Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside                            

Overview

STBG logoThe Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into law on Dec. 4, 2015. It is the first long-term transportation bill passed since SAFETEA-LU and will run through Fiscal Year 2020.  

The legislation converts the long-standing Surface Transportation Program (STP) into the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG), aligning the program’s name with how the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has historically administered it. The STBG promotes flexibility in state and local transportation decisions and provides flexible funding to best address state and local transportation needs. 

Within the STBG funding is a set-aside amount called the Transportation Alternatives or “TA Set-Aside” as set forth in 23 U.S.C. 133(h). These set-aside funds include all activities that were previously eligible under TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program per MAP-21), encompassing a variety of smaller-scale, non-traditional transportation projects.

The FAST Act will continue TA’s long history. The modern Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) began with – Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, also known as MAP-21 signed in July 2012. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) redefined the former Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program and consolidated these eligibilities with several smaller federal-aid programs.    

Previously in SAFETEA-LU, there were 12 eligible Transportation Enhancement (TE) activities. Under MAP-21 and now with the FAST Act, there are four defined categories for the TA Set-Aside including:  1) Transportation Alternatives, 2) Safe Routes to School, 3) Recreational Trails and 4) Boulevards from Divided Highways. Within the Transportation Alternatives category itself, there are ten qualifying TA activities.

In addition to eliminating some previously eligible TE activities, MAP-21also made changes in how the federal funds were to be distributed. These changes will continue with the FAST Act. 

The legislation states that once funding is taken off the top for the Recreational Trails Program administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the remaining TA Set-Aside funds will be split with a specified amount being distributed based on population and the rest available for distribution anywhere statewide.  

The FAST Act, like MAP-21, also provides that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in the four identified Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) will make project selections in their area. The “MPO and TMA Listing” is below.

Next application cycle - Deadline Nov. 1, 2017 

Please Note:

    • This application cycle will include awards for both FY19 and FY20 allocations. If the november 2017 deadline is missed, the next opportunity to apply for Federal TA funds will be november 2019.

We’re On-Line!!!

All Transportation Alternatives (TA) applications need to be submitted through an on-line application process. Paper copies will not be accepted.

To begin the process, each entity (County, City, Town, Transit Agency, School District, PDC, etc.) interested in applying for TA funds will need to identify one Organizational Administrator (OA).  This OA will be the point of contact for electronic submissions.  Each entity will have just one OA regardless of how many funding sources / programs will be applied for.  If your organization applied last year for HB2 (Smart Scale) funding an OA has already been identified and given access to the application portal; no additional steps will be needed.  

If you need to establish an account for an Organizational Administrator (OA) follow the link below and complete the required form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1u18ciXamfk-i1D0Ohq4_p-FhCXyIYZeCUykyO-erfyY/edit  

Once the username and password for the Organizational Administrator has been established, the identified OA can assign or delegate permissions to other individuals to work on specific applications and / or funding programs.  Access to the portal will provide access to all currently available funding programs including - Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-aside, Revenue Sharing, HSIP and others.  

If you have questions or trouble setting up an account for your entity’s Organizational Administrator, or trouble gaining access to the application portal, please contact the VDOT POC for your District. Your district contact can be found at the following web address: https://smartportal.virginiahb2.org/#/about

SMART Portal

FY18 TA Sample Application - Not for Submission

Note: The above link provides a “sample” or paper copy of the TA application that you can work on prior to submitting the electronic version.  Note that all applications must be submitted electronically for consideration – this is just a copy for your review and use prior to going on-line.

Transportation Alternatives Program Information

Transportation Enhancement ProgramProgram Allocations

Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program                

The TE Program was replaced by the TAP  with the passage of MAP-21 in June 2012, but the funding approved under prior legislation will continue to be guided by the prior Transportation Enhancement program guidelines.  

Existing TE projects that still qualify under the TAP eligibilities – sidewalks, trails, historic depots, etc. – can apply for TAP funding.  

For those existing projects that no longer qualify under TAP eligibilities – historic mills, transportation museums, historic / scenic driving tours, etc. – the only possibility of receiving additional funds from this program would be any de-allocated funds from cancelled or completed projects.  

These requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Program History

The Transportation Enhancement Program was created with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991.  With this act, Congress required each state to set aside 10 percent of its Surface Transportation Program funds for transportation enhancement projects.

This program offered broad opportunities and federal funding for creative projects that integrated transportation into our communities and environment. The legislation designated 12 activities meant to improve non-motorized transportation, enhance the public’s traveling experience, revitalize communities, and improve the quality of life.

This program continued with enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in 1998 and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005. SAFETEA-LU expired Sept. 30, 2009 and through a series of continuing resolutions, Congress extended the program funding through Sept. 30, 2012.

 Note: All files are in Adobe PDF format  pdfs unless noted.

Transportation Enhancement Program Information

Project Sponsor Workshop Presentations

Program Allocations


Contact Us:

Pam Liston 804-786-2734
Virginia Department of Transportation
Local Assistance Division
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219

Fax:  804-371-0847
E-mail: EnhancementProgram@VDOT.Virginia.gov

 

Page last modified: Sept. 7, 2017