Tribal Transportation Planning

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has a government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribal Governments. This special relationship is affirmed in treaties, Supreme Court decisions, and executive orders. These require that the FHWA and other Federal agencies consult with Tribes regarding policy and regulatory matters. Additionally, 23 CFR 134 and 23 CFR 135 establishes consultation requirements with tribes through the Statewide and Metropolitan planning and programming processes.

The Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) Tribal Planning Resources page offers transportation planning professionals legislative, regulatory, and general guidance; technical resources; and relevant links related to Tribal planning issues.

Please click on the links below to access the Tribal transportation planning resources.

Related Topics

1. Legislation, Regulations, and Guidance
2. Consultation and Coordination - Read information regarding consultation and coordination during the transportation planning process.
   • Consultation and Public Involvement Statutory/Regulatory Requirements: Working with Tribes within the Statewide/Metropolitan Transportation Planning Processes - The document describes the actions and statutory requirements for working with Tribes.
   • Interagency Tribal NEPA Capacity Work Group - The Memorandum for Federal Agency NEPA Contacts and Coordinators seeks to enhance the knowledge, understanding, and skills of Federal agencies, American Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations to enable them to work more effectively together throughout the NEPA process.
   • Non-Metropolitan Local Officials Consultation - The webpage describes the role of non-metropolitan local officials in the statewide transportation planning process.
   • Understanding the Communications and Information Needs of Elected Officials for Transportation Planning and Operations - The objective of this document is to enhance FHWA's communications capabilities and approaches with local elected officials (as well as senior appointed officials), with an emphasis on the linkages between transportation planning and transportation systems management and operations.
   • Native American Coordination - The FHWA Native American Coordination staff provides guidance and technical assistance to federally recognized tribes on a government-to-government basis.

Technical Resources
Find Tribal planning technical resources including publications, case studies, data needs and the "Briefing Notebook for Transportation Decisionmakers."

1. Publications
2. Case Studies
3. Briefing Notebook for Transportation Decisionmakers

Related Sites
Use the resource index to view all websites related to Tribal planning. Listed below is a sampling of these websites.

1. Federal Highway Administration Tribal Transportation Planning - The FHWA Tribal Transportation Planning Program delivers products and services that provide information, training, and technical assistance to the transportation professionals responsible for planning for the capital, operating, and maintenance needs on tribal lands. On this website, you will find planning news, regulations, policies, training information, technical resources, and contact information.
2. Federal Highway Administration Tribal Transportation - FHWA works in a government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribal Governments. FHWA has a Tribal Transportation Program Coordinator that coordinates with FHWA headquarters and field offices in the federal-aid and federal lands highway programs.
3. Federal Lands Indian Reservation Roads/Bridges (IRR) Program - The IRR Program addresses transportation needs of tribes by providing funds for planning, designing, construction, and maintenance activities. The program is jointly administered by FHWA's Federal Lands Highway Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in accordance with an interagency agreement.
4. Indian Reservation Roads Program, Transportation Planning Procedures and Guidelines
5. Minnesota Tribes and Transportation E-Handbook - Transportation Planning and Area Transportation Partnerships