Bikes Belong is accepting grant applications from organizations and agencies within the United States for projects that “will put more people on bicycles more often.”  Fundable projects include paved bike paths, lanes, and rail-trails as well as mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale bicycle advocacy initiatives.

This year, Bikes Belong will only accept “Community Partnership Grant Applications.”  These proposals must come from a partnership that is minimally comprised of one government agency or office, one non-profit organization, and one business.

Bikes Belong accepts requests for funding of up to $10,000 for facility and advocacy projects. We do not require a specific percentage match, but we do look at leverage and funding partnerships very carefully. Bikes Belong will not consider grant requests in which their funding would amount to 50 percent or more of the project budget.

Grant applications are due May 24, 2013.  For more information, see the Bikes Belong Grants Program Brochure.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has released applications for the Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program, the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP), and the Illinois Off-Highway Vehicle Program.  More information and important dates can be found on the IDNR’s Bicycle Path webpage.  Application deadline for all programs is noon on March 1, 2013.

The State of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have issued a press release announcing the projects awarded funding under the 2012 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP).

The 2012 program totals nearly $50 million, nearly half of which will go to projects in northeastern Illinois.  IDOT received 328 applications requesting total federal funds of nearly $327 million.  Beginning this year, IDOT will administer the ITEP program to be awarded annually instead of every two years.

As reported by the Beacon-News, the Kendall County Highway Department is proposing that the County set aside money each year for bike trail construction along county and state roads. The Highway Department director has proposed setting aside $50,000 per year for bicycle and pedestrian trails and paths.  The money would come from the county’s transportation sales tax, which currently brings in approximately $4.8 million each year.

The American Heart Association (AHA) is offering funding through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to support ongoing public policy change campaigns that address childhood obesity, including programs that "increase physical activity during the school day and out-of-school programs" and  that "increase physical activity by improving the built environment in communities."  For more information and instructions on how to apply, visit the AHA website.

This webinar is designed to teach the “ins and outs” of fundraising for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs.

Participants will be given tips and tricks on where to find funding for SRTS projects and programs and how to go about obtaining it.  Scott Bricker, executive director of America Walks, will provide an overview of the issues surrounding fundraising and advice on how to develop appropriate goals and objectives.  Ian Thomas, Executive Director of the PedNet Coalition, will go into an in-depth discussion of what type of budget your program may need, potential sources of funds, and tips for successfully raising money from those sources. Finally, Kathy Smith, a program officer from the Partners for Health Foundation, will provide a Foundation's perspective on grant applicants and provide tips on how you can "look" ready for funding.

The webinar takes place tomorrow, April 24, 2012, at 12:00 p.m. CT.  The webinar is free but requires advance registration.

A report issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) entitled, “The Role of FHWA Programs in Livability: State of the Practice Summary,” highlights the current state of the practice livability principles in relation to their implementation within the context of the federal-aid highway program.  The report offers examples of strategies and tools for implementing livability through different programs and agencies, and across various scales as they pertain to highway program planning and development.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).  The program, created through the National Recreational Trail Fund Act as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) and re-authorized under SAFETEA-LU, provides funding assistance for acquisition, development, rehabilitation and maintenance of both motorized and non-motorized recreation trails.  The RTP program can provide up to 80 percent of federal funding on approved projects and requires a minimum 20 percent non-federal funding match.

Examples of eligible project activities include

• Trail construction and rehabilitation
• Restoration of areas adjacent to trails damaged by unauthorized trail uses
• Construction of trail-related support facilities and amenities
• Acquisition from willing sellers of trail corridors through easements or fee simple title

The deadline for the current round of applications is March 1, 2012.  For more information, instructions, and the Illinois Trails Grant Programs manual, can be found on the IDNR RTP webpage linked to above.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has announced the solicitation of projects for the state’s 2012 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP). Approximately $50 million of ITEP funds are available for this round of projects.

