By Ben Crowther
On this webinar wrap-up, we’ll delve into two of probably the most impactful applications for funding lively transportation — the Secure Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program and the Transportation Alternate options Program (TAP) — together with different noteworthy funding avenues and ideas for the applying processes.
The largest takeaway — Secure Streets for All planning grants have substantial cash out there, and demonstration tasks depend as planning! Panelists Marisa Jones of the Secure Routes Partnership, Heidi Simon of Good Progress America, and Caron Whitaker of the League of American Bicyclists shared their insights into what your group must know to navigate funding alternatives.
Secure Streets and Roads for All Program: Bridging Gaps and Fostering Security
The Secure Streets and Roads for All Program stands as one of many premier federal applications for native, tribal, and metropolitan areas looking for to enhance their lively transportation infrastructure and make current streets safer. This system offers $1 billion a 12 months by means of 2026 in planning and implementation grants. It’s administered by the U.S. Division of Transportation, which is at present soliciting functions, with two planning grant deadlines on April 4 and August 29 and a sole implementation grant deadline on Might 16.
This system’s planning grants are used to develop a security motion plan and improve current plans to prioritize security affect and equitable funding in underserved communities.Additionally they help quick-build demonstration tasks, which permit communities to rapidly check out future everlasting infrastructure modifications. As implied above, almost each eligible group that utilized final 12 months for planning grants acquired funding.
This system’s implementation grants are meant to construct the infrastructure outlined in security motion plans and related paperwork. To be eligible for these grants, a group should have an eligible security motion plan in place. Candidates can submit their current plans for overview to find out if they’re eligible (deadline: April 17).
The U.S. Division of Transportation has simplified the applying in order that it’s a single web page narrative for planning and demonstration tasks, or three pages for tasks requesting over $1 million. For added sources, go to the Secure Streets and Roads for All webpage.
Transportation Alternate options Program (TAP): Constructing Lively Transportation Tasks
The Transportation Alternate options Program allocates over $1.5 billion yearly for strolling, bicycling, and secure routes to highschool tasks. It’s out there to communities of all sizes, together with small rural communities, small cities, midsize cities, and main metropolitan areas. Eligible candidates embrace native governments, tribal governments, transit businesses, and non-profit organizations.
Not like many different federal transportation applications, TAP funds are allotted by means of competitions on the state stage, which makes for a smaller pool of candidates. As well as, almost 60% of TAP funding is channeled into separate competitions primarily based on group measurement, to make sure each place is ready to construct secure strolling and biking infrastructure. Secure Routes Partnership and the League of America Bicyclists have created Transportation Alternate options Truth Sheets for every state, with key contact info and dates for every state’s competitors.
Need some examples of what’s been constructed with TAP funding? See what’s been doable in Durango, CO, Corvallis, MT, and Chicago, IL. Every state runs their TAP program a bit of in a different way, so take the time to determine what makes an software in your state aggressive.
Ideas and Methods for Profitable Functions
For SS4A and TAP functions (and past), there are numerous methods to place your group for achievement. Constructing a robust, broad coalition of help is essential. This consists of not solely municipal and institutional stakeholders, but additionally help from group members and group organizations. Tasks have to additionally reveal affect and ideally are positioned as half of a bigger effort to enhance entry to lively transportation infrastructure. The strongest functions will tackle a number of aims in this system’s standards and could have clear targets with measurable outcomes.
Write for individuals who have by no means been to your group and do not know what your undertaking is.
Throughout this course of, you’re immersed in your undertaking, however odds are your reviewers will know little to nothing about it. Clarify clearly and concisely the issues your group faces and the way the undertaking addresses them. Your software ought to inform reviewers the whole lot they should know, with out having them seek the advice of exterior sources or depend on their current information. Footage and maps are significantly efficient methods to speak to an viewers that’s in all probability unfamiliar together with your space.
Making the case domestically for funding lively transportation
What when you’re a group chief and never essentially eligible to use immediately to those applications? What’s your function?
Broad group help is usually wanted to get buy-in for an software from businesses and elected officers. You as a group chief can work to convey businesses and elected officers on board. A mix of group help plus both company or elected official help is usually the prerequisite to motion. Present them how harmful streets immediately have an effect on the lives of their constituents, reveal that there’s broad help for change, and draw on profitable examples from different locations that tackle the problem.Take a look at the complete recording of the webinar:
