I am writing to share concerns about the proposed changes to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) application process and the significant negative impact they could have on Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiatives in localities similar to Harrisonburg.

Harrisonburg’s SRTS program, revitalized in late 2024, has made remarkable progress in just six months. We’ve reconnected with all ten public schools, planned the return of bike education programs, launched walking and biking group pilots at elementary schools, and are building strong community momentum around events like Bike & Roll to School Day this May—expected to be our largest yet, engaging thousands of students. This progress has been possible thanks to the presence of a dedicated SRTS Coordinator working closely with school and community partners and our SRTS program.

The newly proposed TAP application requirements, however, introduce excessive and unrealistic administrative burdens that threaten the viability of this work. Specifically, requiring localities to complete detailed asset inventories for bicycle fleets and to track individual bike part purchases—down to associating expenses with specific bikes—is an enormous and unnecessary strain. These tasks are not only time-consuming but are also prone to error, especially for small teams or single-staff coordinators. In practice, they create roadblocks that deter schools from participating in bike safety education altogether.

These new requirements do not support safety—they hinder it. It shifts the focus from engaging students and building safe infrastructure to tracking serial numbers and receipts. For communities like Harrisonburg, where staff capacity is already limited, these added requirements can easily become the reason programs stall or fail to expand. We are also concerned that a minor administrative misstep could result in non-reimbursable costs, discouraging future participation and investment in maintenance or growth of walking and bike programs.

Even more concerning is how the phasing of SRTS noninfrastructure (SRTS-NI) funding reflects a prioritization mismatch when viewed in the context of the broader TAP program. The total cost of fully funding a coordinator and basic program operations in a locality like Harrisonburg is modest, especially compared to the multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects TAP regularly supports. Yet, after just two years, this support is significantly reduced and eventually eliminated, despite clear, measurable benefits like increased student safety awareness and school participation. From a cost-efficiency standpoint, continued investment in SRTS-NI programs is a smart and relatively low-cost way to improve community health, reduce traffic congestion, and build long-term infrastructure demand. Cutting or phasing out support for these programs represents a missed opportunity to make a high-impact investment for a small fraction of the overall TAP budget.

These challenges are compounded by a noticeable lack of support from VDOT over the past eight months. Communication has been minimal, resources and guidance scarce, and there are no clear systems in place to navigate the new demands. If the goal is to “support new programs” through phased funding, how can that be achieved when current programs are not given the tools they need to thrive? Without a dedicated website, active engagement, or responsive assistance, there is no infrastructure in place to ensure the success of either existing or future SRTS initiatives.

I respectfully urge VDOT to reconsider the proposed TAP changes and to engage with local SRTS Coordinators and small locality stakeholders before implementing requirements that may do more harm than good. Equitable, effective support—not more barriers—is what’s needed to keep Virginia’s students walking, biking, and rolling safely to school.

Thank you for your time and attention to this critical matter.