The application must be submitted on-line.  Certain supporting materials, however, may be submitted in hard copy.  The schedule and deadlines for the 2012 round are as follows:

• February 1, 2012: On-line application process opened.
• May 29, 2012: Deadline for on-line application submittals.
• June 1, 2012: Deadline for hard copy submittals.
• June to August 2012: Application review.
• September 2012: Selection committee review.
• October 2012: Announcement of approved projects.

Additional information, instructions, the Guidelines Manual, and a Frequently Asked Questions section can be found on the ITEP website at www.dot.il.gov/opp/itep.html. 

IDOT plans to create an online tutorial that will provide an introduction to the ITEP program and walk the applicants thru the application page-by-page.  This tutorial will be posted online as soon as it is available (anticipated in February). 

CMAP encourages applicants with projects in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force recommended package of projects for CMAQ funding that were not fully funded in the FY 2012-2016 CMAQ program to apply for ITEP funds, if appropriate.  While such a recommendation is no guarantee of ITEP funding, CMAP supports these Task Force-recommended projects that have been evaluated using such criteria as connectivity, population and employment served, access to transit, regional appropriateness of the project, and consistency with local and regional plans.  The recommended package of projects represents project submittals that best implemented CMAP’s GO TO 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan.  The package is posted as a memorandum to the CMAQ Project Selection Committee and as part of analytical matrices (full poster-sized and summary 11x17).

Governor Quinn has announced funding recipients for the 2011 Illinois Safe Routes to Schools program.   The northeastern Illinois region received a total of $8.91 million, out of a state program of $21.17 million.  Approximately $7.9 million is for infrastructure projects, and $1.02 million is designated for non-infrastructure projects. For an analysis of the awards in northeastern Illinois by county and by City of Chicago, visit the CMAP bicycle and pedestrian webpage.

Among the communities successful in obtaining funding are six of the eight communities in which CMAP organized day-long SRTS workshops during the pre-application period (autumn of 2010).  These six communities (Elmhurst, North Aurora, Winfield, Orland Park, Batavia, and Steger) received funding for ten projects – four infrastructure projects and six non-infrastructure projects – totaling $663,170 in federal funds.

The region’s infrastructure project awards also include $75,504 for a sidewalk in the Fairmont community of Will County.  Last year, CMAP’s FLIP program helped to promote this project by working with local students and leaders to explore ways to increase walking to school and pedestrian safety.  CMAP continues its engagement with Fairmont through a Local Technical Assistance (LTA) project to complete the community’s first neighborhood plan.

In the third round of TIGER funding, the awardees for which were announced last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) continued a commitment to bicyclist and pedestrian projects.  Of 46 projects chosen for funding, 22 incorporate some aspect of bicycle and pedestrian accessibility, and nine make cyclists or pedestrians the primary beneficiary, according to staff at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.  Of the $511 million available, more than $64 million went to “Complete Streets” projects.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) received $20 million to repair and improve parts of the Blue Line between downtown and O’Hare Airport and to include Blue Line station areas in the City’s bikeshare program.  The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) received $10,438 to reconstruct two miles of Illinois Route 83 (147th Street) between Kedzie Avenue and Western Avenue/Dixie Highway with a center median, accessible intersections, on-street bicycle facilities, new sidewalks, and bus shelters. The project is designed to improve safety and convenience for automobiles, transit users, pedestrians, and cyclists.

As reported in an earlier post, the State of Illinois, in partnership with the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB), created a specialty “Share the Road” license plate, the sale of which will provide funds for LIB’s statewide educational campaigns to teach both cyclists and motorists how to share the roads more respectfully, lawfully, and safely.

LIB received the necessary 1,500 reservations needed to begin the production process and, after the State’s design and production process approvals, “Share the Road” license plates should begin to appear on cars by May or June of 2012.  Congratulations to the League of Illinois Bicyclists!

CMAP’s partner in the Regional Indicators Project, the Chicago Community Trust, is seeking proposals through January 5, 2012. Up to Community-Based Sustainable Development.  Up to ten communities will be selected to serve as regional models of sustainable development with full engagement of their community residents.  Among evaluation criteria, proposals should be aligned with the GO TO 2040 comprehensive regional plan and livability principles.  Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and local governments located within and/or primarily serving residents of Cook County.

