Bi-State panel OKs $3M in TASA funds for QC trail projects

More than $3 million in U.S. Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) funds have been approved for four pedestrian trails and paths in the Quad Cities by the Bi-State Regional Commission’s Quad Cities Transportation Policy Committee.

The projects will be implemented over the next five years. TASA funds are administered by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). And the TASA program is designed to support alternative forms of transportation, in this case, trails and pedestrian walkways and crossings.

Bi-State has been designated as Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region by the federal government. Bi-State delegates transportation programming authority to its Transportation Policy Committee to solicit applications and award funds, including from the TASA. Governmental jurisdictions throughout the region are eligible and encouraged to apply for TASA funds. 

Eligible projects include trail facilities; safety features and infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians; turnouts, overlooks and scenic viewing areas; historic transportation facility preservation; and certain archeological and stormwater management tied to  highway construction. 

Projects awarded funding

In all, Illinois Quad Cities leaders requested $1,757,285. The federal TASA funds available this year were $1,533,450. The Illinois transportation project selected for funding by Bi-State’s transportation committee and the funds awarded was:

• Moline: $757,285 for Phase II of the Morgan Park Trail (Seventh Street to 10th Street Place). 

The amount of federal funds requested from the Iowa Quad Cities was $4.96 million. The amount of TASA funds available was $2.29 million. The projects selected and the funds awarded for each were: 

• Davenport: $1,093,625 for the construction of Phase IV of the Goose Creek Trail (roughly East 39th Street to Kimberly Road). 
• Bettendorf: $526,500 for the construction of a shared-use path on Middle Road (Hopewell Avenue to Forest Grove Drive). 
• LeClaire: $671,616 for the construction of a trail and pedestrian overpass on 35th Street (195th Street to Wisconsin Street). 

For more information on the TASA fund evaluation process, visit BiState’s MPO TIP page.

or contact Bi-State at (309) 793-6300.