AASHTO Journal, 8 August 2014
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has selected 27 projects to receive $13 million in state Transportation Alternative Program funds. According to a WisDOT news release, the program allocates federal funds to transportation improvement projects that “expand travel choice, strengthen the local economy, improve the quality of life and protect the environment.”
TAP is a legislative program that was authorized in 2012 by federal transportation legislation, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). TAP combines three programs that were separate under previous legislation: Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Program.
TAP is a reimbursement program. Local sponsors incur authorized costs and are reimbursed on a periodic basis and/or upon project completion. TAP is not retroactive, so costs incurred prior to authorization will not be reimbursed. TAP projects are generally funded 80 percent federally, with a 20 percent local match.
More on Wisconsin’s TAP is available here.