Emergency Relief Program:
Federal-Aid Highway Assistance for
Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Robert S. Kirk
Specialist in Transportation Policy
November 1, 2012
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R42804
CRS Report for Congress
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Summary
The major highways and bridges recently damaged during Hurricanes Sandy and Irene are part of
the federal-aid highway system and were therefore eligible for assistance under the Emergency
Relief Program (ER) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Following a natural
disaster or catastrophic failure (such as a bridge collapse), ER funds are made available for both
emergency repairs and restoration of federal-aid highway facilities to pre-disaster conditions.
State departments of transportation typically have close ongoing relationships with FHWA’s
division offices in each state, which facilitate a quick, coordinated response to disasters. Although
ER is a federal program, the decision to seek ER funding is made by the state, not by the federal
government.
The program is funded by a permanent annual authorization of $100 million from the highway
trust fund (HTF) along with general fund appropriations provided by Congress on a “such sums
as necessary” basis. A number of issues have arisen in recent years:
• The scope of eligible activities funded by ER has grown via legislative or FHWA
waivers of eligibility criteria or changes in definitions. As a result, in some cases
the ER program has funded activities that have gone beyond repairing or
restoring highways to pre-disaster condition.
• The $100 million annual authorization has been exceeded nearly every fiscal
year, requiring appropriations that can lead to delay in funding permanent repairs.
• Congress has directed that in some cases ER fully fund projects, without the
normal 10% or 20% state matching share, increasing the federal outlay for
disaster highway assistance.
The 112th Congress authorized an emergency relief program for public transportation systems.
However, this program does not have a permanent funding source, and funds are to be provided
only by appropriation. No money has been appropriated to or expended under this program.
Congressional Research Service
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Background ...................................................................................................................................... 1
FHWA’s Emergency Relief (ER) Program ...................................................................................... 2
The Federal-State Relationship ................................................................................................. 2
Funding ...................................................................................................................................... 2
The Federal Share................................................................................................................ 2
Eligibility and Program Operation ............................................................................................ 3
Emergency Repairs ............................................................................................................. 4
Permanent Repairs............................................................................................................... 4
ER Funding Sustainability ............................................................................................................... 5
Recent “Quick Release” ER Allocations ......................................................................................... 6
FY2012 Nationwide ER Allocations ............................................................................................... 6
2005 Gulf Coast Hurricane ER Funding .......................................................................................... 6
Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program .......................................................................... 7
Tables
Table 1. 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricane ER Fund Allocations .............................................................. 6
Contacts
Author Contact Information............................................................................................................. 7
Congressional Research Service
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Introduction
The major highways and bridges damaged during Hurricanes Sandy in 2012 and Irene in 2011 are
examples of disaster damaged federal-aid highway infrastructure that is eligible for assistance
from the Emergency Relief Program (ER) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). ER
assistance is restricted to roads and bridges on the federal-aid highway system, which essentially
includes all public roads not functionally classified as either local or rural minor collectors. For
disaster-damaged roads that are not federal-aid highways, states may request reimbursement for
emergency road repairs and debris removal from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). FEMA may also allow limited funding under its Public Assistance Program for such
things as snow removal and related operating costs during extreme snowfalls, which are not
eligible for ER funds.1
This report describes FHWA assistance for the repair and reconstruction of highways and bridges
damaged by disasters or catastrophic failures (such as a bridge collapse). It begins with a brief
discussion of the legislative origins of federal assistance and describes the ER program in its
current form. The report then discusses eligibility issues and program operation.
Background
For more than 70 years, federal aid has been available for the emergency repair and restoration of
disaster-damaged roads. The first legislation authorizing such use of federal funds was the
Hayden-Cartwright Act of 1934 (P.L. 73-393). This act, however, provided no separate funds, and
states subject to disasters had to divert their regularly apportioned federal highway funds from
other uses to disaster repairs.
