The Transportation Alternatives Program is a new federal program under MAP-21 that provides funding to projects considered "alternatives" to traditional highway construction. The TA Program combines three former federal programs: Transportation Enhancements (TE), Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS), and Recreational Trails (RTP). Eligible recipients include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts and agencies, and other appropriate local or regional governmental entities. Non-profits are not eligible to be direct recipients of the funds. Eligible projects will include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, complete streets, safe routes to schools, environmental mitigation, and others. Please review the federal guidance for a complete list of eligible activities.
One of the key differences between the TA Program and the previous programs is that large MPOs, including the Transportation Planning Board, will play a new role in project selection for a portion of program funds that will be suballocated to large metropolitan regions. For the National Capital Region, this new program offers an opportunity to fund regional priorities and complement regional planning activities. In the National Capital Region, the TA Program will be framed as a complementary component of the TPB's Transportation/Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program, which provides technical assistance for small planning studies to TPB member jurisdictions.
The project solicitation for the Regional TA Program is March 1, 2013 through May 15, 2013.
Please visit the Application Information page for more information about applying for regional TA Program funding.
The TPB will conduct a solicitation for the regional TA Program from March 1, 2013, to May 15, 2013. Applicants will be required to complete a regional application in addition to a statewide project application. A summary of the state-level processes for FY 2013 and FY 2014 funding may be found below. For more detailed information, please review the application information.
The TPB will host a Regional TA Program Application Workshop to provide information to potential applicants about the regional TA Program. The workshop will be held on March 22, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. at MWCOG. An RSVP is required.
The application deadline for Transportation Alternatives Program submissions is 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
District of Columbia
The TPB has issued a solicitation for the regional TA Program only for both FY 2013 and FY 2014. The solicitation was issued on March 1, 2013, and applications are due to the TPB on May 15, 2013. Projects funded through the regional TA Program will be approved by the TPB in September. The District of Columbia may conduct a separate project selection process for its statewide TA Program funding.
Maryland
The TPB is participating in a joint solicitation with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) that was issued on March 1, 2013. This solicitation combines TAP funds for FY 2013 and FY 2014. Applications are due to MDOT on May 15, 2013. Projects funded through the regional TA Program will be approved by the TPB in September.
Virginia
The TPB has issued a solicitation for the regional TA Program only for FY 2014. The TPB solicitation permits applications for new projects. The solicitation was issued on March 1, 2013, and applications are due to the TPB on May 15, 2013. Projects funded through the regional TA Program will be approved by the TPB in September.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) completed its solicitation for FY 2014 and will use the statewide TA Program funds only to fund existing projects (those which have previously received Transportation Enhancements funding). For FY 2013, VDOT has used the entire TA Program allocation (including suballocations to large urbanized areas) to fund Transportation Enhancements projects that were selected by the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) before MAP-21 was signed. The TPB has concurred with this approach.
Questions?
Please contact TPB staff at TAP@mwcog.org with any questions about the regional TA Program application process. Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page to view answers to common questions.