Governor Evers Announces the Latest TAP/CMAQ Awardees
In these politically polarizing times, the Wisconsin Bike Fed has been focused on championing positive cycling and pedestrian improvements that improve safety and connectivity across the state. Once the second most bicycle-friendly state in the country, according to the League of American Bicyclists, Wisconsin has dropped to #29 in recent years. The biggest reason for this drop is that Wisconsin ranks second-to-last in the country for investment in biking and walking infrastructure.
The Wisconsin Bike Fed was pleased to see the list of recently awarded funds from the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. As an organization that represents cycling, pedestrian, and trail advocates from around the state, we agree with Governor Evers’ sentiment that:
“These transportation alternative projects are not only great ways to reduce emissions and provide more alternative transportation options, but they will help connect communities in every corner of Wisconsin and provide families with safer routes to work, school, appointments, and so much more.”
We would like to thank our statewide network of advocates, WisDOT, and Governor Evers for helping make these lists of project awards possible. The Bike Fed would also like to highlight a few of our own “Priority Projects” that were funded. Please follow the links below to learn more about each project on our website:
- Bayshore Connectivity Trails Project – $906,390
- The Walking Iron Trail (Dane County) – $1,000,000
We are also pleased to share that the Bike Fed’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program received a grant for $339,360 to expand bicycle education in Dane County Schools.
Please follow each of the links below to view the full list of projects:
The most recent economic impact study demonstrated that the cycling industry brings in around $2.5 billion to Wisconsin’s economy each year, underscoring the importance of walking, biking and trail infrastructure to our state’s prosperity. While we celebrate this very successful round of awards, the Bike Fed will continue to advocate for more funding for nonmotorized transportation projects across Wisconsin.
Even with these latest grant awards, the TAP program continues to be oversubscribed demonstrating the need for additional investment to advance long-awaited projects and to keep up with much-needed maintenance on trails across the state.
Want to help the Bike Fed continue its state and local funding advocacy? Or, is there a project on this list that you are excited about? Follow the link below to contact your legislators about prioritizing cycling and trails!