The Federal-Aid Highway and Highway Revenue Act of 1956 (70 Stat. 374 and 70 Stat. 387) was
the first act that authorized separate funds for the ER program (the program is codified at 23
U.S.C. 125). From the passage of the 1956 act through 1978, funding for the program was drawn
40% from the Treasury’s general fund revenues and 60% from the highway trust fund (HTF). The
HTF is supported by taxes paid by highway users, mainly on gasoline and diesel fuel. Starting in
1979, the Emergency Relief Program was funded 100% from the HTF. Late in 2005, Congress
began appropriating funds from the general fund to supplement the $100 million permanent
authorization from the HTF.2 On July 6, 2012, the ER program was reauthorized through FY2014
by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21; P.L. 112-141, Sec. 1107).3
1 Federal Highway Administration,
Emergency Relief Manual (Federal-Aid Highways), Washington, DC, November
2009, p. 20, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/er.pdf.
2 Beginning with the December 30, 2005, enactment of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense,
the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery (P.L. 109-148), ER supplemental appropriations have been drawn
from the Treasury’s general fund.
3 CRS Report R42762,
Surface Transportation Funding and Programs Under MAP-21: Moving Ahead for Progress in
the 21st Century Act (P.L. 112-141), coordinated by Robert S. Kirk.
Congressional Research Service
1
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
FHWA’s Emergency Relief (ER) Program
The ER program provides funds for the repair and reconstruction of roads on the federal-aid
highway system that have suffered serious damage as a result of either (1) a natural disaster over
a wide area, such as a flood, hurricane, tidal wave, earthquake, tornado, severe storm, or
landslide; or (2) a catastrophic failure from any external cause (for example, the collapse of a
bridge that is struck by a barge).4 Historically, however, the vast majority of ER funds has gone
for repair and reconstruction following natural disasters.
The Federal-State Relationship
As is true with other FHWA programs, the ER program is administered through the state
departments of transportation in close coordination with FHWA’s division offices in each state.
Although ER is a federal program, the decision to seek financial assistance under the program is
made by the state departments of transportation, not by the federal government. Local officials
who wish to seek ER funding must do so through their state departments of transportation. They
do not deal directly with the FHWA. As state departments of transportation normally deal with
FHWA staff at the state level on many matters, they typically have working relationships that
facilitate a quick coordinated response to disasters.
Funding
The ER program has a permanent annual authorization of $100 million in contract authority to be
derived from the highway trust fund. These funds are not subject to the annual obligation
limitation placed on most highway funding by appropriators, which means the entire $100 million
is available each year. Because the costs of road repair and reconstruction following many
disasters exceed the $100 million annual authorization, MAP-21 authorizes the appropriation of
additional funds on a “such sums as may be necessary” basis, generally accomplished in either
annual or emergency supplemental appropriations legislation.5
As is true with other FHWA programs, ER is a reimbursable program. A state receives payment
only after beginning repairs and submitting vouchers to FHWA for reimbursement of the federal
share. However, once the state’s eligibility for ER funds has been confirmed by FHWA, it can
incur obligations knowing that it will receive reimbursement.
The Federal Share
Emergency repairs to restore essential travel, minimize the extent of damage, or protect remaining
facilities, if accomplished within the first 180 days after the disaster, may be reimbursed with a
100% federal share. Permanent repair projects, such as rebuilding a bridge or a segment of
4 Federal Highway Administration,
Emergency Relief Manual (Federal-Aid Highways), Washington, DC, November
2009, pp. 1-76, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/er.pdf.
5 The extensive damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 raised doubts whether emergency supplemental ER
expenditures could be drawn from the highway account of the highway trust fund without constraining the ability of the
HTF to fully fund other authorized surface transportation programs. For that reason, supplemental ER appropriations
have come from the general fund since December 2005.
Congressional Research Service
2
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
damaged road, are reimbursed at the same federal share that would normally apply to the federal-
aid highway facility. For Interstate System highways the federal share would be 90%, and for
most other highways the share would be 80%. The requirement that the state provide a share of
the funding for permanent repairs applies whether or not they are done during the first 180 days
after the disaster. FHWA pays 100% of the cost of emergency or permanent repairs of roads on
federal lands.
