Funding for Road Maintenance in Rural Areas

The “Promotion of Road Maintenance in Rural Areas” in Styria supports public institutions in the repair, reconstruction, and improvement of traffic safety on major rural roads. Projects that connect villages and settlement areas with the overarching road network and have significant traffic importance are eligible for funding. The objective is the long-term preservation of the rural road network through structural measures as well as specific traffic safety measures (excluding lighting systems). Funding is provided in the form of a direct grant with a funding rate of up to 40% of the eligible costs, with additional project-related planning costs and construction supervision up to 12%, as well as non-cash expenses (own contributions) being recognized. Taxes, public charges, procedural and financing costs, as well as paid services by the State of Styria, are not eligible for funding. Funding applications can be submitted continuously and have been valid indefinitely since November 24, 2015.

Eligible applicants are Styrian municipalities, municipal associations with delegated maintenance tasks, and public-law road cooperatives according to the State Road Administration Act. A prerequisite for the grant is the submission of a technical project in accordance with the guidelines and regulations for road construction (RVS), which complies with generally accepted technical standards and specifically considers traffic safety aspects such as lane width. The evaluation of project applications is based on criteria such as traffic significance, prioritization according to traffic development, scheduled public transport, tourism interests, and available budgetary funds. For the application, an A7 application form for rural road construction and the technical project according to RVS must be submitted. This continuously available funding offer sustainably strengthens the infrastructure in the rural areas of Styria and makes a decisive contribution to improving traffic safety.