Transportation Alternatives Program

About the TA Program

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program is a competitive federal grant program that funds projects which:

  • enhance active transportation systems,
  • construct wayside rest areas for motorists,
  • support transportation-related community improvements,
  • mitigate environmental harm in transportation rights-of-way,
  • further Safe Routes to School programs, and
  • develop multi-modal surface transportation corridors.

In Northeast Minnesota, applicants may apply for between $100,000 and $600,000 to cover 80% of their proposed project costs; state or local funding must provide a 20% match. The grant solicitation opens annually each October, with letters of intent due at the end of October and full applications due in early January. Projects must be completed within four years after being awarded to have eligible project expenses reimbursed.

SOLICITATION TIMELINE

  • Monday October 6, 2025 – Solicitation Announcement. Open letter of intent period.
  • Friday, October 31, 2025 – Deadline for applicants to submit letters of intent.
  • Monday, December 1, 2025 – Official start of full application period.
  • Friday, January 9, 2026 – Deadline for applicants to submit full applications.

GRANT MATERIALS

Materials for the 2025-26 TA Program solicitation are available below. This solicitation window is open from October 6, 2025, through January 9, 2026. Award decisions will be made and communicated to applicants in the Spring of 2026

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by Friday, October 31, 2025 

RECENT TA GRANT RECIPIENTS

2025 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2029)

  • East Downtown Mobility Hub: The City of Duluth will receive $460,000 in federal funding to

     create an enhanced pedestrian crossing along West Superior Street, install curb extension, reconstruct a transit plaza area to create a bus rapid transit station, a gateway plaza area, a shared use path connection to the Lakewalk, and add micro-mobility parking.

  • Mille Lacs Highway 65 Trail: The Lake Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (LMLBO) will receive $460,000 in federal funding to construct a pedestrian facility along Highway 65 to improve safety and accessibility to community sites and improve overall non-motorized connectivity.

  • Gitchi Gami State Trail – Lutsen Town Center to Frontage Road on MN-61: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will receive $480,000 in federal funding to continue state trail construction in Lutsen, from Steam Engine road to MN-61 frontage road.

2024 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2028)

  • Community Connector Trail (Segment 1&2): The City of Hermantown will receive $540,000 in federal funding to construct a walking/biking trail to connect Hermantown School Campuses towards Stenber Park.
  • Duluth Transit Authority: The City of Duluth will receive $460,000 in federal funding for sidewalk and bus stop improvements along the Duluth Transit Authority Routes.
  • Multi-Use Trail: St. Louis County Public Works will receive $600,000 in federal funding to construct a separated paved trail along the east side of Rice Lake Rd (CSAH 4) connecting Technology Drive to 0.30 miles north of Martin Road (CSAH 9).
  • 40th Avenue West (CSAH 91 Trail): St. Louis County will receive $200,000 in federal funding to construct a multi-use trail and sidewalk along 40th Avenue West as part of a full reconstruction project of that corridor between Grand Avenue and the railroad tracks.

2023 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2027)

  • Deer River SRTS Phase II: The City of Deer River will receive $331,480 in federal funding to construct a walking/biking trail to connect a previously built section, completing the north trail project.
  • GGST Lutsen Segment Phase II: Cook County will receive $600,000 in federal funding to construct trail continuation over an unnamed stream connecting from Ski Hill Road to MnDOT right-of-way south of Arrowhead Electric Cooperative on the Gitchi Gami State Trail.
  • Arrowhead Road Sidewalk Construction: St. Louis County will receive $282,492 in federal funding to construct a new sidewalk on Arrowhead Road between Menard Drive and Haines Road.
  • Campus Connector Segment 6: The City of Duluth will receive $586,028 in federal funding to construct a paved trail segment designated for non-motorized use and connecting existing segments of the City’s Campus Connector Trail.

2022 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2026)

  • Mesabi Trail Spur: St. Louis County will receive $450,000 in federal funding to construct a 10 ft wide paved, non-motorized bike trail from Aurora to Hoyt Lakes.
  • Campus Connector Segment 4: The City of Duluth will receive $440,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail segment designated for non-motorized use and connecting existing segments of the City’s Campus Connector Trail.
  • Campus Connector Segment 5: The City of Duluth will receive $384,091 in federal funding to construct a paved trail segment designated for non-motorized use and connecting existing segments of the City’s Campus Connector Trail.
  • Multimodal Trail Center: The City of Silver Bay will receive $900,000* in federal funding to construct a multi-functional trailhead facility that includes the redevelopment of a community center with separate and safe access to multi-modal recreation trails, and conveniently located to local businesses and other community recreational amenities.
    • * Project was originally awarded $600,000 but obtained an additional $300,000 in special TA funds