Congress has on occasion authorized FHWA to pay 100% of ER program expenses for repair and
reconstruction projects related to particular disasters. Legislation for that purpose was enacted
following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes and the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis in
2007. MAP-21 also allowed for a 90% federal share for states whose total eligible expenses in a
fiscal year exceed the state’s apportionments from the large formula programs (under 23 USC
104) for the fiscal year in which the disaster occurred.
Eligibility and Program Operation
The ER program divides all repair work into two categories: emergency repairs and permanent
repairs. Only repairs to roads and bridges on the federal-aid highway system that have suffered
damage during a declared disaster or catastrophic failure are eligible for ER assistance.6 The
intent of ER assistance is to repair and restore highway facilities to pre-disaster conditions, not to
increase capacity or fix non-disaster-related deficiencies. In regard to bridges, ER funds are not to
be used if the construction phase of a replacement structure is already in the state’s approved
transportation improvement program at the time of the disaster or if the bridge has been
permanently closed to vehicular traffic. In general, work funded by the ER program must occur
within the federal-aid highway right-of-way. States must apply and provide a comprehensive list
of all eligible project sites and repair costs within two years.
Contracts supported by ER funding must meet all contract provisions as required by 23 CFR Part
633A, which regulates highway contracts. All contractors receiving ER funds must pay prevailing
wages as required under the Davis-Bacon Act.7 ER-funded contracts must abide by
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) requirements, Americans With Disability Act (ADA)
requirements, “buy America” regulations, and prohibitions against the use of convict labor (23
U.S.C. 114).8
Repair projects funded under the ER program are subject to the requirement of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. The impact, however, is generally limited since
emergency repairs are normally classified as categorical exclusions under 23 CFR 771.117 (c)(9),
6 A governor may issue a formal proclamation of the existence of a disaster. A presidential declaration or the
governor’s request for this declaration can serve the same purpose. The state files a letter of intent to apply for
Emergency Relief program funding with the FHWA Division Office within the state. The FHWA division
administrator may then concur that a disaster occurred and substantial damage has occurred to the federal-aid highway
system roads over a wide area or that the criteria for a catastrophic failure were met and that the damage is eligible
under 23 U.S.C. 125. When the President has issued a major disaster declaration, the division administrator’s
concurrence is not necessary. See, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/ermchap3.cfm#a.
7 The Davis-Bacon requirements can be suspended by executive order (ref. 40 U.S.C. 276a-5). President Bush did this
in response to Katrina. He reimposed the requirements November 8, 2005.
8 A state may request a waiver of the buy America requirements from FHWA based on a public interest rationale under
23 CFR 635.4109(c)(1)(i).
Congressional Research Service
3
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
as are projects to permanently restore an existing facility “in-kind” to its pre-disaster condition.
Betterments may, in some cases, require NEPA review.9
Emergency Repairs
These are repairs made immediately following a disaster to meet the program goals to “restore
essential traffic, to minimize the extent of damage, or to protect the remaining facilities.”10 State
and local transportation agencies can begin emergency repairs immediately; prior approval from
FHWA is not required. Once the FHWA division administrator finds that the disaster work is
eligible, properly documented costs can be reimbursed retrospectively. To be eligible for a 100%
federal share, emergency repair work must be completed within 180 days of the disaster, although
FHWA may extend this time period if there is a delay in access to the damaged areas, for example
due to flooding. Examples of emergency repairs are debris removal, regrading, removal of
landslides, construction of temporary road detours, erection of temporary detour bridges, and use
of ferries as an interim substitute for highway or bridge service. The emergency repair part of the
Emergency Relief Program is designed to permit work to start immediately, ahead of a finding of
eligibility and programming of a project. In some instances, state departments of transportation
have been able to let ER-funded debris removal and demolition contracts on the day of a disaster
event.11
Permanent Repairs
Permanent repairs go beyond the restoration of essential traffic and are intended to restore
damaged bridges and roads to pre-disaster conditions and capabilities.12 Where the damaged parts
of the road can be repaired to pre-disaster conditions, without replacement or reconstruction, this
is done. Where a road needs to be replaced, ER funding is limited to the cost of building a
roadway designed to current standards and of comparable capacity. MAP-21 defines a
comparable facility as one that meets the current geometric and construction standards required
for the types and volume of traffic that the facility will carry over its design life.
