(from Media Release)
Award Recipients Announced for ARDOT Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Programs
LITTLE ROCK (10-27) – The Arkansas Department of Transportation has announced the award recipients for its Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Recreational
Trails Program (RTP) for 2017.
The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funding for programs and projects defined as “transportation alternatives” for pedestrians, bicyclists and other nonmotorized forms of transportation. It was authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. It is a reimbursement-type grant program that provides for an 80 percent federal share and a 20 percent local match from eligible applicants.
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 Recreational Trails Program 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.
For 2017, a total of 18 TAP projects and 14 RTP projects were awarded. A total of $3,418,000 was awarded for TAP projects and $1,595,000 was awarded to RTP projects.
Among the larger TAP projects awarded were for a trail connecting downtown Jonesboro to the Arkansas State University, sidewalk improvements in the city of Magnolia, and additional funding for the rehabilitation of the Old River Bridge over the Saline River.
RTP projects awarded included a shared-use path in Pinnacle Mountain State Park and a trailhead and trail project in the City of Lowell, among others.
A complete listing of all award recipients and project names is listed below.
