The Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership has been monitoring state spending of federal funds for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) because September 30 was the date unused funds allocated for FY2014 would disappear forever.
What it found is that most states used the funds accurately, with many even undergoing a flurry of bike and walk project spending over the past several months.
Unfortunately, eight states transferred about $30 million funding over to road and bridge projects, and another eight states just let another nearly $30 million lapse.
The good news is that most states took their responsibilities under TAP seriously – nearly $350 million in TAP funds were obligated just between July and September – meaning hundreds, if not thousands, of Safe Routes to School, biking, and walking projects are moving forward. We commend the large majority of states for taking seriously the importance of making improvements that keep kids and families safe and provide healthy transportation options.
Unfortunately, several states opted out of fully using their TAP dollars on biking and walking this quarter. Eight states (AL, CT, IA, LA, NH, NV, OR, WI) transferred $29.5 million in TAP funding to other road and bridge projects within the states. Most notable of this group is Iowa, who transferred funding for the first time. Iowa transferred nearly $16 million, which is half of its TAP funds for the last four years.
Eight states (AK, AZ, GA, MD, NH, NJ, NC, SC) also let more than $1 million each in TAP funding lapse—a total of $28 million. Funding only lapses if it has not been obligated after four years. Lapsed funds expire and are returned to the federal government. States who allowed this to happen forfeited money meant for safety and transportation by simply not planning ahead. Advocates know that there are indeed Safe Routes to School, biking and walking projects that could desperately use these funds, but the state DOT did not fulfill its responsibilities to ensure the TAP money was obligated in time.