The Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TA), managed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is funded through contract authority provided by the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) via the Surface Development Block Grant. This initiative supports smaller-scale transportation projects that improve accessibility and safety for non-motorized travelers. These projects aim to enhance community travel experiences and integrate multimodal transport options.
Eligible project types include on- and off-road bicycle and pedestrian facilities, recreational trails, routes for non-drivers and school children, and ADA-compliance upgrades. The program also funds projects that preserve cultural, historical, and environmental aspects of transportation infrastructure. This includes viewing areas, vegetation management in transportation corridors, archaeological work, and stormwater and habitat mitigation.
Administration of the TA program is decentralized. While a statewide TA Coordinator operates from FDOT’s Systems Implementation Office in Tallahassee, each of FDOT’s seven districts and the Turnpike Enterprise has at least one District TA Coordinator responsible for local implementation. These coordinators are the main contacts for local governmental agencies and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs).
Applications must be submitted through the Grant Application Process (GAP) portal. To use GAP, applicants must complete the registration process. User guides and procedural manuals are provided to help with registration and application. Solicitation cycles for the TA Program vary by district, and specific submission windows are enforced with hard deadlines. Additionally, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), managed separately by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has its own submission cycle from February 1 to March 1, 2025.
Evaluation criteria and detailed cost estimates for statewide funding are available in several supporting documents. Project information can be explored through the FDOT TA Set-Aside Program Funded Projects Data Dashboard. The TA program aligns with broader FDOT initiatives including community engagement and bicycle/pedestrian safety.
For further inquiries, Robin Birdsong is the primary contact for the Transportation Set-Aside program. Each district also maintains its own TA coordinator for regional support.
