LITTLE ROCK, AR — The Arkansas Department of Transportation announces the award recipients for its Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) for 2019.

The Transportation Alternatives Program provides funding for programs and projects defined as “transportation alternatives” for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation. It was authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation 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 2019, a total of 30 TAP projects for $8 million and 10 RTP projects for $1.4 million were awarded.

A few of the larger TAP projects include the Downtown Streetscape in Van Buren, Phase 3 of the Dean’s Trail in Springdale and 14th Street’s Pedestrian Bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad in North Little Rock. RTP projects awarded include two trailheads for Fairfield Bay’s ATV/UTV Trails, additional mountain bike trails for Boyle Park in Little Rock and trailhead improvements for the Delta Heritage Trail in Arkansas City.