On October 12, 2011, the CMAP Board and the MPO Policy Committee approved the FY 2012-2016 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program.  The program includes $18 million in funding for the City of Chicago’s proposed bike sharing program.    According to a September 2011 request for proposals to implement a bicycle sharing system, this program will advance Chicago as one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country, enhance the public transit system by providing bicycles to complete the first or last leg of trips, and aid in congestion reduction. The program will include 3,000 bicycles, available for pick-up and drop-off at 300 parking stations around the Chicago Central Area.

The Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to quantify the relationships between pedestrian safety and crossing treatments at uncontrolled locations. The project will also develop crash reduction factors by crash type and severity for unsignalized pedestrian crosswalk signs and pavement markings (including advance yield markings), high-intensity activated crosswalk signals (HAWK or Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons), rectangular rapid flashing beacons, pedestrian refuge areas, curb extensions, in-pavement warning lights, and high-visibility crosswalk marking patterns. Proposals are due November 3, 2011.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) announced 25 recipients of $1,000 mini-grants for projects designed to encourage safe walking and bicycling to school. The projects and programs funded by the NCSRTS mini-grants will be implemented during the fall semester of the 2011 to 2012 school year.  Many of the projects receiving funding were initiated by and will be carried out by students themselves.

Among the 2011 awardees is Sauganash Elementary School in Chicago, which will launch a year-round “Move-It Monday” program to encourage students and families to get to and from school using any active, non-motorized form of transportation, such as walking, bicycling, and riding scooters and skateboards.

The National Center also announced the call for Spring 2012 mini-grants applications.  As in 2011, there will be 25 grants of $1,000 each to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school.  Applications are due by the end of the day today, Wednesday, October 19, 2011.

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) was created under the 2006 transportation authorization law, SAFETEA-LU, as one of the core Federal-Aid funding sources. HSIP funds safety projects that are aimed at reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Bike and pedestrian safety projects are also eligible for HSIP funding.  All public roads, including state, county and local roads, are eligible for HSIP funding. Examples of eligible projects include bike lanes, roadway shoulders, crosswalks, other intersection improvements, and signage.  This “Advocacy Advance” report, published by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), examines some of the states that have successfully dedicated federal safety funds to reduce bicycle and pedestrian fatalities and crashes and offers case studies and policy recommendations.

The National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse (NTEC) recently published the 2010 Transportation Enhancements Spending Report. The report analyzes states' use of federal transportation enhancement funding from 1992 through 2010. The TE Spending report is available on-line.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced its Community Transformation Grants, authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. These grants will provide a total of $900 million for applicants in up to 75 jurisdictions, tribes, and territories.  The program focuses on improving public health and reducing death and disability through policy, environmental, programmatic, and infrastructure changes related to weight, proper nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, and emotional well-being and mental health.

Letters of Intent (LOIs) must be received by June 6, and applications are due on July 15. To provide assistance in applying, the CDC is hosting a series of three pre-LOI submission conference calls on May 25 and another series of three post-LOI submission conference calls on June 14.

The Transportation Research Board and Region 2 University Transportation Research Center (City College of New York) has released a new report exploring and analyzing trends in cycling levels, safety, facility provision, and policies in eight cities in Canada and the U.S. over the past two decades – Chicago, Minneapolis, Montréal, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Asking whether there has been a “bicycling renaissance” in North America, the authors conclude that “cycling has certainly been on the rise in most parts of the U.S. and Canada.  The boom in cycling, however, has been limited to a few dozen cities which have implemented a wide range of programs to aggressively promote cycling,” and “even in those cities, cycling growth has been highly concentrated in the central cities, and especially in gentrifying neighborhoods near the CBD and university districts, while cycling remains at very low levels in most suburbs.”

According to the authors, the few large North American cities where we can speak of a ‘bicycling renaissance’ remain “islands in a sea of car-dominance” which “offer superb examples that other cities can follow.