Policy and Active Transportation > Federal Funding > Transportation Alternatives (TA)

Transportation Alternatives

Cherry Creek Regional Trail | Photo by TrailLink user angiedickson

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) program is the nation’s largest dedicated source of funding for trail and active transportation projects. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) allocates funding to states where state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations administer their own competitive process and deal directly with applicants.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorizes nearly 70% more money for the legacy Transportation Alternatives Program (which includes the Recreational Trails Program) from $850 million to an average of $1.44 billion per year. This vital funding is less likely to be diverted to unrelated purposes as the new law constrains such transfers. In addition, the law allows states to use up to 5% of available funds for technical assistance to administer grants and assist local governments in applying.

View interactive Transportation Alternatives map | Courtesy RTC

        
Quick Facts:

Administered By: FHWA allocates funding to states, and state DOTs and MPOs administer the program.
Type: Formula funding
Year Created: 1992 as Transportation Enhancements
Also Known As: Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) (2018 – present), Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) (2013 – 2017), Transportation Enhancements (TE) (1992- 2012)

Eligibilities

The following are eligible project sponsors or applicants:

Local governments
Regional transportation authorities
Transit agencies
Tribal governments
Other local or regional government entities
Nonprofit entities (can partner with any eligible entity)

The following project types are eligible for funding:

Pedestrian and bicycle facilities
Safe Routes for Non-Drivers
Conversion of Abandoned Railway Corridors to Trails
Scenic Turnouts and Overlooks
Outdoor Advertising Management
Historic Preservation and Rehab of Historic Transportation Facilities
Vegetation management
Archaeological Activities
Stormwater Mitigation
Wildlife Management

Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange (TrADE)

RTC’s Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange (TrADE) is the nation’s go-to transportation funding data source for trails and active transportation, tracking TA spending for tens of thousands of projects. Wisconsin’s Oak Leaf Trail | Photo by Front Room Media

Explore TrADE

Resources

State DOT Best Practices in Implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
If you are in an urbanized region with a population more than 200,000, your metropolitan planning organization can provide guidance on their application process. For all other areas, your state DOT can provide information and guidance on their application process.
Explore RTC’s TrADE Database to understand how your state typically spends its Transportation Alternatives funding.
Tapping into Federal Funding: Five Trail Tales of Success: https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2020/may/28/tapping-into-federal-funding-five-trail-tales-of-success/