ER funds may be used for temporary or permanent repair of a repairable bridge or tunnel.
However, ER funds may not be used to replace other federal funds that would have been used to
construct a replacement bridge; if the construction phase of a replacement structure is already in
the state’s approved transportation improvement program at the time of the disaster, the project is
not eligible for funding from the ER program. If a bridge is destroyed or repair is not feasible,
then ER funds may participate in building a new comparable bridge to current design standards
and to accommodate traffic volume projected over its design life. In some cases “betterments”
(added protective features, added lanes, added access control, etc.) may be eligible, but they must
be shown to be economically justified based on a cost/benefit analysis of the future savings in
recurring repair costs.
9 CRS Report RL33104,
NEPA and Hurricane Response, Recovery, and Rebuilding Efforts, by Linda Luther.
10 FHWA.
Emergency Relief Manual. Available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/ermchap2.cfm#d1.
11 A good example of this is the Northridge Earthquake. See
Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System
Management and Operations, Washington, FHWA, 2004, pp. 37-45.
12 Federal Highway Administration,
Emergency Relief Manual, Washington, DC, November 2009,
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/ermchap2.cfm#d2.
Congressional Research Service
4
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Permanent repair and reconstruction contracts not classified as emergency repairs must meet
competitive bidding requirements. A number of techniques are available to accelerate projects,
including design-build contracting, abbreviated plans, shortened advertisement periods for bids,
and cost-plus-time (A+B) bidding13 that includes monetary incentive/disincentive clauses
designed to encourage contractors to complete projects ahead of time. For example, the contract
for repair of the I-10 Twin Spans Bridge between Slidell and New Orleans, LA, that was awarded
September 9, 2005, less than two weeks after the bridge was damaged by Hurricane Katrina,
included incentives for early completion. Two-way traffic on two lanes opened on October 14,
2005, 16 days ahead of schedule, and four-lane traffic opened January 6, 2006, nine days ahead of
schedule. The contract for the replacement of the collapsed I-35W bridge in Minneapolis also
used incentives for early completion. The new bridge was built in 11 months and was completed
three months ahead of schedule.14
ER Funding Sustainability
In February 2007, the Government Accountability Office released a report that expressed
concerns about the budgetary implications of increased ER spending.15 The report pointed out
that because of the constrained outlook for the highway trust fund, the ER program was mostly
funded with general fund revenues at a time when the
nation faces a pending fiscal crisis, raising concerns about future use of the general fund and
the financial sustainability of the ER program ... ER funds are not intended to replace other
federal-aid, state, or local funds to increase capacity, correct nondisaster-related deficiencies,
or make other improvements. However, contributing to future financial sustainability
concerns is the fact that the scope of eligible activities funded by the ER program has
expanded in recent years with congressional or FHWA waivers of eligibility criteria or
changes in definitions. As a result, some projects have been funded that go beyond repairing
or restoring highways to pre-disaster conditions ... [such as] projects that grew in scope and
cost to address environmental and community concerns.... Congress has also directed that in
some cases the program fully fund projects rather than requiring a state match.16
The report also noted that from 1990 through 2005, 86% of ER program funds were made
available through supplemental appropriations. GAO said this situation led to project backlogs
that forced states to delay reconstruction or use other highway dollars as they awaited
congressional action on supplemental appropriations legislation.
13 Cost-plus-time bidding (A+B method) includes two components. The A component is the traditional bid for all work
to be performed. The B component is a bid of the total number of calendar days required to complete the project. The
contract includes a disincentive for overrunning the time bid and an incentive for earlier completion.
14 Minnesota Department of Transportation,
Interstate 35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, MN,
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/i35wbridge/index.html.
