Program Overview

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) program was authorized to provide for a variety of alternative transportation projects. The program goals address expanding travel choices, strengthening the local economy, improving the quality of life, and protecting the environment. Transportation Alternatives projects include pedestrian and bicycle facilities, viewing areas, community improvement activities, environmental remediation, recreational trails, and safe routes to school.

The Transportation Alternatives program allows each region and/or state to develop their implementation program within the federal guidelines of the program. However, projects must be chosen through a competitive project selection process. Changes were made to the program in 2025 that moved the call for projects to an annual process instead of the previously used biennial process. Updates were also made to the grant application template, evaluation criteria, and project review process.

The Transportation Alternatives funding is sub-allocated to the RTC three-county Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) region based on population, with varying amounts being allocated to US Census-defined urban and rural areas. In addition, a portion of the funds are flexible and can be programmed within either the urban or rural areas.

The 2026-2029 call for projects will include an estimated $4,500,000 in federal transportation dollars. This includes TA, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ), and along with urban and rural Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) allocations.

Estimated Transportation Alternatives Funding Sub-Allocation

	Urban Large	Rural (Clark)	Urban Small (RTPO)	Rural (RTPO)	Flex	Total
2027	$838,000	$50,000	$20,000	$125,000	$333,000	$1,366,000
2028	$838,000	$170,000	$20,000	$125,000	$333,000	$1,486,000
2029	$1,000,000	$170,000	$20,000	$125,000	$333,000	$1,648,000
Total	$2,676,000	$390,000	$60,000	$375,000	$999,000	$4,500,000