You are viewing 12 posts with the tag funding
More $ 4 Circuit -- Say Thx!
Let's give DVPRC a shoutout!
As readers of this blog know, this past June 26th, the DVRPC Board voted unanimously to support the dedication of federal and private dollars toward 11 circuit trail segments in Pennsylvania. It approved a new “line item” for the Pennsylvania Transportation Improvement Program (AKA the PA TIP) that designates $5 million in federal transportation dollars for construction.
Take a moment to say a quick thank you to the Board members of DVRPC by clicking here to send an email.
DVRPC Announces CMAQ Competive Funding For South Jersey
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission is now accepting applications for Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) projects in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer Counties. Bicycle and Pedestrian projects such as trails are eligible for CMAQ funds.
DVRPC will be accepting CMAQ Program applications from January 9, 2015 until 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 9, 2015. A mandatory information session for applicants will be held at 4:00 P.M. on January 28, 2015 in the DVRPC Conference Room, 190 N. Independence Mall West, 8th Fl., Philadelphia, PA 19106.
For more details on program guidance as well as submitting an application visit the DVRPC CMAQ web page.
PennDOT Accepting Applications for the 2015-2016 Multi-Modal Fund. But Hurry!
Take Action to Encourage Future Funding of the Circuit
Periodically, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) issues a four year capital transportation budget (Transportation Improvement Program or TIP) for the five Pennsylvania counties. It provides detail on which transportation projects will be funded using a combination of federal, state and local dollars.
The Circuit Coalition has been urging the DVRPC to dedicate more funding to Circuit projects. In February 2014, the Circuit Coalition delivered 2000 postcards and petition signators who called for more funding of the Circuit.
The Draft Pennsylvania TIP does contain funding for nine Circuit trail projects. But, the amount of funding dedicated to those projects over a four year period is only 0.9% of the total TIP budget. DVRPC did commit an additional $1M toward the Circuit in Year 2018.
While DVRPC deserves to be commended for committing an additional funding toward the Circuit, we also need to encourage the region to make a larger investment in future years. There are 61 Circuit projects in the five Southeastern PA counties that need design and construction funding and many of them will need to be placed onto the TIP in the coming years. If the Circuit is going to be fully built out over the next 25 years, more funding needs to be dedicated for trail segments.
DVRPC is accepting public comments on the draft Pennsylvania TIP by June 30th. Please take a moment to submit a comment to DVRPC calling for additional funding in the future in order to successfully build out the Circuit by 2040.
Multi-Modal Fund Rountable Discussion May 22
The Transportation Management Agency of Chester County (TMACC) is hosting a Roundtable Discussion with PennDOT Representative Daivd Bratina on May 22nd from 7:30 to 9:30am to help inform interested applicants about the Multimodal Transportation Grant Fund. This is a terrific opportunity for municipalities, boroughs, counties, economic development organizations, non-profits and others about the fund's program guidelines. Don't miss this important opportunity to learn more about how to apply to this fund for biking, walking and trail projects. To register, go to http://goo.gl/rWiA0N
Take Action - Please help New Jersey keep its federal Recreational Trails Program
Improvements to the Gloucester Township Bike Path, part of the Gloucester-Mt. Ephraim Trail is awaiting funding from the 2013 round of the Rec Trails Program.
Navigating State and Federal Aid In New Jersey
Last weekend at the New Jersey Bike and Walk Summit, NJ DOT Local Aid and Economic Development Director Mike Russo and Safe Routes to School to Coordinator Elise Bremer-Nei gave a very informative presentation on the Bicycle and Pedestrian funding opportunities available for Local Public Agencies (LPA's). LPA's include Counties, Municipalities, Bridge/Transit Authorities as well as School Districts.
This presentation is very timely as NJ DOT and DVRPC are about to announce new funding rounds for 1) Transportation Alternatives/Transportation Enhancements (TAP/TE) and 2) Safe Routes To School (SRTS).
In the past TE and SRTS competitive funding rounds have been extremely popular and over subscribed. For the last round in 2012 NJDOT received TE 149 applications that requested a total of $78M. Of that $10M was awarded to 29 of those projects. This 2014 soliciatation will be $15.5M for TAP/TE and $5.6M for Safe Routes to Schools statewide.
NJDOT is working on a strategy to ensure that project sponsors get the information they need to develop good project applications and complete projects successfully. Follow this blog for announcements of upcoming training opportunities and seminars.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Northeast Regional Office now accepting applications for the Trail Assistance Mini-Grant Program in Pennsylvania
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Northeast Regional Office is now accepting applications for the Trail Assistance Mini-Grant Program in Pennsylvania.
With funds provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, RTC is able to distribute a small amount of match funding to rail-trail projects in Pennsylvania.
Grant awards average $5,000 or less, with a maximum of $10,000. All projects require a 50 percent (of the total project cost) match from the applicant.
The application deadline for 2014 is Feb. 28, 2014, and awards will be announced March 25, 2014.
The mini-grant program managed by RTC can assist trail organizations or municipalities that need to make small repairs and improvements to their trail outside of the regular PA DCNR grant schedule, and well below the higher-dollar amounts usually requested on major grants.
Improvements completed through this program should represent added value to the trail either by increasing the existing length or by way of new construction that makes the trail more usable. Examples of likely projects include bridge decking, culverts, gates/bollards, bridge inspection, landscaping, signage, toilet facilities, trailhead improvements and way-finding signs. Purchase of a major piece of equipment may be considered.
Guidelines for the program, along with a list of projects previously funded, is available on the RTC website.
Please contact Patricia Tomes directly (717.238.1717 or ) with any questions regarding the eligibility of your project.
NJDEP Accepting Recreational Trails Grant Applications
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is accepting applications for Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants. The deadline for applying is February 15th, 2013
These grants are relatively small, the maximum allowable award is $25,000. But these grants can be combined with other funding sources and on their own can fund signage, trail maintenance/rehabilitiation or complete small sections of pathway in parks. RTP grants cannot pay for feasibility studies or land aquisition for non-motorized trails.
For details on the State Rec Trails Program go to http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/natural/trail_grants.htm.
DCNR Hosting Grant Program Webinar For New Applicants
Schuylkill Highlands Mini Grant Applications Available
Coastal Zone Grants Deadline is October 15
Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection's Coastal Resource Management awards grants for eligible projects that address one or more of the priority areas. Applications are evaluated and awarded through a competitive process. The funds are distributed through sub-grant awards to state and local government agencies as well as nonprofit groups located in or having facilities in the Delaware Estuary. Several trails received CRM grants in FY2012
The application deadline for a FY2013 grant is October 15th. More information here
