ABOUT

Communities across America have access to Transportation Alternatives (TA) funds from the federal government to expand travel choice, strengthen the local economy, improve the quality of life, and protect the environment. Since the inception of Transportation Enhancements in 1991, renamed Transportation Alternatives in 2012, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has monitored how these dedicated funds have been invested in order to help stakeholders at the federal, state, and local level better understand and implement this program. From 1996 to 2013, TrADE operated as the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse, as a partnership between RTC and the Federal Highway Administration.

The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) was established by Congress in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015, replacing MAP-21's Transportation Alternative Program (TAP). TAP was preceded by Transportation Enhancements under ISTEA (funded 1992 – 2004) and SAFETEA-LU (2005 – 2012).

Eligible activities include most activities historically funded as "Transportation Enhancements," the Recreational Trails Program, and the Safe Routes to School program.

Federal information related to TA is accessible through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) TA website.

Detailed tracking of the Recreational Trails Program can be found at the Recreational Trails Program Database.

STATE PROGRAMS

The Transportation Alternatives program was created and funded through federal transportation legislation. It is administered by the Federal Highway Administration, but implemented by the states.

States have flexibility in how the Transportation Alternatives program is administered. In particular, the Transportation Alternatives program combines three previously separate sources of transportation funding: Transportation Enhancements, the Recreational Trails Program, and Safe Routes to School. As states move forward with implementing the new Transportation Alternatives program, policies will vary from state to state regarding the arrangement of previous state policies concerning these antecedents.

Select a state to find local information.

REPORTS

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PAST REPORTS

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RESOURCES

RTC has compiled a variety of free publications to help you understand Transportation Alternatives.

Transportation Enhancements & Alternatives Primer

This document demystifies the complex processes of the Federal-aid Highway Program and provides an introductory lesson on the terms, key functions and workings of the program.

MAP-21 and Its Effects on Transportation Enhancements

This document summarizes the changes made to the former Transportation Enhancement activities as the Transportation Alternatives Program under MAP-21.

A Greener Welcome

This document highlights a vegetation management project in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. A large donation, the use of volunteer labor and community support make this an ideal project!

Transportation Alternatives Program Manual Development Guide

For state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations administering competitive programs to distribute Transportation Alternatives funds, developing a program manual can help articulate the history, structure, goals, eligibilities, implementation process, and common challenges of the program for potential project sponsors.

Transportation Alternatives Eligible Activities

Transportation Alternatives (TA) refers to the 10 eligible definitions, which are a recasting of the former Transportation Enhancements program. The term Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is an umbrella term used to refer to the total reservation of funding for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Recreational Trails (RTP) programs which have been consolidated into one funding source with the 10 eligible TA activities.

This document enumerates the eligible uses for each of the programs contained within the Transportation Alternatives Program reservation of funding.

From SAFETEA-LU to MAP-21: Apportionments

This document provides an overview of changes made to funding of Transportation Enhancements activities and the Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trails programs from SAFETEA-LU to the new Transportation Alternatives Program structure of MAP-21.