The Pennsylvania Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TASA) is a competitive federal program established for projects that contribute to alternative transportation, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The two-year Pennsylvania TASA program provided approximately $8 million in funds for projects in the DVRPC region and $18+ million statewide.
The TASA program is a critical funding opportunity and has the potential to assist the Circuit Trails Coalition in reaching their goal of 500 miles by 2025. Upon review of the full list of projects, the Coalition hoped to see a stronger list in support of Circuit related projects in order to reach this goal. Overall, the Circuit received 30% of the total available funds. This level of funding from TASA is unfortunately, not going to be enough to move the Circuit forward and reach the goal of 500 miles by 2025.
In total, DVRPC received 31 project applications requesting approximately $27 million in TASA funds from the region. The TASA subcommittee recommended 10 projects to be added to the TASA line item totaling $7,945,000 in regional funds. Also, there are 15 projects, totaling approximately $11.3 million to be recommended for funding through the Statewide TASA selection process.
See below for funded Circuit Trails projects:
| 2021 TASA Projects Selected for Regional Funds | |||
| County | Sponsor | Project Title | Amount |
| Bucks | Bucks County Planning | Newtown Rail Trail Phase 2 Bristol Road to Churchville Nature Center | $650,000 |
| Montgomery | Borough of Lansdale | Liberty Bell Trail – Phase 3 | $600,000 |
| Delaware | City of Chester | East Coast Greenway – Highland Ave Complete Streets and Connector Trail | $1,140,000 |
| Total: | $2,390,000 | ||
The list below shows recommended Circuit Trails and bike/ped facilities that have been recommended to the PennDOT for TASA funding. No final decision yet.
| 2021 TASA Projects Recommended for Statewide Funds | |||
| County | Sponsor | Project Title | Amount |
| Bucks | Bucks County Planning | Newtown Rail Trail Phase 2 Bristol Road to Churchville Nature Center | $850,000 |
| Montgomery | Borough of Lansdale | Liberty Bell Trail – Phase 3 | $373,000 |
| Montgomery | Hatfield Township | Liberty Bell Trail | $909,000 |
| Bucks | Doylestown Township | Shady Retreat Trail | $1,395,000 |
| Philadelphia | City of Philadelphia – OTIS/Streets | Pennypack Trail Connector: State Road and Rhawn Street | $997,000 |
| Philadelphia | City of Philadelphia – OTIS/Streets | Chestnut St Pedestrian Islands | $992,000 |
| Delaware | Yeadon Borough | West Cobbs Creek Parkway Infrastructure Improvements | $955,000 |
| Philadelphia | City of Philadelphia – OTIS/Streets | South Broad Street Sidepath | $534,000 |
| Philadelphia | City of Philadelphia – OTIS/Streets | Logan Square Sidewalk Modernization at Swann Memorial Fountain | $1,000,000 |
| Total: | $8,005,000 | ||
Additionally, the DVRPC Regional Trails Program has released their Phase 8 grant awards. The following actions on multi-use trail projects are recommended for Regional Trails Program awards by DVRPC staff in coordination with county and municipal partners. DVRPC will draw funds from previously unspent Regional Trails Program project funds which are supported by the William Penn Foundation.
- Add $11,725 to the current award for the D&R Connector – Wellness Loop to Union Street in the City of Trenton to support increased design costs resulting from allocation of federal funds for construction. The awardee is Greater Trenton, Inc.
- Grant $59,356 for an engineering assessment and feasibility study of the construction of a trail on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Mule Bridge which crosses the Schuylkill River between Lower Merion Township and Philadelphia. The awardee would be the City of Philadelphia.
The two actions above would result in the allocation of $71,081 in additional funds to trail projects. Lastly, in other news, Gloucester County will be repairing the bike lane along Fries Mill Rd from CR 610 to NJ 47.