Updated: Your complete guide to funding sources for bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects in Missouri

Your community has some amazing bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects it wants to build--perhaps even a local or regional bicycle, pedestrian, or trails plan.  But now you need the funding to actually build.

Working to create and protect sources of funding for walking, bicycling, and trails in Missouri is one of the primary goals of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation

If your community doesn't yet have those plans and projects developed, it might be smart to take a step back first:

• Develop your own plans, projects, and priorities
• Implement a few projects--even very small, simple, low-cost projects--using available resources
• Build a community partnership in support of these projects.

We have a whole page with ideas to help your community take these initial steps.

Then you are ready to approach potential funders to take the next steps.

Be a funding trailblazer

Note that many other states across the country have a long records of using all of these types of funds for needed bicycle, pedestrian, and trail facilities.  In Missouri, we typically do not have such a long record--you may be the first or among the first to apply for a particular type of funding for bicycling, walking, or trails.  Part of the reason Missouri's infrastructure for walking and bicycling has been so poor is that we have hesitated to fully use available funding for these important needs.  

Consider being a trailblazer to apply for new sources of funding--not only for the benefit of the particular project you are currently working on, but for the general future benefit of similar projects in your community and region, and the state as a whole.

Here are many of the available funding sources in Missouri:

FEDERAL - Through State Agencies

FAST Act
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act sets the framework for spending federal transportation revenue until 2021. It includes the following programs:

• Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and State and Community Highway Safety Program (Section 402)
  The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) aims to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious accidents through the implementation of infrastructure-related highway safety improvements. HSIP in Missouri is administered through the MoDOT Highway Safety Division and, as far as we know, all funds are spent on MoDOT roads. If you have a safety issue--including an issue involving bicycle or pedestrian safety--you could request that your local MoDOT district apply for HSIP funds to address it.
  
  Community Highway Safety Program (Section 402) funds are administered by MoDOT to communities and agencies for highway safety programs.  Funds are distributed via an annual competitive grand process. To find out more about applying for this funding, create an account (page linked above). When you log in, program and application details will be available.
   
• Recreational Trails Program
  Missouri State Parks administers Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. RTP annually funds recreational trails, including bicycle and pedestrian paths. The funding process is a competitive grant program.
   
• Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) & Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP)
  States receive individual allocations of LWCF grant funds based upon a national formula, with state population being the most influential factor. States initiate a statewide competition for the amount available annually.
  
  ORLP is similar, but is designed for projects in urban areas (urbanized areas of 50,000 population or greater)
   
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
  • The CDBG entitlement program allocates annual grants to larger cities and urban counties to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities are eligible uses of these funds.
     
  • Community Development Block Grants (administered through Missouri Division of Economic Development). CDBG grants can be used for projects like these, when they benefit an area or neighborhood with 51% or great low/moderate income households:
    • Acquisition of land to be used as a neighborhood park;
    • Improvements to public infrastructure like the installation of gutters and sidewalks; and
    • Development of a community center
• Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA)
  The Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program is the community assistance arm of the National Park Service. RTCA provides technical assistance to communities in order to preserve open space and develop trails.
  
  RTCA has provided vital technical assistance to a number of Missouri communities and regions--for example to plan local or regional trails, and develop citywide or regional trails plans.  RTCA does not provide funding, but technical expertise and know-how that can help you bring together the partners you need and create the plans you need in order to successfully develop the funding you need.

FEDERAL - through your Metropolitan Planning Organization, Regional Planning Commission, or MoDOT District

Some transportation funding comes from the federal government based on formulas, which allocate funds to state governments, urban and non-urban areas based on population, vehicle miles traveled, air quality conformity and other variables. Governing entities, such as state departments of transportation (DOT), metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), rural planning organizations, or municipal or county governments then allocate the funding for transportation projects that meet certain federal criteria.

In Missouri, these programs are generally administered through some combination of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (covering medium & large metro areas in the state), Regional Planning Commissions (covering all of the state), and MoDOT Districts. To find out more about any of these programs, call your local MPO, RPC, or MoDOT District. It may take some persistence to find the right contact for the program you are interested in.

Select examples that provide funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects include the following:

1. Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). This is the main program that funds trails and other bicycle and pedestrian projects across the country. This competitive reimbursement program includes most activities eligible under the historically funded Transportation Enhancements program and the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, which funds programs and projects that encourage children and their families to walk and bike safely to school.
   
