State and Federal Grant Programs Support Initiatives to Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, Connect Communities and Improve Safety
April 13, 2026 – The Maryland Department of Transportation is opening applications this month for three grant programs designed to expand bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility across the state: the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and the Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Grant Program.
Applications for the TAP and RTP programs are open now through 11:59 p.m. April 30. Go to the Transportation Alternatives Program or Recreational Trails Program website for details. Applications for Kim Lamphier grants will be accepted April 17 to 11:59 p.m. May 31. For details, go to the program website.
“I know our local partners join me in being Serious About Safety and protecting the lives of those who walk, bike and roll,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Katie Thomson. “These grants support creating safer multimodal options that further connect Marylanders to opportunities. I also encourage our local partners to pursue grant funding to hire Safe Routes to Schools coordinators. These positions benefit communities by helping create safe ways for students to walk and bike to school.”
Federal funds totaling $11 million are available through Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails programs, both administered by the State Highway Administration (SHA). TAP grants can help fund bicycle and pedestrian facilities as well as projects such as conversion of abandoned railways to pedestrian trails. TAP grants also can support Safe Routes to School initiatives – including coordinator positions – to enhance safety for students who walk or bike to school. RTP grants support recreational trails for motorized and non-motorized uses such as mountain biking, off-road vehicles, equestrian activities, snowmobiling and others.
“SHA is committed to providing a safe, reliable and accessible multi-modal transportation network that supports the mobility needs of every Marylander,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “These grant programs are an excellent way for us to collaborate with our local partners to advance important connectivity projects that make a difference in the communities we serve.”
Another $2 million in state grants is available through the Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Grant Program. Named in honor of the late Kim Lamphier, a Maryland native and statewide biking advocate, the Bikeways Program awards grants for bicycle paths and other facilities that promote biking as a safe, fun and healthy transportation mode. Since its establishment in 2011, the program has funded 256 projects totaling $42.1 million.
Local governments and agencies, nonprofits, school districts and others are eligible to apply. Grant recipients are announced in September. TAP and RTP grant requests may seek up to 80% of a project’s cost; the remaining 20% match is the local applicants’ responsibility. As state funding, Bikeways grants may serve as the match to federal TAP and RTP awards, bringing the potential local match amount down to 4% of the project cost.
All three grant programs reinforce the MDOT Complete Streets Policy by supporting safe routes for vulnerable road users, increasing the resiliency of Maryland’s transportation network and enhancing mobility and accessibility to work, school, shopping and transit. The programs also are consistent with MDOT’s Serious About Safety initiative, a department-wide commitment to advance safety improvements and save lives, as well as Maryland’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries on state roadways by 2030.
Visit Maryland OneStop to explore these and other grant opportunities through MDOT and other state agencies. For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, news and travel information, visit roads.maryland.gov.