As a nonprofit organization committed to youth development, our environment, and community health in Richmond, we are deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), particularly in how they would affect non-infrastructure programs like Safe Routes to School (SRTS).
For years, Groundwork RVA has partnered with Richmond City’s Safe Routes to School initiative to support students and families in accessing safe, healthy, and equitable transportation options. The proposed changes could dramatically reduce the effectiveness and reach of these efforts, particularly in historically underserved communities.
Specifically:
Limiting applicants to five project submissions per funding cycle will put cities like Richmond at a disadvantage. As the City attempts to balance infrastructure needs with essential non-infrastructure programs like SRTS, these arbitrary caps could force critical youth- and safety-focused programs off the table.
Reducing the percentage of allowable TAP funding for non-infrastructure projects jeopardizes the sustainability of programs that have proven impacts on student health, safety, and equity. Under the proposed change, a program currently eligible for $80,000 would only be eligible for $24,000 in its final year—making it nearly impossible for organizations to continue delivering meaningful, long-term work.
Active transportation programs are not luxuries—they are lifelines. They help kids arrive at school safely and ready to learn, reduce neighborhood traffic risks, improve health outcomes, and support climate resilience in our communities. Undermining the funding for these programs runs counter to the Commonwealth’s stated goals around equity, safety, and sustainability.
We urge you to reconsider these proposed changes and ensure TAP remains a robust, accessible, and equitable funding stream that supports both infrastructure and the essential programs that make transportation alternatives truly work for our communities.