   Every MoDOT District and MPO has TAP funding. Funding is distributed by district & MPO by a fairly complex formula. Generally it is distributed in competitive funding rounds taking place every other year. MPOs & MoDOT TAP funding rounds may be on separate schedules.
2. Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ). This program provides funds to state DOTs, MPOs and other sponsors to fund projects that will contribute to air quality improvements in ozone, carbon monoxide and/or particulate matter, and provide congestion relief.
   
   In Missouri, this funding is generally available only to large MPOs--Kansas City & St. Louis.
3. Surface Transportation Program (STP). This program provides flexible funds to states for projects to improve federal-aid highways (most roads), bridges and tunnels, walking and biking infrastructure, and transit capital projects.
   
   In Missouri, STP funding priorities are generally determined at the MPO & MoDOT District levels in a competitive grant process. Bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects ARE eligible for STP funding and several important bike/ped projects have now received funding through STP.  Additionally, many MPOs now have requirements for inclusion of bicycle & pedestrian connectivity in any STP-funding road project.
   
   But be aware that, traditionally, STP funding in Missouri has gone solely to roads and bridges. You may face an uphill battle winning even a small amount for bicycling, walking, or trails in your area.

FEDERAL - Direct appropriations and grants

• Congress: Traditionally, local communities have been able to approach their local Member of Congress or Senator for a special federal appropriation for important projects. That system is now on hold, but it is still very worthwhile reach out to your area Congressional representatives and their staff members.  They may know of funding sources and may be able to offer assistance in successfully applying for various grant programs.
   
• BUILD: The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development is a competitive national grant program with funds allocated directly by the U.S. Department of Transportation for innovative projects that deliver on five long-term outcomes: safety, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, livability and environmental sustainability.
  
  BUILD rewards projects that bring modes together and that are otherwise difficult to fund. Bicycle, pedestrian, and Complete Streets projects are well received. Missouri has received funding for several BUILD grants that include bicycle & pedestrian elements, including major bridges, neighborhood revitalization, and others.
  
  Under the Trump administration, Missouri has received several times the national average of awards under the BUILD program.  It is strongly recommended the Missouri communities apply for applicable BUILD grants in this environment.
  
  The BUILD program was previous known as the TIGER grant program.
   
• CPG: The Community Prevention Grants program, formerly Community Transformation Grants, enables local communities to implement programs that address chronic health issues such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, for example, by encouraging active living and healthy eating.
   
• Smart Growth Implementation Assistance through the EPA.
   
• Sustainable Communities Partnership
   
• The federal Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act, or TIFIA, provides different types of loans and credit to support larger transportation projects, defined as projects with a cost of at least $50 million in urban areas, $25 million for rural infrastructure projects, $15 million for intelligent transportation system (ITS) projects, or any project that costs more than one-third of the most recently completed fiscal year’s formula transportation apportionments for the state in which the project is located. This could be appropriate for very large bicycle & pedestrian projects, or other transportation projects that include a key bike/ped/trails element.

STATE

Missouri, unfortunately, has relatively little dedicated state funding for bicycling and walking. This is an identified weakness in Missouri's transportation funding.

However, some funding is available:

• MoDOT requires thorough consideration for providing for the needs of people who walk and bicycle in all road and highway projects. Your case is strengthened if you have local plans and policies requiring accommodation for people who walk and bicycle, and if the particular road is a specific part of a local bicycle or pedestrian plan.
  
  If MoDOT is planning construction or maintenance on a state road, that is the best time to approach MoDOT about these issues.
   
• Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Department of Conservation both have some limited funding available for developing trails on land they administer.
   
• You can work with your local Missouri Senator(s) and Representative(s) for a special allocation of Missouri General Revenue funding for special projects. This has been particularly effective for particular high-profile projects.

LOCAL

• Many Missouri communities now build bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects into their regular plans for capital improvements or community improvements sales taxes. Cities find that including these important projects help build citizen support needed to pass the sales tax renewals. Guide to local government taxes in Missouri here.
   
• Similarly, many communities build trails plans into their regular storm water/local parks tax renewal plans.
  Again, these proposals help build citizen support for the tax renewal.
   
• Cities and counties may use their own existing funding sources, including transportation funding sources, to fund needed bicycle, pedestrian, and trail work.

PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Many communities have developed innovative partnerships that bring in private funding and investment to create bicycle,  pedestrian,  and trails projects.

And many more . . .

In reality, there is no complete list of funding sources for bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects. The best and most successful communities spend considerable time exploring potential funding sources and developing relationships with funding organizations.

Other resources:

• PedBikeInfo
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Bike League

More suggestions and help for planning for walking, bicycling, and trails in Missouri cities and counties here.

An earlier version of this page was found here.

Page sources: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, CalBike.org