Pennsylvania Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program

Regional project selections for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT's) Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TA Set-Aside) are now available. The application for this program was opened on May 30, 2023 and applications were due September 15, 2023. Approximately $15.5 Million Regionally has been selected during the 2023 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside program, with an additional $17 Million of projects were recommended to the State for Statewide funding as part of a competitive program.

Bucks County

  • Levittown Trail ($2,000,000)
  • South Easton Road Township to Borough Connector Trail ($1,500,000)

Chester County

  • Route 100 Pedestrian Path ($1,000,000)
  • Sidley Road to Chester Valley Trail Connection ($1,850,000)

Delaware County

  • Chester Creek Rail Trail Phase 2 Construction ($1,500,000)
  • Norris Street Complete Streets ($1,300,000)

Montgomery County

  • Memorial Park Improvements ($850,000)
  • Upper Moreland Power Line Trail ($2,465,780)

Philadelphia County

  • Better Bus Stops - South 7th & 8th Streets ($1,000,000)
  • Chestnut Pedestrian Islands - Phase 2 ($1,500,000)
  • Woodland Avenue Complete Streets Project ($500,000)

PennDOT has developed a website to provide general information and all the resources necessary for the TA Set-Aside Program, including Program Guidance, the funding application, contact information, and other resources. PennDOT’s TA Set-Aside Program funding site can be accessed via this link: Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (penndot.gov).

Examples of eligible TA Set-Aside projects include:

  • Enhancing bicycle or pedestrian facilities
  • Improve access to public transportation
  • Create safe routes to schools
  • Conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails
  • Overlooks and viewing areas
  • Historic preservation and rehab of historic transportation facilities
  • Vegetation management
  • Wildlife mortality mitigation projects

Local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, local education agencies, or schools, and tribal governments are eligible to apply for the competitive TA Set-Aside funds.

If you have questions please reach out to Joe Banks, jbanks@dvrpc.org or Joe Natale, jnatale@dvrpc.org.

Technical Assistance

As part of the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), federal funding for our region, DVRPC has hired a consultant to perform pre-application related engineering tasks at no cost to the municipalities for projects eligible for the Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program (TASA). This technical assistance includes project development and pre-application engineering, including but not limited to:

  • Cost Estimation
  • Deed & Utility Research
  • Environmental Research
  • Analysis of Project Constraints
  • Conceptual Plans
  • Logical Termini Identification and Phasing Plans

If you're interested in utilizing this technical assistance, please fill out this Google Form to request a meeting with DVRPC and our consultant:

Technical Assistance Meeting Request

You can also view our presentation slides and workshop recording from our October 30th, 2023 workshop by clicking these links:

Additional Documentation

Additional Notes

Recreational Trails Program remains unchanged from SAFETEA-LU. The process is still administered through DCNR’s Community Recreation and Conservation Program, which is conducted annually.

There are several Transportation Enhancement activities that are no longer eligible under the Transportation Alternatives Program:

  • Safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles for non-SRTS projects.
  • Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites.
  • Scenic or historic highway programs (including visitor and welcome centers).
  • Historic preservation as an independent activity unrelated to historic transportation facilities.
  • Operation of historic transportation facilities.
  • Archaeological planning and research undertaken for proactive planning. This category now must be used only as mitigation for highway projects.
  • Transportation museums.

Resources

Air Quality Partnership
Annual Report
Connections 2050
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Economic Development District