Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)

Apply Here

Eligible Applicants

Incorporated cities and villages, county road commissions, and public transit agencies. Other organizations can apply, but they must be sponsored by one of the eligible applicants just described. A signed agreement between the sponsored and sponsoring agencies (pdf, 18KB) must be filled out and uploaded with your application before the application will be considered.

Eligible Project Types

1. Facilities for pedestrians and Bicycles:
   • Shared-use Path and Sidewalk Modernization Projects;
     
   • Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements, including New and/or Enhanced Roadway Crossings, Town Center Streetscapes and Traffic Calming Projects, Access to transit enhancements;
     
   • New Shared-Use Paths, Sidewalks and On-Road and Off-Road Bicycle Facilities;
     
   • Complete Streets Amenities that increase usability, comfort, and safety of bicycle and pedestrian facilities such as way-finding signage, pedestrian-scale lighting, bike racks, permanent bicycle and pedestrian counters, etc.
2. Green Stormwater Infrastructure:
   
   • Green Streets Projects that address roadway safety and complete streets elements while also reducing public roadway runoff, improving water quality; and/or reducing localized flooding;
     
   • Standalone Green Stormwater Projects that specifically address public roadway runoff, improve water quality, and/or reduce localized flooding; but do not directly address complete streets elements

January 2025 SEMCOG University Materials:

• Workshop Recording
• Workshop Presentation Slides
• Applicant Guide
• FAQ 1 Pager
• FAQ 4 Pager
• MDOT TAP Application Schedule

Timeline:

• Applications Due to SEMCOG: Oct. 1, 2025
• Review/Follow-Up with Applicants: Oct-Dec, 2025
• Regional Review Committee Funding Decision: Jan-Feb, 2025

If awarded, quarterly reports are required for all projects. If interested in a check presentation or ribbon-cutting, fill out this form to celebrate with SEMCOG.

Eligible Applicants

• Access to Transit (FY 26 and 27): Transit agencies only. Must be a direct recipient of Federal Transit Authority (FTA) funds, or sponsored by a direct recipient.
• Safe Streets (FY 27 only): Act-51 agencies such as counties, cities, villages and transit agencies. All others must have a sponsorship agreement with an Act-51 agency.

Eligible Project Types

• Access to Transit (FY 26 and 27):
  • A variety of enhancements as shown below and in this flyer:
    • ADA compliance upgrades (within 0.25-mile)
    • Lighting
    • Shelters
    • Bus landing pads
    • Modular Boarding Islands
    • Bike/scooter racks

• Safe Streets (FY 27 only):
  • A variety of enhancements as shown below and in this flyer:
    • Traffic Calming 
      –Speed humps 
      –Gateway Treatments 
      –Mini-Circles 
      –Raised crosswalks/intersections 
      –Protected Intersections  
      –Curb extensions 
    • Signals/Beacons 
      –Accessible/Countdown pedestrian signals 
      –Pedestrian hybrid beacons (HAWK) 
      –Rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) 
    • Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Islands 
      –Mid-block crossings 
      –Approaches to multilane intersections 
    • ADA Compliance Retrofits 
      –Curb ramps 
      –Detectable warnings/ADA pedestrian signals 
    • Crosswalks and visibility enhancements 
      –New crosswalk 
      –Lighting 
      –Signage 
      –Pavement markings (high visibility) 
    • End-of-Life Sidewalks and Trails 
      –Rehabilitate existing footprint 

Timeline

• Call for Projects Opens: Sept. 29, 2025
• SEMCOG University – Safe Streets in FY 27 Call for Projects: Oct. 7, 2025
• SEMCOG University – Access to Transit in FY 26-27 Call for Projects: Oct. 9, 2025
• General Assembly Session: Oct. 23, 2025
• Applications Due to SEMCOG: Nov. 7, 2025
• Review/Follow-Up with Applicants: Nov. 10-14, 2025
• Applicant Responses Due with Follow-Up Information: Nov. 21, 2025
• Regional Review Committee Funding Decision: Dec. 2025

If awarded, quarterly reports are required for all projects. If interested in a check presentation or ribbon-cutting, fill out this form to celebrate with SEMCOG.

SEMCOG University Webinars 

SEMCOG is hosting two separate webinars as an opportunity to provide further details about this program and review the application forms with you. If interested in applying for this call for projects, please register for the applicable SEMCOG University webinar below: 

Register for the Safe Streets Webinar on October 7.

Register for the Access to Transit Webinar on October 9.

SEMCOG’s Regional Review Committee (RRC) decides which projects are selected for TAP funding. Selection criteria focuses on projects that promote safe, holistic, and regionally significant outcomes and are consistent with and implement regional plans such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Mobility, Transportation Safety, and Climate Resiliancy. Priority projects include those that:

• Address a gap and/or provide connections to identified Regional Corridors.
• Enhance existing Regional Corridors and Connections to increase safety, accessibility, use, and/or comfort.
• Enhance walking and biking in regional Demand Areas, especially in areas identified as gaps in access to walking or biking infrastructure.
• Improve safety and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists to access public spaces, downtowns, core services, and quality-of-life amenities.
• Integrate Green Infrastructure to improve water quality and/or reduce localized flooding along roadways, especially in regional  Demand areas.

Additional competitiveness factors:

• Community’s TAP Award History
• Geographic distribution 
• Mix of project types 
• Cost of project 
• “Shovel readiness”

MDOT has a separate TAP application and selection process. Applications for the MDOT program must be submitted via the Michigan Department of Transportation’s online grant system (MILogin).To learn more, visit the MDOT TAP website. 

Contact MDOT TAP coordinator Caitlin Yost for more information.

To schedule a pre-application meeting, contact TAP coordinators Ally Racisz ([email protected]) or Brian Pawlik ([email protected]). Pre-application meetings help applicants save time and money and help position projects for maximum eligibility and competitiveness.