Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Background and Resources

In November 2021, Congress passed a new transportation bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As part of this law, Congress increased funding and made significant policy changes to programs that fund walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School.

Safe Routes to School practitioners, active transportation professionals, and communities will be better able to advocate for safer streets and sidewalks if they are up-to-date on the federal funds available to invest in the street features and programming that create safe, convenient, and equitable places to walk and bike. Key background resources are listed below, grouped by topic area.

Understanding the federal legislation

An infographic showing the legislative history of Safe Routes to School
A chart showing the changes to the Transportation Alternatives Program from the FAST Act (2015-2021) to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2022-2026)
One pager on changes to Transportation Alternatives Program in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Two pager on active transportation-related changes to safety programs in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The legislative history: from the Safe Routes to School Program to the Transportation Alternatives Program to the STP Setaside
Understanding matching requirements for the Transportation Alternatives Program
Information on state DOT performance measures on safety and system performance
A chart showing the changes to the Highway Safety Improvement Program from the FAST Act (2015-2021) to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2022-2026)

State Implementation

State-by-State funding allocations for Transportation Alternatives
State-specific Transportation Alternatives Program fact sheets
Final guidance for Transportation Alternatives
The 2022 Making Strides state report cards, which include a section assessing state implementation of Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School funds
Our quarterly tracking of how states are progressing in using Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School funds
Our challenge to states: fully fund, staff and implement the Transportation Alternatives Program
Profiles of how 10 states approached Safe Routes to School with the new Transportation Alternatives Program
How to message Safe Routes to School to policymakers

MPO Implementation

MPO funding allocations for Transporation Alternatives
Profiles of four MPOs that are using Transportation Alternatives to advance Safe Routes to School, along with a webinar
Examples of Transportation Alternatives competitive processes from MPOs

ACCESSING TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FUNDS

An infographic showing how Transportation Alternatives Program funds flow from the federal government to communities
A fact sheet on how to access Transportation Alternatives Program funding
- Note: this fact sheet was created in 2016, so changes have been made to the funding amounts and eligibility. However, the information on How to Begin in Your Local Community is still up to date!