The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) is a federal highway program that supports specified community-based transportation activities through state and local processes.
Definition
TAP may support eligible activities such as active transportation or community-oriented transportation projects, subject to program rules and the applicable selection process. For a civil engineering firm, the program can be relevant when a public sponsor is planning or funding work that includes engineering services. Funding does not itself establish the consultant’s scope, fee, or payment terms; those are set through the sponsor’s procurement and contract. Eligible activities, application pathways, and selection procedures depend on federal requirements and the state or local process. TAP is not a general funding source for any transportation project, and a program award does not guarantee that a particular firm will receive a contract. Owners should distinguish a project’s funding source from the process used to select and contract with the engineering team. The Federal Highway Administration’s TAP page provides program context.
How owners use it
- An owner checks whether a sponsor’s planned active transportation work fits the program and local selection process.
- A firm monitors procurement dates separately from the sponsor’s grant application and award schedule.
- A sponsor has $500,000 in eligible project costs and $400,000 in program funding; $500,000 - $400,000 = $100,000 must come from another source.
