LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Transportation has announced the award recipients for its Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) for 2021 and the list includes three local entities.The TAP provides funding for programs and projects defined as “transportation alternatives” for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation. It was authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. It is a reimbursement-type grant program providing for an 80% federal share and a 20%t local match from eligible applicants.
The three local recipients are Bull Shoals with $273,000 for its Arkansas Highway 178 Sidewalk Project, Phase 2; Harrison with $300,000 for its Creekside Trail Expansion; and Mountain View with $212,000 for its Vine Avenue and Jackson Street Sidewalks project.
Under the TAP program, eligible projects can include construction of on-road and off-road trail facilities that include sidewalks, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian and bicycle signals, lighting and other safety-related infrastructure. Conversion of abandoned railroad corridors for pedestrian and bicycle trails is also eligible.
The RTP is funded through a portion of TAP funds set aside specifically for recreational trails. These funds are eligible for maintenance and restoration of existing trails, development and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages and construction of new trails.
In accordance with federal guidelines, the funding allocated for these programs cannot be utilized for highway construction.
For 2021, a total of 89 TAP applications ($27.6 million) were received and 47 projects were awarded for $10.3 million. A total of 48 RTP applications ($11 million) were received and 12 RTP projects were awarded for $1.2 million.
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