Federal funding will support safer school routes, pedestrian and bicycle path improvements for communities across Wisconsin.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), on Sep 27th, announced more than $32 million in federal funding for 56 local improvement projects across Wisconsin over the next four years through WisDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Authorized by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the goal of the TAP projects is to support initiatives that help create or enhance opportunities for safe, non-motorized transportation, such as bike and pedestrian trails and facilities, sidewalks, and “Safe Route to School” initiatives.

“Investing in transportation alternatives like bike and pedestrian paths is central to our work to build safer roads and communities Wisconsinites deserve and the sustainable infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of the 21st Century,” said Gov. Evers. “These transportation alternative projects are not only great ways to reduce emissions and provide more alternative transportation options, but they will help connect communities in every corner of Wisconsin and provide families with safer routes to work, school, appointments, and so much more.”

This investment in sustainable transportation alternatives comes as Gov. Evers proclaimed Sept. 23 through Sept. 27, 2024, as National Clean Energy Week. A copy of the governor’s National Clean Energy Week proclamation is available here.

“When we invest in building sidewalks and bikeways, we are investing in the health, safety, and accessibility of our local communities, supporting our main streets, and putting Wisconsinites to work,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin). “I’m thrilled to help deliver funding and work alongside state and local partners to strengthen our transportation infrastructure, making our communities safer and easier to get around for years to come.”

“The Transportation Alternatives Program can make a real difference in Wisconsin communities through investments in multimodal transportation options,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “We’re excited to administer this funding to local governments and help make connectivity improvements in villages, towns, cities, and counties that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”

Many of the TAP projects are working to expand already-existing bike and pedestrian paths to better connect communities and school zones, offering Wisconsinites throughout the state increased accessibility to sustainable transportation methods.

The 2024-2028 TAP improvement projects include but are not limited to:

- Rice Lake will receive more than $1.4 million for the addition of a multi-use trail that connects existing sidewalks near Tainter Elementary School and the surrounding residential, elderly living, and small business communities; 

- Waupaca will receive nearly $973,000 for the construction of an ADA-compliant pedestrian access bridge, replacing a 50-year-old footbridge that has been closed to the public since 2010;

- Located in Menasha, the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission will receive more than $447,000 to work with local schools to incorporate biking and walking safety programming into school curriculum; Fort Atkinson will receive more than $1.7 million to fill in or replace the sidewalks surrounding local schools; and

- The Frederic School District will receive more than $817,00 to install a pedestrian-bicycle path that will connect the district’s elementary and grade 6-12 schools, which will result in a safe path, including directional signage, lighting, enhanced bike storage structures at each school, and any necessary curb work.

More information on improvement projects coming to local communities is available here.

The federal TAP funding, administered by WisDOT, is distributed according to four geographic population categories:

- The TAP Rural projects serve Wisconsin communities with census-designated populations of less than 5,000. A total of $8,585,433 in federal funds have been allocated to 19 total improvement projects in these areas.

- The first category of TAP Urban projects serves Wisconsin communities with census-designated populations of between 5,000 and 50,000 residents. A total of $5,995,562 in federal funds have been allocated to eight improvement projects in these areas.

- The second category of TAP Urban projects serves Wisconsin communities with census-designated populations of between 50,000 and 200,000 residents. A total of $3,646,326 in federal funds have been allocated to seven improvement projects in these areas. 

- The TAP Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) are Wisconsin communities that contain more than 200,000 people. A total of $14,040,568 in federal funds have been allocated to a total of 22 improvement projects in these areas.

As a federally funded program, selected projects receive a maximum 80 percent federal cost share and a minimum 20 percent local sponsor cost share.

TAP projects in the rural and urban categories with populations under 200,000 are evaluated through a competitive process recommended for awards by a TAP Statewide Selection Committee. Eligible projects in large urban areas with populations over 200,000 are selected by TMAs representing those populations. More information about the TAP is available on the WisDOT website here.

Gov. Evers has made fixing Wisconsin’s roads a top priority, and the Evers Administration has improved more than 7,400 miles of road and 1,780 bridges since 2019, including over 900 miles of road and over 200 bridges in 2023 alone. Additional information on the Evers Administration’s efforts, including additional support from the Biden-Harris Administration, to fix roads and bridges in rural areas and communities, expand transportation alternatives, and modernize Wisconsin’s infrastructure, including expanding passenger rail service, supporting lead service line replacement projects, and building out electric vehicle charging is available here.