The South Dakota Transportation Commission recently awarded $3.7 million to 10 Transportation Alternatives (TA) projects statewide.
“The TA program helps fund a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects, such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements like historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigation related to stormwater and habitat connectivity,” Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt said.
TA is a federal grant program that provides funding from the Surface Transportation Block Grant program to help states fund projects that provide safe alternative transportation options and enhance the intermodal transportation system. The Office of Project Development administers TA.
Under the program, the minimum award is $50,000 and the maximum is $400,000. The South Dakota Department of Transportation can approve a larger amount for phased projects. An 18.05 percent local match is required.
Four TA grants were awarded to communities with a population of more than 5,000, and six grants were awarded to communities with a population less than 5,000. Awards were given between $201,597 and $400,000.
The communities receiving awards are Pierre, Spearfish, Brandon, Sturgis, Wagner, Canistota, Dell Rapids, Wanblee, LaPlant, and Wakpala.
Letters of Intent for fiscal year 2022 are due July 15, and applications for are due Oct. 1.