Guidance and Information
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside guidance on March 30, 2022. The information below will help States and project sponsors meet TA requirements and provide practices for accessibility, design, construction, and maintenance.
Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Guidance
Prioritization
There are examples of TAP Competitive Processes and Prioritization available for States and MPOs to use:
Youth Service and Conservation Corps
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) Section 1524 requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to encourage States and regional transportation planning agencies to use qualified youth service and conservation corps to perform appropriate transportation-related projects. This section of law remains in effect. See:
Vegetation Management Practices
Boulevards from Divided Highways
Several communities have created boulevards from divided highways, or have plans under consideration.
Related Guidance and Information
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Guidance
Promotes bicycle and pedestrian transportation accessibility, use, and safety. Also provides additional links to Bicycle and Pedestrian Publications and Resources.
- Bicycle Facilities and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
Responses to inquiries about bicycle facilities permitted by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Equestrian and Other Nonmotorized Use on Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
- FHWA Order 6640.1A: FHWA Policy on Permissible Project Related Activities During the NEPA Process (October 1, 2010)
- Framework for Considering Motorized Use on Nonmotorized Trails and Pedestrian Walkways
- Manuals and Guides for Trail Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Operation, and for Signs
- Presentation: Bicycle Path Entry Control. (Ed Cox, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Sacramento, CA and Maggie O'Mara, Senior Transportation Engineer, California Department of Transportation)
This presentation discusses methods to control entry to shared use paths. It considers issues related to bollards, gates, and other barriers. It looks at examples and discusses what works well and what doesn't.
Disclaimer: This presentation is provided in the interest of information exchange, and reflects the views of the authors. Providing this resource does not necessarily represent endorsement by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
- Presentation: Designing for Nonmotorists. Presented at the FHWA Field Engineers Learning & Development Seminar, April 20, 2010, Dallas TX.
- Presentation: Federal Transportation Funds Benefit Recreation
- Preventive Maintenance Eligibility
- Rails-with-Trails Best Practices and Lessons Learned (May 2021)
FHWA and the Federal Railroad Administration updated the 2002 Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned report. It describes effective practices to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain rails-with-trails facilities.
- Shared Use Paths Along or Near Freeways and Bicycles on Freeways
- Snow Removal on Sidewalks Constructed with Federal Funding
- The Benefits of Highway Cap Parks: A Report to Congress
Highway cap parks are public parks that have been built above highways on top of highway caps, and these parks can provide a range of benefits to local communities.
- Electric Bicycles (E-Bikes) FHWA webpage with links to a literature review and case studies.
- The Future of E-Bikes on Public Lands Research Study
This study analyzes the impacts of e-bikes on public lands by synthesizing the existing knowledge base and conducting outreach to public lands managers to identify priorities and opportunities for research.
- Trails as Resilient Infrastructure
This guidebook demonstrates how trails are part of resilient transportation infrastructure, how trails can be planned and designed to be resilient and sustainable, and how trails have a role in emergency planning and response.
- Tribal Development of Trails and Other Dedicated Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure
This white paper provides information and resources for Tribes, Tribal trails and active transportation advocates, and other agencies on the health and economic benefits of trails, funding opportunities, partnership opportunities, and resources for trail planning. It highlights examples of successful trail plans and projects implemented by Tribes and their partners.
- Youth Service and Conservation Corps: MAP-21 Section 1524 requires the US Department of Transportation to encourage States and regional transportation planning agencies to use qualified youth service and conservation corps to perform appropriate transportation-related projects.
Archived Guidance