15 U.S. Government Accountability Office,
Highway Emergency Relief: Reexamination Needed to Address Fiscal
Imbalance and Long-term Sustainability, GAO-07-245, February 2007, pp. 1-60, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/
d07245.pdf.
16 Ibid., p. 2.
Congressional Research Service
5
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Recent “Quick Release” ER Allocations
The FHWA
Emergency Relief Manual describes the “quick release” method for developing and
processing a state request for ER funding as a method which “employs a process to immediately
deliver ER assistance for large disasters very quickly. The quick release method should not be
used as a matter of routine and is intended to provide a ‘down payment’ on overall ER needs
immediately following a large scale disaster.”17 For example, on October 30, 2012, DOT
Secretary LaHood announced $13 million in quick release Emergency Relief Program funds for
Hurricane Sandy damage to highways and bridges in New York and Rhode Island.
FY2012 Nationwide ER Allocations
On January 9, 2012, FHWA allocated just under $1.6 billion of ER funds to the states for
reimbursement for repairs to damaged roads and bridges.18 Most of the funds were allocated to
states for damage that occurred in 2011. Some funds were allocated for permanent repairs to
earlier disasters. Additional allocations of $62 million and $20 million were announced on April
2, 2012, and May 7, 2012, respectively.
2005 Gulf Coast Hurricane ER Funding
As of January 2012, FHWA has received $2.967 billion in ER program funding requests, and has
allocated an equal amount for the repair and reconstruction of the damage to federal-aid highways
caused in 2005 by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.
Table 1 presents the allocations of ER
funding.
Table 1. 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricane ER Fund Allocations
(through January 9, 2012)
State
Date Range
Amount Allocated ($)
Alabama
March 28, 2006-July 24, 2007
27,377,720
Florida
January 20, 2006-March 28, 2006
523,175,042
Louisiana
September 14, 2005-January 9, 2012
1,301,911,471
Mississippi
September 13, 2005-July 6, 2009
1,074,000,000
Texas
January 20, 2006-October 23, 2008
40,454,847
Total
2,966,919,080
Source: CRS calculations based on FHWA data.
17 Federal Highway Administration. Office of Infrastructure,
Emergency Relief Manual, Washington, DC, November
2009, p. 33, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/ermchap3.cfm.
18 Federal Highway Administration, “U.S. Secretary of Transportation Announces More Than $319 Million as
Repayment for Repairs to Damaged Roads and Bridges,” press release, March 31, 2011, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
pressroom/dot11045.htm.
Congressional Research Service
6
Federal Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges
Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program
Section 5324 of MAP-21 created a new program for public transportation similar in intent to
FHWA’s ER program.19 In the past, disaster funding for damage to public transportation facilities
or operations has been funded through FEMA or through appropriations targeted to transit needs
and administered by the Federal Transit Administration following a specific disaster. The
fledgling program is to help states and transit agencies cover operating and capital costs incurred
due to damage as a result of disasters and emergencies. Eligible projects and activities include
• capital projects and activities for protecting, repairing, and replacing public
transportation equipment and facilities; and
• operating costs to cover evacuation activities, rescue operations, and temporary
transit service, or the reestablishing, expanding, or relocating of transit route
service, before, during or after an emergency event.
The program does not have a permanent annual authorization. All funds are authorized on a “such
sums as necessary” basis and require an appropriation to be made available. The Secretary of
Transportation determines the terms and conditions for grants under the program. The federal
share is 80%, although the Secretary may waive the local match.
Operating costs are eligible for reimbursement for one year beginning on the date a disaster is
declared, although the Secretary may extend that period to two years after determining a
compelling need. Grants may only be made for expenses that are not reimbursed by FEMA.
Author Contact Information
Robert S. Kirk
Specialist in Transportation Policy
rkirk@crs.loc.gov, 7-7769
19 Federal Transit Administration,
Fact Sheet: Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program, Washington, DC,
2012, http://fta.dot.gov/map21/.
Congressional Research Service
7