The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), established under MAP-21, provides funding for a variety of transportation activities that were previously eligible for funding under separate programs under SAFETEA-LU, including Transportation Enhancements (TE), Recreational Trails, and Safe Routes to School.  Among the types of projects typically funded under TAP are:

• On and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities
• Infrastructure for improving non-driver access to public transportation
• Recreational trails
• Traffic calming
• Projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities

A more complete list of the types of projects that may be funded with TAP is available at:  http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/factsheets/tap.cfm.

The TAP project selection process for FY 2017 funds will start in July 2015.  The HRTPO allocated a total of $1.7 million in FY 2016 TAP funds to five projects this year.  It is expected that a similar amount of TAP funding will be available for FY 2017.  The VDOT Local Assistance Division (LAD) coordinates the TAP project selection process in conjunction with Virginia metropolitan planning organizations.

Important dates associated with the FY 2017 TAP:

• July 2015 – Call for applications (Coordinated by VDOT LAD)

• July/August  2015 – Applicant Workshop
  • August 11, 2015 – 10:00 a.m.

Smithfield Center

220 North Church Street

Smithfield, VA 23430

• September 16, 2015 – Letter to HRTPO requesting resolution of support

• November 1, 2015 – Application Deadline (Submit to VDOT LAD)

• March 2016 – Transportation Programming Subcommittee (TPS) meeting to review TAP project proposals and select a set of projects to recommend to receive FY 2017 TAP funding

• April 6, 2016 – Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) meeting – Consider TPS recommendations regarding TAP project selection and funding

• April 21, 2016 – HRTPO Board meeting – Board considers TTAC recommendations regarding TAP project selection and funding and approves a set of projects to receive FY 2017 TAP funding

Information on TAP, including the Guide to the HRTPO TAP Project Selection Process, may be accessed on the HRTPO website at:

http://www.hrtpo.org/page/transportation-alternatives-program/.

Additional information on TAP is available on the VDOT website at:

http://www.virginiadot.org/business/prenhancegrants.asp.