Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) 

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a competitive grant initiative administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and funded through federal transportation allocations. Originally established under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) in 2012, TAP has been carried forward under subsequent federal legislation, most recently the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). TAP is categorized as a set-aside within the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program. Its central aim is to fund projects that promote alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel, improve community quality of life, bolster environmental sustainability, and enhance transportation equity. Eligible project activities under TAP include the construction, planning, and design of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure for safe routes to school and non-drivers, conversion of abandoned railroad corridors to trails, environmental mitigation to address stormwater and habitat fragmentation, and community enhancements such as vegetation management, scenic turnouts, and historic preservation. TAP also funds projects that design or construct boulevards within former interstate rights-of-way, but CDOT will assess such proposals on a case-by-case basis due to limited anticipated activity in this category. TAP funding cannot be used for routine maintenance, administrative costs, marketing, or general recreation facilities. Eligible applicants include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, public land agencies, school districts, tribal governments, nonprofits, Metropolitan Planning Organizations with populations under 200,000, and other eligible governmental entities. Notably, nonprofit organizations must apply through or in partnership with a government agency. Projects must be publicly accessible, meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and demonstrate alignment with federal, state, and local requirements. A 20% local match is required and can be met with cash or approved in-kind contributions. The most recent application cycle for fiscal years 2024–2026 included several stages: a mandatory pre-application meeting with CDOT regional staff, submission of a draft application by March 24, 2023, and a final application deadline of April 21, 2023. Projects were scored regionally during May 2023, awarded in June 2023, and programmed into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) by summer 2023. Projects were evaluated based on threshold compliance and then scored across several dimensions: safety enhancements, transportation connectivity and emissions impact, economic and recreational value, equity, readiness, and integration with existing plans. Funding is regionally distributed with set limits for each engineering region. For fiscal years 2023–2026, Region 1 had a total funding pool of $11.2 million, Region 2 with $8.17 million, Region 3 with $7.77 million, Region 4 with $11.82 million, and Region 5 with $3.7 million. Award ceilings and floors vary by region and are not universally specified, requiring consultation with regional contacts. CDOT encourages coordination with other funding sources like the Multimodal Transportation & Mitigation Options Fund (MMOF) and Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), and notes that TAP funds may not be used to match certain state-funded programs such as Revitalizing Main Streets (RMS) Opportunity 2 if federal funds are involved. Regional contacts include JoAnn Mattson (Region 1), Josie Thomas (Region 4), Lachelle Davis (Region 2), Tony Cady (Region 5), and Mark Rogers (Region 3), with statewide oversight provided by Aaron Willis. Applicants are required to submit completed forms with detailed project descriptions, budget estimates, regional and local plan references, and evidence of match funding. A fillable PDF application is provided online, and applications must be submitted digitally. The next cycle is expected to open in early 2026, with updated guidelines available in late 2025.

Submit early drafts for CDOT review; attend pre-application meetings; confirm ADA compliance and scope alignment with TAP goals.