Transportation Alternatives Program 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) administers the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program, a federally funded initiative aimed at enhancing surface transportation through non-traditional means. Established under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and continued through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the TA Program prioritizes investment in infrastructure for non-motorized transportation. Projects eligible for funding include pedestrian and bicycle facilities, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure, environmental mitigation efforts, and historic preservation related to transportation. The program promotes equity and sustainability by emphasizing community engagement and transparent project selection, with KDOT overseeing the competitive process for regions outside Kansas' two largest metropolitan planning organizations (MARC and WAMPO), which manage their own TA programs. TA funds can be used for construction, construction engineering, and preliminary engineering (design). However, design services must follow federal Qualification-Based Selection (QBS) standards when using public funds. The total anticipated allocation managed by KDOT is over $30 million for 2026, divided into approximately $18 million for areas with populations under 200,000 and $12 million for statewide projects. Awards generally cover up to 80% of project costs, requiring a 20% local cash match from sponsors. Federal funds cannot be used as matching funds unless permitted by law. Local sponsors are responsible for 100% of ineligible and non-participating expenses, and must ensure costs exceeding the awarded amount are covered through other means. For reimbursable phases like PE/design, sponsors must pay invoices up front before receiving reimbursement from KDOT. Eligible applicants include local governments, transit agencies, schools and school districts, tribal governments, natural resource or public lands agencies, and other governmental bodies responsible for transportation. Non-urbanized communities within the MARC and WAMPO MPO areas, as well as small MPOs like Topeka, Lawrence-Douglas County, and others, may submit applications on behalf of communities. Ineligible applicants include KDOT itself and urbanized portions of the MARC and WAMPO regions. Projects must deliver a complete, stand-alone facility or identifiable activity that directly supports surface transportation. The TA Program requires strict adherence to federal and state regulations, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Davis-Bacon wage requirements. Applications must also demonstrate a public need, include public engagement, and verify that the proposed project meets ADA accessibility standards. Required documentation includes a completed application form, detailed project description, cost estimates, maps, design sketches if available, and a Resolution of Support demonstrating the applicant’s financial and maintenance commitments. Safe Routes to School projects must reference an approved SRTS plan and address the non-infrastructure components of education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation. The application process for the 2026 cycle begins with a call for project concepts on February 2, 2026. Concept Papers are due by February 27, followed by a review and feedback period in March. Eligible applicants will receive a link to the full application by March 31. Full applications are due May 15, 2026. Reviews will take place from mid-May through June, with final selections and public announcements expected in Fall 2026. Selected projects must be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and, if located within an MPO boundary, also in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Selected applicants will also enter into a City/State Agreement with KDOT and be responsible for submitting payments, including any lump-sum contributions during the construction phase. Evaluation of applications is carried out by the Project Scoring Committee (PSC) and Program Review Committee (PRC), with consideration given to project need, readiness, budget accuracy, and alignment with transportation goals. Applications are scored on technical merit, community impact, safety improvement, and other category-specific criteria. KDOT may adjust final selections to ensure geographic equity and balance across project types. For further information, interested applicants can contact Jenny Kramer, Active Transportation Manager at KDOT, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (785) 296-5186. The full program guide and resources are available on KDOT’s website.

Ensure projects are complete, stand-alone, and meet federal and state compliance; accurate budgets and schedule adherence are essential for award retention.