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The Oregon Department of Transportation has money, but doesn’t know how to spend it. So the agency is asking for help.

ODOT officials announced today the availability of $21 million in funding from the federal Flexible Funds Program, which can be used to pay for bicycle, pedestrian, transit and transportation demand management projects, plans, programs and services. Government entities from around the state have until Oct. 20 to apply.

The Flexible Funds Program comes from the Federal Highway Administration’s Surface Transportation Program. The federal money is a allotted annually to each state and can be used for projects costing between $50,000 and $2.1 million. Last year, ODOT received 125 applications totaling more than $80 million in projects. In the end, 28 projects split $20 million from the program pot of money.

ODOT recommends that those interested in applying take part in a webcast the department is holding from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept 8. The webcast will provide an overview of the program and eligible projects, as well as offer a question-and-answer period for potential applicants. Visit ODOT’s for more information on the webcast.

Final decisions on the allocations of the money will be made by a flexible funding advisory committee, which is made up of transportation experts from public agencies at the federal, state and local levels. Final funding decisions are expected in early 2012.