Pennsylvania Transportation Alternatives Program Profile

Pennsylvania’s Heritage Rail Trail County Park | Photo by TrailLink user jmcginnis12

Funding History

Pennsylvania Distribution of TE & TA Funds chart by RTC

Pennsylvania Combined TE & TA Funds chart by RTC

State DOT Program Staff

State DOT TA Coordinator
Jacqueline Koons-Felion
Transportation Planning Manager
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
400 North Street, 6th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Tel: 717-787-8065
Email: RA-pdTASA@pa.gov

FHWA Division TA Coordinator
Jennifer Crobak
FHWA – PA Division
228 Walnut St
Room 508
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1720
Tel: (717) 221-3440
Email: Jennifer.Crobak@dot.gov

State DOT Website: https://www.penndot.pa.gov/ProjectAndPrograms/Planning/Pages/Transportation%20Alternatives%20Set-Aside%20-%20Surface%20Trans.%20Block%20Grant%20Program.aspx

TA Program Structure, Policies, and Procedures

Application timeline: Applications open in summer 2023 (and on odd-numbered years, while grants let on even years).
TA program structure: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) funds 100% of construction costs for successful TA-eligible projects
Application tips: Project sponsors must submit a pre-application and meet with their Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) or Rural Planning Organization (RPO) staff to discuss their project application, as well as PennDOT Engineering District staff to discuss their project, PennDOT policies, and regulations.
Who is eligible to apply: Local government, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, school districts, non-profit partners, and tribal governments
Application components: Project sponsor, detailed project location, TA project eligibility, project description and implementation plan, cost estimate, project status (permits, environmental clearance, etc), maintenance considerations, safety
Selection criteria: Network connectivity, consistency with land use and planning, collaboration with stakeholders, leverage of other projects or funds, cost estimating, project value, economic impact, teachability
Is there an advisory committee?: No. Projects are reviewed by PennDOT Central Office
Project award minimum: $50,000
Project award maximum: $1,000,000
Match requirement: None. Match for construction cost is provided by DCNR

More information on PennDOT’s TA program can be found here.