The Tribal High Priority Projects (Tribal HPP) Program, as established under 23 U.S.C. 202, is a nationwide priority program for:

1. An Indian Tribe or governmental subdivision of an Indian Tribe whose annual allocation of funding under the Tribal Transportation Program is insufficient to complete the highest priority project of the Indian Tribe or governmental subdivision of an Indian Tribe; or
2. Any Indian Tribe that has an emergency or disaster with respect to a transportation facility included on the national inventory of Tribal transportation facilities under section 202(b)(1) of Title 23, United States Code.

To receive updates about the Tribal HPP Program, subscribe to the Office of Tribal Transportation Mailing List.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Public Law 117-58, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ) into law. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and economy in our Nation s history.  Each year BIL provides $9,000,000 of the available TTP funds are set aside for the Tribal HPP Program.  In addition to the $9,000,000 set aside, there is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 out of the general fund of the Treasury for each fiscal years 2022 through 2026, if Congress passes this funding in their legislation.

Resources for Preparing a Tribal HPP Program Application

Any time during the year, the Tribe can submit an application package for Tribal HPP Program funding.  On January 31, the applications received will be reviewed for eligibility, evaluated, and ranked for funding.  Applications submitted after January 31 will be collected for the next fiscal year funding cycle.

The application form shall be completed and submitted to your FHWA or BIA Point of Contact.  The following documents may be used by the Tribe to assemble the application package:

Priority Projects

• Priority Project Application Information
  • Tribal HPP Program Priority Project (Checklist for Tribe).pdf (163.54 KB)
  • Application Form 
  • Application Form Instructions 

Emergency or Disaster Projects

• Emergency or Disaster Project Application Information
  • Checklist for Tribe 
  • Application Form 
  • Application Form Instructions

A webinar for prospective applicants was held on October 11, 2023 to review the funding opportunity and application process.  Access to the webinar can be found here.

Tribal HPP Program Frequently Asked Questions

Link to FAQs

Funded Projects

A webinar for awardees was held to review the post-award requirements, roles, and responsibilities. A recording of the webinar can be found here. 

Prior Year Tribal HPP Program Funding Priority List:

• FY 2022-2023 
• Final Funding Priority List FY 2024

Tribal HPP Program History

Prior to BIL

The Indian Reservation Roads High Priority Projects Program (IRRHPP) was created through negotiated rulemaking and documented at 25 CFR 170 (July 19, 2004).  Under these regulations, the IRRHPP was a set-aside from the Indian Reservation Roads Program (IRR) and was funded from 2005 through 2012.  Applications were ranked by a committee comprised of BIA, FHWA and tribal participants using the scoring matrix specified in the regulations.  In 2012, $28,533,502 was awarded to Tribes through the IRRHPP.  

The Tribal HPP Program was enacted and codified in 23 U.S.C. 202, through Public Law 112-141 (MAP-21 §1123 dated July 6, 2012) and a fact sheet was developed (https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/factsheets/thpp.cfm).  The Tribal HPP Program was modeled after the former IRRHPP in 25 CFR 170 (July 19, 2004) but MAP-21 changed the funding from a TTP set-aside to an authorized appropriation of $30 million per year from the General Fund.  Although MAP-21 authorized the program, there were no appropriations for the program under MAP-21 or the FAST Act.

2010 IRRPCC Recommendations to BIA High Priority Project Team for Eligibility Requirements click here.

Contact Information

Please contact the Tribal HPP Program Manager, Blane Kunihisa at blane.kunihisa@dot.gov or 360-619-7814 if you have any program questions.  Others on the Tribal HPP Program Administration team include:

• Miles Brookes, FHWA
• Robert Frazier, BIADOT
• Jeff Harman, BIA Alaska Region
• Demery Bill, BIA Pacific Region