Transportation Alternatives Program

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a set-aside of the federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program. 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; recreational trail program projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for the planning, design or construction of boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways. Sponsors must be able to provide a minimum of a twenty percent funding match for TAP. No match is required for the Delaware Statewide Bicycle/Pedestrian Funding Pool. The project sponsor also assumes the maintenance and legal liability for the duration of the project’s useful life. Project submissions will be evaluated using WILMAPCO’s project prioritization process, and other factors as determined by WILMAPCO’s Council.

New Castle County Information:

Cecil County Information:

    Delaware Bicycle/Pedestrian Funding Eligibility and Process

    Eligible projects must have a relationship to surface transportation and must be dedicated to public use and should expand the low-stress walking and bicycling network to connect people to destinations like transit, jobs, commercial areas, and community facillities. Eligible sponsors include local governments, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, and education agencies/schools, and nonprofits. Additional eligibility limitations may be set by DelDOT.

    Project submissions will be evaluated using WILMAPCO’s project prioritization process, and other factors as determined by Council. They will also be evaluated and prioritized by DelDOT.

    TAP Eligibility and Process

    Eligible projects must have a relationship to surface transportation and must be dedicated to public use. Eligible sponsors include local governments, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, and education agencies/schools, and nonprofits. Additional eligibility limitations may be set by DelDOT or MD SHA.

    Sponsors must be able to provide a minimum of 20 percent funding match for TAP. The TAP program funds are administered by the state DOTs and funds available on a reimbursement basis, not as grants.

    Project submissions will be evaluated using WILMAPCO’s project prioritization process, and other factors as determined by Council.

    Eligible activities include:

    • Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized forms of transportation, including sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, traffic calming techniques, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure, and transportation projects to achieve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
    • Construction, planning, and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers, including children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities to access daily needs.
    • Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists, or other nonmotorized transportation users.
    • Construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas.
    • Community improvement activities, including-
      • inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising;
      • historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities;
      • vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety, prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control; and
      • archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project eligible under title 23.
    • Any environmental mitigation activity, including pollution prevention and pollution abatement activities and mitigation to-
      • address stormwater management, control, and water pollution prevention or abatement related to highway construction or due to highway runoff, including activities described in sections 133(b)(11), 328(a), and 329 of title 23; or
      • reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats.
    • The recreational trails program
    • The safe routes to school program, for projects within approximately two miles of a school for kindergarten through eighth grade.
      • Infrastructure-related projects.-planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects on any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools.
      • Noninfrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including public awareness campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders, traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of schools, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment, and funding for training, volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs.
      • Safe Routes to School coordinator.
    • Planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former Interstate System routes or other divided highways.
    • Vulnerable road user safety assessment.

    Ineligible Activities

    • Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles, except activities targeting children in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
    • Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
    • Scenic or historic highway programs (including visitor and welcome centers).
    • Historic preservation as an independent activity unrelated to historic transportation facilities.
    • The operation of historic transportation facilities.
    • Archaeological planning and research for proactive planning. This category now must be used only as mitigation for highway projects.
    • Transportation museums.

    For additional details visit