2021 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2025)

  • Multi-Use Trail: The City of Grand Marais will receive $440,507 in federal funding to connect existing pedestrian pathways along the Gunflint Trail to the rest of the community.
  • TH 73 Trail Phase II:  The City of Moose Lake will receive $492,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail segment of the City’s trail loop in Moose Lake.
  • Main Street (TH 135) Renewal Project:  The City of Biwabik will receive $300,000 in federal funding to enhance Main Street amenities, including lighting, benches, and landscaping, in Biwabik.
  • Highway 61 Trail Connection:  The City of Two Harbors will receive $600,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail and enhance pedestrian and bicycle amenities along Highway 61 in Two Harbors.

2020 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2024)

  • CSAH 55 (22nd Street) Multi-Use Path:  Carlton County will receive $640,000 in federal funding to construct a multi-use concrete path connecting Cloquet Middle/High School to surrounding neighborhoods in Cloquet.
  • Gitchi-Gami State Trail – Two Harbors to Flood Bay Wayside:  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will receive $630,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail segment of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail in Two Harbors.
  • James L. Oberstar Trail Segment:  Pine County will receive $640,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail segment of the James L. Oberstar State Trail connecting Pine City and Rock Creek.

2019 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2023)

  • Cross City Trail:  The City of Duluth will receive $920,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail designated for non-motorized use and connecting existing segments of the Cross City Trail in the Irving neighborhood of Duluth.
  • CSAH 14 (Boundary Avenue) Sidewalk:  St. Louis County will receive $300,000 in federal funding to construct a sidewalk and necessary retaining wall along CSAH 14 along the boundary of the city of Duluth and the city of Proctor.
  • Third Street Accessibility Improvements: The City of Duluth will receive $530,000 in federal funding to improve accessibility along 3rd St in Duluth.

2018 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2022)

  • Aitkin Trail Extension:  The City of Aitkin will receive $192,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail designated for non-motorized use and making community connections to fresh food and recreation areas.
  • French River Wayside Rehabilitation:  St. Louis County will receive $480,000 in federal funding to make ADA enhancements, parking lot improvements, and safety improvements at French River Wayside on Scenic Highway 61 in Duluth Township.
  • Fond du Lac Safe Routes to School Infrastructure:  The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will receive $228,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail and sidewalk network for non-motorized use and making connections to tribal facilities and the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School within Fond du Lac Reservation.

2017 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2021)

  • Deer River Trail:  Itasca County will receive $300,000 in federal funding to construct a paved trail designated for non-motorized use and making several connections within the cities of Deer River and Zemple.
  • Gitchi-Gami State Trail – Lutsen Segment:  The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will receive $600,000 in federal funding to construct a 1.55-mile segment of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail connecting residences, employment opportunities, and key tourism destinations in the Lutsen community.

2016 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2020)

  • Mesabi Trail – St. Louis County Road 88 to Ely:  The St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority will receive $300,000 in federal funding to construct a 3-mile-long segment of the Mesabi Trail making connection into the City of Ely.
  • Brighton Beach Shared Use Path:  The City of Duluth will receive $300,000 in federal funding to construct a non-motorized, multi-use path through Brighton Beach Park to connect bicycle lanes on North Shore Scenic Drive with the Lakewalk as part of the development of a bicycle commuter trail the length of the City of Duluth.
  • Grand Rapids Corridor Improvement Project:  The City of Grand Rapids will receive $300,000 in federal funding to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections between the cities of Grand Rapids and Cohasset with a non-motorized trail along U.S. Highway 2/NW 4th Street.

2015 (Programmed to Receive Funds in Fiscal Year 2019)

  • Highway 61 Redesign in Grand Marais:  The City of Grand Marais will receive $600,000 in federal funding to build continuous pedestrian and bicycle facilities, making necessary storm water improvements, along the Highway 61 corridor through Grand Marais.
  • St. Louis River Trail – Phase II:  The City of Scanlon will receive $300,000 in federal funding to construct a paved, non-motorized trail as an extension of the St. Louis River Trail through Scanlon’s community corridor, making connections to local businesses and connecting users to Scanlon River Park.

About the Project Review Taskforce

The NEMNATP Project Review Taskforce is a group comprised of elected officials, government staff, and other stakeholders, which meets to score and rank regional applications for federal funding each February.

Project Review Taskforce members are responsible for reviewing and recommending Transportation Alternatives (TA), Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), and PROTECT projects for NEMNATP approval.

MEMBERSHIP

The NEMNATP Project Review Taskforce consists of sixteen (16) members. Visit the membership page to access a list of current members.