Transportation Funding

Transportation funding mechanisms provide an opportunity to demonstrate the important and sometimes overlooked roles of parks and trails in transportation networks, especially as links within active commuting chains.

  • Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP)

    The ATIIP provides grants to states and localities to strategically invest in projects that connect active transportation networks and spines, such as safe bike paths and walking trails, while reducing carbon emissions and creating new jobs. The program will help connect people to destinations within or between communities, including schools, workplaces and other community areas. Active transportation spines can connect communities, metropolitan regions and states. Applications are now open for the first ever funding round of the ATIIP. $45 million is available in funding. Applicants must submit their applications through grants.gov. Applications are due by Monday, June 17, 11:59 p.m. EST.
    Match from other sources
    20% state or local match
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    Local or regional governmental organization (including metropolitan planning organizations or regional planning organizations and councils), multicounty special district, state, multistate group of governments, and Tribal governments
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  • Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)

    Established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) will provide $5 billion between 2022-2026 to support local initiatives aimed at preventing serious injuries and fatalities that occur on our nation’s roadways. Project could include the implementation of improvements that expand multimodal networks with separated bicycle lanes and improved pedestrian crossing safety features, installing safety enhancements like sidewalks, and creating safe routes to school and public transit services through multiple activities that lead to people safely walking, biking, and rolling in underserved communities. The FY 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Safe Streets and Roads for All grants is now open! Apply through Grants.gov. 

    Match from other sources
    20% state or local match
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    Metropolitan planning organizations; Counties, cities, towns, and transit agencies or other special districts that are subdivisions of a State; Federally recognized Tribal governments, Multi-jurisdictional groups comprised of the above entities.
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  • Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)

    RAISE grants (formerly known as BUILD and TIGER) are for investments in surface transportation infrastructure and are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. RAISE funding can support greenways, bike trails, and pedestrian paths, along with roads, bridges, transit, rail, and ports. Announcement: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) published the Fiscal Year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) with $1.5 billion available for funding. The Department is encouraging applicants to consider how their projects can address climate change, ensure racial equity, and remove barriers to opportunity. The deadline for applications is 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 2024 and selections will be announced no later than June 27, 2024.

    Match from other sources
    20% state or local match but includes exceptions. Applicants should see the NOFO link below for details
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    LOCAL/STATE/TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, TERRITORY OF THE U.S., PUBLIC AGENCY
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  • Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continued the Transportation Alternatives set-aside from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program. The Transportation Alternatives (TA) program is the nation’s largest dedicated source of funding for trail and active transportation projects. It provides federal funds for a variety of generally smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities; construction of overlooks, and viewing areas; community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management; environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity; recreational trails; safe routes to school projects; and vulnerable road user safety assessments.

    Match from other sources
    20% state or local match
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital/Maintenance
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    LOCAL/REGIONAL/TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, TRANSIT AGENCIES, NATURAL RESOURCE OR PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES, NONPROFITS
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  • Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continued the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) as a set-aside from the Transportation Alternatives program. The RTP provides funds to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The funds represent a portion of the motor fuel excise tax collected from nonhighway recreational fuel use by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and off-highway light trucks.
    Match from other sources
    20% state or local match
    Park Funding Use
    Capital/Land Acquisition/Maintenance
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    LOCAL/STATE GOVERNMENTS, NONPROFITS (ALLOWED IN SOME STATES)
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  • Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)

    The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program provides funds to States for transportation projects designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, particularly in areas of the country that do not attain national air quality standards. The program has been a key mechanism for supporting investments that encourage alternatives to driving alone, improve traffic flow, and help urban areas meet air quality goals. Eligible projects include bicycle and pedestrian facilities. 

    Match from other sources
    20% state and local match, typically
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    STATE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS (ELIGIBLE PROJECT SPONSORS CAN PARTNER WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NONPROFITS)
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  • Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program (RCP)

    According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Transportation, highway construction has displaced more than 475,000 households and more than a million people. Highways across the country have cut through neighborhoods, disrupted the pedestrian landscape, worsened air quality, and lowered property values. During this time, impacted communities have suffered lost homes, small businesses, and places to gather. The impacted neighborhoods were largely racial minority and/or low-income communities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $1 billion towards the new Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program designed to remove, retrofit, or mitigate eligible facilities, restoring community connectivity, and improving people’s lives. The RCP Program will also provide technical assistance and capacity building support through the Reconnecting Communities Institute.
    Match from other sources
    20% state or local match
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    PLANNING GRANTS: STATE/LOCAL/TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS, AND NONPROFITS CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION GRANTS: OWNERS OF FACILITIES WHERE ALL REQUIRED PLANNING AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
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  • Carbon Reduction Program (CRP)

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act established the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), which provides funds for projects designed to reduce transportation emissions, defined as carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from on-road highway sources. Eligible projects include the construction, planning, and design of on-and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized forms of transportation. This recognizes the important role that trails and active transportation play in addressing and mitigating the climate impacts of the transportation sector, the largest carbon-emitting sector in the U.S. For more detailed information click here.  
    Park Funding Use
    Planning/Capital
    Eligibility for Accessing Funds
    CITY/COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
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  • Thriving Communities Program

    The Department of Transportation created this program to provide technical assistance and capacity building. The program supports communities with planning and project development of transformative infrastructure projects that increase affordable transportation options, enhance economic opportunity, reduce environmental burdens, improve access and quality of life, and provide other benefits to disadvantaged communities.
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  • Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (TIFIA)

    The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program provides Federal credit assistance in the form of long-term and low-interest direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit to finance surface transportation projects. 
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Additional Resources

The U.S. Department of Transportation has numerous funding programs (planning, capital project, technical assistance) that could aid with the creation of linear parks, trails, park access, and recreational facilities. Several of these programs received a boost in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 or are pilot programs that have a focus on improving public safety, climate resilience and equitable access to green space and recreation.