Transportation Alternatives Program

Overview

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) has been presented in a variety of forms since its original creation under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) in 2012.

With the adoption of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015 (FAST Act), the Transportation Alternatives Program was again replaced as a set aside grant under the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG). TAP funding allows jurisdictions to focus funds specifically towards projects and initiatives that prioritize alternative modes of transportation, or rather, on projects that assist in developing programming that enables alternative transportation users (i.e. cyclists/pedestrians/public transit riders/etc.,) access to safe and equitable infrastructure within municipalities, regions, and states.

Eligible Projects

Under the TAP, there are 10 activities in which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has determined are eligible for TA fund dispersal. The 10 eligible activities go as follows:

1. Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized forms of transportation, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
2. 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.
3. Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other nonmotorized transportation users.
4. Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
5. Community improvement activities, which include but are not limited to:
   1. Inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising;
   2. Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities;
   3. Vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway Safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control; and
   4. Archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible under title 23.
6. Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to:
   1. Address stormwater management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff, including activities described in sections 23 U.S.C. 133(b)(3) [as amended under the FAST Act], 328(a), and 329 of title 23;
      
      AND/OR
   2. Reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats (Former 23 U.S.C. 213(b)(2)-(4)).
7. The recreational trails program under 23 U.S.C. 206 of title 23.
8. The safe routes to school program eligible projects and activities listed at section 1404(f) of the SAFETEA-LU:
   1. Infrastructure related projects
   2. Non-infrastructure related projects
   3. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) coordinator. SAFETEA-LU section 1404(f)(2)(A) lists "managers of safe routes to school programs" as eligible under the non-infrastructure projects.
9. Planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways.
10. Transportation projects that will be conducted and performed by youth workforce development, youth conservation corps, and other youth services, which can be defined under Section 1524 of the MAP-21 Act.

* CPCMPO is currently accepting applications for our region's Transportation Alternatives Program. Please read through the Transportation Alternatives Program: Instructional Guide for more information as to how to apply. The deadline for FY 2020 applications will be on May 24, 2021 at 11:59 PM. The Transportation Alternatives Program Application will be in the Forms Section of this web page. For more information, please contact Addie Britt by phone at 706-653-4116 or by email at britt.addie@columbusga.org.

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