Surface Transportation Program (STP)

The Surface Transportation Program (STP) Shared Fund is a federally funded initiative administered by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and programmed by the STP Project Selection Committee. The program is intended to support a multimodal transportation system across northeastern Illinois by allocating federal resources toward projects that advance regional mobility, safety, accessibility, and sustainability. The Shared Fund is a critical component of the broader Surface Transportation Program, which includes both the Shared Fund and the Local Program, the latter being administered by 12 subregional councils and the City of Chicago. The STP Shared Fund is designed to finance transportation projects that contribute significantly to regional priorities, especially those that local municipalities or agencies cannot readily fund independently. It aligns closely with the objectives of the ON TO 2050 regional plan, which emphasizes inclusive growth, travel safety, and system modernization. Projects eligible for funding under the Shared Fund include, but are not limited to, bicycle and pedestrian barrier eliminations, bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction, bus speed improvements, corridor-level or small area safety improvements, highway/rail grade crossing upgrades, road expansions and reconstructions, improvements to transit stations, yards, and terminals, and enhancements to truck routes. Each project must contribute to the region’s long-term transportation objectives and demonstrate regional impact. Applicants to the STP Shared Fund must meet specific eligibility requirements. Projects must be included in a locally adopted plan and have a total project cost of at least $5 million, or be supported by a partnership of three or more eligible sponsors. Eligible sponsors are defined as state agencies or governmental units capable of levying taxes, including municipalities, counties, townships, park districts, forest preserve districts, and transit agencies. All awarded funding mandates a 20 percent local match, though Cohort 4 communities may be eligible for waivers on preliminary engineering costs and match requirements. Non-municipal applicants are encouraged to partner with local municipalities and must demonstrate more than just passive support—such as financial or in-kind contributions—to qualify. The grant application process for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026–2030 funding cycle follows a structured timeline. The call for projects will open on October 21, 2024, followed by a webinar on October 30, 2024. Applications are due by December 20, 2024. CMAP staff will recommend projects by April 2025, followed by a public comment period, review by the STP Project Selection Committee and Transportation Committee, and final approval by the MPO Policy Committee in June 2025. Projects will be evaluated using a scoring system weighted as follows: 50% for transportation impact, 30% for planning factors, 15% for project readiness, and 5% for subregional priority. Individual scoring criteria differ by project type, and detailed scoring rubrics are available in the Shared Fund application workbook. Notably, phase I engineering is generally not eligible for funding, except under special conditions. Acceptable match contributions include motor fuel tax revenues, Rebuild Illinois bond funds, and private or state funds. Projects that fall within disadvantaged communities (Cohort 4) may be eligible for more flexible funding requirements, supporting greater equity in infrastructure investment. For more information, applicants are directed to the call for projects webpage at cmap.is/2024callforprojects. Project-specific questions should be directed to the relevant Planning Liaison, while general inquiries can be sent to transportation@cmap.illinois.gov. Applicants should prepare thoroughly, as competition for funding is strong and the regional impact of each project is a critical determinant in final selections.