastructure investment. Once a project is identified, prioritized, and approved, NDOT and the LPA execute a program agreement outlining funding terms, project scope, and delivery mechanisms. For projects located within State Recreation Areas, NG&P leads the identification and prioritization, while NDOT manages project execution. All contracts are awarded through NDOT’s standard or accelerated letting process, depending on urgency and resource availability. Applicants must adhere to a clear submission process, beginning with the Letter of Intent through the Funding Request Form, followed by submission of traffic data, eligibility review, prioritization, and finally project agreement execution. There are no specified deadlines or contact persons listed in the guidelines, and the fund does not operate on a rolling basis. Annual programming is typical for ER funds, but carryover is not allowed, emphasizing the importance of timely and accurate submissions.