The document summarizes information presented at a Fairfax County Department of Transportation workshop about federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding. It outlines changes to TAP under new legislation, eligible project categories including pedestrian/bicycle facilities and safe routes to school, the state funding allocation process, the county's schedule and selection process for fiscal year 2018 applications, status of current local TAP projects, and steps for communities to pursue funding.

1. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Transportation Alternatives
Workshop and Public Comment
Fairfax County
Department of Transportation
September 15, 2016
7:00 PM

2. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Transportation Alternatives
Overview
New federal legislation was passed in December 2015 and will be effective
2016 – 2020. The legislation:
• Changed name of the Surface Transportation Program to the
Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program
•Established a set-aside within the STBG funding for Transportation
Alternatives (TA Set-aside)
•Continued the eligibilities as set forth in MAP-21 including the same
four (4) categories:
•Transportation Alternatives activities
•Safe Routes to School (SRTS) activities
•Recreational Trails Program activities
•Boulevards from Divided Highways activities
Department of Transportation
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3. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Eligible Projects
1. Construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians,
bicyclists , and other non-motorized forms of transportation.
2. Construction, planning, and design of infrastructure-related projects and systems that will
provide safe routes for non-drivers to access daily needs.
3. Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails
4. Construction of turn-outs, overlooks, and viewing areas to promote the scenic and historic
character of local roads.
5. Inventory, control, or removal of outdoor advertising.
6. Historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities.
7. Vegetation management practices in transportation rights-of-way to improve roadway safety,
prevent against invasive species, and provide erosion control
8. Archaeological activities relating to impacts from implementation of a transportation project
eligible under this title.
9. Environmental mitigation activity, including prevention and abatement activities to address
storm water mgmt., control, and water pollution related to highway runoff.
10. Wildlife mortality mitigation to reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality or to restore and maintain
connectivity among terrestrial or aquatic habitats.
11. Safe Routes to Schools Projects
Department of Transportation
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4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Safe Routes To Schools
Eligible Activities
• Sidewalk improvements
• Traffic calming and speed reduction
improvements
• Pedestrian and bicycle crossing
improvements
• On-street bicycle facilities
• Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Shared-use paths/trails
• Secure bicycle parking facilities
• Traffic Diversion improvements
• Other projects that improve ped/bike safety
and access
Ineligible Activities
• Bus stop improvements
• Improvements to traffic flow/kiss and ride for
motorized vehicles
• Others not related to walking or biking
Department of Transportation
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5. County of Fairfax, Virginia
SRTS Additional Requirements
• Principal letter of support
• Title-I status
• Travel modes
• Travel distance
• Parent survey
• Barriers to walking
• Efforts to promote walking/biking to school
Department of Transportation
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6. County of Fairfax, Virginia
State Allocation Formula – FY 16 Example
• FY 16 Total Funding - ~$22.3 million
• Recreational Trails receives $1.5 million
• $20.8 million Balance is split 50/50
• $10.4 million is allocated based on population with $6.3 million to
Transportation Management Associations (TMA) and $4.1 million to
other areas based on population
• The other $10.4 million is allocated anywhere in the state,
Commonwealth Transportation Board(CTB) Policy governs
distribution
Department of Transportation
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7. County of Fairfax, Virginia
VDOT FY18 Schedule
• July / August 2016 - Applicant Workshops
• November 1, 2016 - Application Deadline
• February 2017 – Applications and scores presented to the TMAs
and CTB
• April 2017 – Tentative Selections made by VDOT staff
• April / May 2017 – Department Six Year Improvement Plan (SYIP)
Public Hearings
• June 2017 – Final CTB approval
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8. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Selection Process
Statewide Funds (50%)
• Will be divided amongst District CTB members for project selections –
maximum $1M per member
• The Secretary of Transportation and the CTB At-Large members will select
projects with any remaining statewide funds (any funds over $9M)
Population Based Funds (50%)
• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) will make selections in the 4
TMAs
• CTB At-Large members will select projects based on other population areas
funding
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9. County of Fairfax, Virginia
FY 2018 Application Now Online
Department of Transportation
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10. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Status of Current TAP Projects
• Mason Neck Trail
• Cross County Trail Lorton (FY 2017 Applicant)
• Cinderbed Bikeway (FY 2017 Applicant)
• Reston Bike Share
• Westbriar Elementary School SRTS
• Van Dorn Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements (FY 2017
Applicant)
Department of Transportation
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11. County of Fairfax, Virginia
FY 18 Staff Proposals
• Van Dorn Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements -
$400,000
• Cinderbed Bikeway - $800,000
• Providence District Bike Share- $400,000
With the TA local match requirements FCDOT staff can only move forward with grant applications that
have an identified local cash match. Currently, staff selects projects from the Board of Supervisor’s
Transportation Priorities Program (TPP) that have funding already applied and would be competitive
candidates for the grant. Projects outside the TPP need to have a local cash match identified before
that can be applied for. Examples of other local cash match include donated Right of Way, HOA funds
and District Discretionary Funds. Project advocates can also work with their supervisor’s office and
FCDOT to have their project included in a future approved TPP.
Department of Transportation

12. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Open Container Funding
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program
• 100% Federal Funding
• Focuses on improving safety for pedestrian and / or bicyclists along
active roadways
• Must demonstrate safety need and the improvement being made
• Requires a SEPARATE application submission using the application
portal – from home page select “Bike / Pedestrian Safety”
• Application deadline for TA sponsors: November 1, 2016
Department of Transportation
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13. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Open Container Funding
Open Container Project Eligibility:
• Provides pedestrian and/or bicycle safety treatment at locations with history
of crashes
• Provides infra-structure that connects pedestrian/bicycle generating land
uses
• Road diet that creates bicycle lanes
• Reduces conflict points between motorists, bicycles and pedestrians
• Improves the opportunity for pedestrians and/or cyclists to safely cross a
roadway
• Eliminates a barrier for non-motorized traffic
• Provides separation or dedicated space for non-motorized travel along a
high-speed or congested route
Department of Transportation
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14. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Open Container FY 18 Applications
• Due November 1, 2016
• Online application via Smart Portal
• FCDOT is moving forward with an application for pedestrian
improvements on Pleasant Valley Road for FY 18.
Department of Transportation
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15. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Important Steps to Getting TA or OC Funding
• Schedule a field meeting with FCDOT staff and members of the
community
• Participate in future Board of Supervisor’s Transportation Priorities
Plan updates
• Gain support from state and federal elected officials, non-profits,
schools and other community groups
• Stay involved in the process throughout the year
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16. County of Fairfax, Virginia
TAP Q&A Session
Department of Transportation
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17. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Public Input
• Recommendations for Projects
• Support or Dissent on Projects
• Other Comments on Transportation Alternatives
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