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House committee broadens Transportation Alternatives grants to get federal funds spent
Summary
The House Transportation Committee approved language to raise grant caps, remove a 50% water-quality set-aside and broaden eligible activities — steps intended to help obligate federal Transportation Alternatives funds before they expire.
The House Transportation Committee reviewed and moved to adopt revisions to Transportation Alternatives language designed to speed obligation of federal funds, including higher per-award caps and broader eligible activities.
Damon Leonard of the Office of Legislative Council summarized the changes, saying the ongoing maximum grant award will increase to $600,000 from $300,000 and the committee eliminated the prior requirement that 50% of funds be reserved for water-quality projects. "Program funds shall be awarded for any eligible activity," Leonard said, and the draft explicitly adds environmental mitigation projects related to stormwater and highways — such as eligible salt-and-sand sheds — and "infrastructure related projects and systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers." He also said the coming fiscal year would allow one-time grant awards up to $1.2 million per allocation.
Representative Molly Burke pressed the committee to ensure funding remains available for Safe Routes to Schools projects, noting the program's noninfrastructure components (coordinator, education) have been squeezed in recent years. Members and staff clarified that infrastructure-focused Safe Routes projects (for example sidewalks, crossings and bike facilities) are eligible under the Transportation Alternatives language, while noninfrastructure elements may fit better under a highway safety grant program and would be reflected in marketing and implementation materials.
Representative Lally emphasized planning and technical assistance so communities can be ready to apply for grants and execute projects when funds become available. Several members signaled support for the draft language by thumbs-up, and the Chair instructed legislative council to move the revised language into the T bill for this year.
Committee members framed the revisions as a pragmatic move to avoid losing federal dollars that could otherwise expire if projects cannot be awarded under stricter eligibility rules. The changes do not prescribe how funds must be split in future years; rather, they broaden allowable uses so the agency has more flexibility to obligate funds.
Next steps: legislative council will lodge the revised language into the T bill, and the committee plans follow-up oversight and implementation guidance during future briefings.
