MAP-21 established a new program to provide for a variety of non-motorized and non-highway projects, including many that were previously eligible activities under separately funded programs. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)  combines and replaces pre-MAP-21 programs including Transportation Enhancements, Recreational Trails, Safe Routes to School, and several other discretionary programs, wrapping them into a single funding source.

The TAP provides funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation, trails that serve a transportation purpose, and safe routes to school projects.

Construction projects must have a construction cost of at least $50,000, but may not exceed $1 million, unless the project is of exceptional regional or statewide significance. Key criterion in the review of applications will be readiness for implementation and safety.  Other criteria include, but are not limited to, consistency with local regional plans, collaboration with stakeholders, statewide or regional significance, and the sponsor’s demonstrated ability to successfully deliver the project.  Projects will be selected on the degree to which the sponsor addresses all selection criteria outlined in the TAP Guidelines, including their ability to deliver projects within the first two years of the 2017 TIP.

On January 10, 2017, the 2016 Statewide TAP Awards were announced via the following Press Release. The listing of approved projects can be found in the following link: 2016 Approved TAP Projects