Arizona Tribal Transportation
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is a multimodal transportation agency that is responsible for planning, building and operating the State Highway System and support facilities for the efficient and safe movement of people and products by surface and air.
ADOT efforts to address Arizona tribal transportation are based on the following major factors:
- There are 22 federally recognized Indian Tribes, Communities and Native Nations in Arizona with tribal land encompassing approximately 27,736,000 acres or 28% of the State land base.
- There are eight Tribes located out-of-state with aboriginal and ancestral land interests.
- The State Highway System includes 6,148 centerline miles of which 1,490 traverse Tribal land.
- There are 14 Tribal airports and seven Tribal public transit systems situated within Tribal communities throughout Arizona.
- Both State and Tribal governments have the common goal of providing efficient transportation systems for the safety and welfare of the traveling public.
Tribal Transportation Consultation in Arizona
ADOT’s Tribal Consultation Policy was initially adopted on September 1, 2006 and is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. It takes into consideration Arizona Revised Statute Section 41-2051, subsection C - Responsibilities of state agencies and Federal legislative requirements for state departments of transportation to consult with Native Nations and Tribal Governments in statewide and metropolitan transportation planning processes. Additionally Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires that Tribes be consulted in any decisions affecting their historic and cultural legacy. This applies to all Tribes resident in Arizona and Tribes with aboriginal or ancestral interests in Arizona. Consultation guidelines outlined in the ADOT policy provide a basis for mutual understanding as appropriate partnerships and agreements are carried out to address State and Tribal transportation issues.
About this website
With the adoption of the ADOT Tribal Consultation Policy the department is committed to work with the Tribes, Communities and Native Nations to consult and coordinate on State and Tribal transportation missions and goals. This website was developed to support those efforts and to improve State-Tribal intergovernmental relations through resource information sharing. It is designed to be a central location for state-tribal transportation partnerships, projects, activities, groups, links, and other related information.
Grants.gov is an E-Government initiative operating under the governance of the Office of Management and Budget and is a system that provides a common website for federal agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities and for grantees to find and apply to them.
IIJA Website: The USDOT FHWA has launched this website as a one-stop online resource for new and existing FHWA programs and as well as how to apply for grants and other discretionary funding opportunities available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
FHWA Transportation Funding Opportunities for Tribal Nations Brochure - FHWA has developed this brochure to highlight information on the new highway programs created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in addition to existing programs.
Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) Program - FHWA has announced $125 million in available funding through the NSFLTP for the purpose of funding projects of national significance for construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of transportation facilities within, adjacent to, or providing access to Federal or Tribal lands. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) modified the program including reducing minimum project sizes from $25 million to $12.5 million, directing 50% of the funds towards Tribal transportation facilities, and increasing the Federal share of projects on Tribal transportation facilities to 100%. Federally recognized Indian Tribes that are eligible to receive funds under the Tribal Transportation Program are eligible to apply for the NSFLTP. Also a state, county, or unit of local government may only apply if sponsored by an eligible Indian Tribe. The application deadline is October 24, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. FHWA is preparing a webinar to assist applicants and will post the information at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs/significant.
This guide features information on the HMGP process and the differences in the roles and responsibilities for tribes that can act either as an applicant or as a subapplicant to the state. Federally-recognized tribes may have a number of considerations to evaluate when deciding whether to be an applicant or subapplicant. Visit https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation to learn more
The FHWA announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) posted in Grants.gov. The application portal opened on June 6, 2024, for combined FY2024 & FY2025 funds (as much as $145 million) and closes September 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The NOFO also announces the FY 2026 funds (about $80 million) with the application period opening May 1, 2025 and closing August 1, 2025. FHWA will host a Tribal Webinar to assist applicants with applying to the WCPP. Webinar registration is required and can be submitted through the following link:
https://usdot.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_9LFOLMr9SN6BG2QbZlcUiQ#/registration
The FHWA has announced the availability of $24 million in grant funding from the TTPSF. Tribal governments may apply for funding to develop and update transportation safety plans; safety data assessment, improvement and analysis; systemic roadway departure countermeasures; infrastructure improvements and other eligible activities. For the FY25 funding cycle the application deadline is January 15, 2025. A webinar for prospective applicants was held on October 3, 2025 and links to the presentation slides and recording are posted here: https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/tribal/fhwa-ott-webinars
