The Highway Bridge Program (HBP), initiated in 1978, is a federal initiative aimed at increasing the safety of highway bridges across the United States. It provides funding for the repair and replacement of both on- and off-system highway bridges that are classified as Structurally Deficient or Functionally Obsolete. Each year, $230 million is allocated from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for these projects, with $60 million specifically earmarked for off-system bridges. The program requires a 20% match from local sources, which is typically split between the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the local governmental entity, each providing 10%. The program operates on a continuous four-year cycle, where projects are selected and prioritized based on their Sufficiency Rating, with special considerations for community impacts.