Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 001 - ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Division 01 - Arkansas State Highway Commission
Rule 001.01.21-002 - Transportation-Related Research Grant Program

1.1 Authority for promulgating these rules is conferred upon the Arkansas Highway Commission and the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 27-65-145.

1.2 These rules shall be known as the Arkansas Department of Transportation Rules for Transportation-Related Research & Workforce Development Grants.

1.3 Pursuant to Act 705 of 2017, and Act 884 of 2021, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 19-5-1258, ArDOT is responsible for the award and administration of grants under the Transportation-Related Research & Workforce Development Grant Program (TRRWDGP).

2.1 These rules describe the Arkansas State Highway Commission and the ARDOT procedures for awarding grants from the Future Transportation Research and Workforce Development Fund for the TRRWDGP.

2.2 The purpose of the TRRWDGP is to support:

* the study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions to provide resilient and sustainable logistics, processes, materials, and methods to ensure cost-effectiveness and the furtherance of education and economic development concerning all forms of transportation; and

* industry training, apprenticeship and educational programs to foster skills required for transportation related personnel development.

3.1 Potential applicants will be notified when an application period begins by email, letter, advertisement in applicable publications, and/or a notice on ArDOT's website.

3.2 The minimum amount requested for each application is $20,000. There is no limit to the maximum amount that can be requested. However, it should be noted that only $500,000 is available each year.

4.1 Applications will be reviewed and scored by the TRRWDGP Committee. It will be the duty of the TRRWDGP Committee to rate the quality of each application in order to recommend which applications will receive funding.

4.2 The TRRWDGP Committee will be comprised of the following members:

* ARDOT Assistant Chief Engineer - Planning, TRRWDGP Chairman

* ARDOT Materials Division Head

* ARDOT Transportation Planning and Policy Division Head

* ARDOT System Information and Research Division Head

* ARDOT Human Resources Division Head

* ARDOT Workforce Development Section Head

* ARDOT Staff Research Engineer

5.1 Any publicly funded institution of higher education may submit an application to receive a grant for transportation-related research or workforce development to the Arkansas Department of Transportation.

6.1 Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 27-65-145, "transportation-related research" is defined as the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions to provide resilient and sustainable logistics, processes, materials and methods to ensure cost effectiveness and the furtherance of education and economic development concerning all forms of transportation, including without limitation rail, public transportation, aviation, and waterborne transportation.

6.2 Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 27-65-145, "workforce development" is defined as industry training, apprenticeship, and educational programs that foster skills required for transportation related personnel development.

7.1 The TRRWDGP Committee will submit their recommendation(s) for award of TRRWDGP funding to the ArDOT Director. Upon the Director's approval, a Minute Order will be submitted to the Arkansas Highway Commission for their approval. Upon approval, a letter will be sent to each applicant informing them of the award amount granted for their application.

7.2 An Agreement of Understanding will be prepared by ArDOT for each grant recipient. The recipient and the ArDOT Director must both sign the Agreement of Understanding before funds will be distributed.

8.1 At the end of each State Fiscal Year, the recipient must provide ArDOT with certification that expenditures were an appropriate use of the TRRWDGP funds accompanied with a summarized expenditure report.

8.2 Additionally, upon expenditure of all TRRWDGP funds or completion of the project, whichever occurs first, the recipient must submit a final report detailing what has been accomplished by the project and certifying that all expenditures were made in accordance with the TRRWDGP.