2017 Cost Share Program Guideline

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides one funding source for a variety of alternative transportation projects. TAP includes many eligible activities previously funded through separate programs such as Transportation Enhancements, Recreational Trails, and Safe Routes to School.

TAP was established by MAP-21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, which was signed into law in 2012.

Eligible activities

TAP funds may be used for projects or activities related to surface transportation and described in the definition of “Transportation Alternatives”:

  • Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation
  • Construction, planning, and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs
  • Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non-motorized transportation users
  • Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas
  • Community improvement activities, including—
    • inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising
    • historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities
    • vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control
    • archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible under 23 USC
  • Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to—
    • address stormwater management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff
    • reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats.

In addition to defined Transportation Alternatives (as described above), the following activities are also eligible under TAP:

  • The recreational trails program as described under 23 USC 206
  • The safe routes to school program as described under §1404 of SAFETEA–LU
  • Planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways
  • Workforce development, training, and education activities

Eligible project sponsors

  • local governments
  • regional transportation authorities
  • transit agencies
  • natural resource or public land agencie;
  • school districts, local education agencies, or schools
  • tribal governments
  • other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation or recreational trails (other than a metropolitan planning organization or a State agency) that the State determines to be eligible, consistent with the goals of subsection (c) of section 213 of title 23.

Under TAP, nonprofits are not eligible as direct grant recipients of the funds. Nonprofits are eligible to partner with any eligible entity on an eligible TAP project, if State or local requirements permit.

Click the link below more information on TAP funding:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/transportation_alternatives/guidance/

Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP)