Elderly and Disabled Transportation Capital Assistance Program

The Elderly and Disabled Transportation Capital Assistance Program is designed to provide financial assistance for transportation services to seniors and individuals with disabilities in Wisconsin counties. The program aims to promote public health and welfare by ensuring transportation access for those who might otherwise lack it and to improve and promote the maintenance of human dignity and self-sufficiency.

The Elderly and Disabled Transportation Capital Assistance Program is restricted to Wisconsin counties (or agencies thereof) for applying for funds. Private for-profit or private non-profit organizations can provide services only through agreements with counties. Counties must submit quarterly ridership and annual financial reports to provide oversight.

Assistance Type: Grant
Annual/Biennial Funding Amount: The allocation of funds is based on the ratio of the county's elderly and disabled population to the total such population in Wisconsin, subject to adjustments ensuring each county receives at least 0.5% of the total annual appropriation.
Application Cycle: The application materials for calendar year 2024 on September,6 2023, and are due on December 15, 2023.
Min./Max Award: Federal funds can cover up to 80% of eligible project costs.
Contact and/or Application Link:
- The application is administered on-line through the BlackCat® Grant Management System. Applications must be submitted by a representative of each county (or agency thereof) and cannot be submitted by a third-party provider.
- Contacts:

Lori Jacobson

(608) 266-1128

Lori.jacobson@dot.wi.gov

Eric Anderson

(608) 267-184

Eric.anderson@dot.wi.gov

Example of Successful Implementation: All Wisconsin Counties.

Below attached to the button is the link for more information regarding this program from the WisDOT website. Follow this link to learn more.

Program Link

Urban Mass Transit Operating Assistance Program

The Urban Mass Transit Operating Assistance Program is designed to provide operating cost assistance to transit systems and alleviate local tax burdens. The program is open to municipalities or counties with populations greater than 2,500 transit or transportation commissions, or authorities. Please note that the Urban Mass Transit Operating Assistance Program only provides operating cost assistance and capital projects are not eligible. The program is to support public transportation services, including buses, shared-ride taxicabs, rail, or other conveyance, whether publicly or privately owned.

Assistance Type: Grant
Annual/Biennial Funding Amount:
- Tier A-1: $66,787,400 to the eligible applicant that pays the local contribution required for an urban mass transit system that has annual operating expenses of $80,000,000 or more.
- Tier A-2: $17,549,500 to the eligible applicant that pays the local contribution required for an urban mass transit system that has annual operating expenses in excess of $20,000,000 but less than $80,000,000.
- Tier A-3: the department may pay the uniform percentage for each eligible applicant for a commuter or light rail system that has been enumerated under § 85.062 (3). An eligible applicant may not receive aid under §85.2(4m)6. cm. or d., 7., or 8. for a commuter rail or light rail transit system.
- Tier B: $25,475,900, to the extent practicable, shall be used to determine the uniform percentage in the particular calendar year.
- Tier C: $5,398,600, to the extent practicable, shall be used to determine the uniform percentage in the particular calendar year.
Application Cycle: Annually each fall
Min./Max Award: Funding is divided into tiers based on population and system, with annual funding amounts per system equalized via a statewide formula combining state and federal grants. If the eligible applicant that receives aid is served by more than one urban mass transit system, the eligible applicant may allocate the aid between the urban mass transit systems in any manner the eligible applicant considers desirable.
Contact and/or Application Link:

Steve Hirshfeld

(608) 267-0209

Stephen.hirshfeld@dit.wi.gov

Kevin Lange

(608) 266-2365

Kevin.lange@dot.wi.gov

Example of Successful Implementation: Tier A1: Milwaukee County Transit System; Tier A2: Madison Metro; Tier B: Systems serving 50,000 or more but not Tier A1 or A2; Tier C: Systems serving areas between 2,500 and 50,000.

Below attached to the button is the link for more information regarding this program from the WisDOT website. Follow this link to learn more.

Program Link

Transportation Alternatives Program

TAP projects will be selected and administered by WisDOT in a manner that best reflects national performance goals as established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) as well as performance measures established by the State of Wisconsin and WisDOT.

The program requires Wisconsin or an MPO to obligate TAP funds using a competitive process. Transportation Management Areas (TMAs) are geographic areas greater than 200,000 in population. TMAs are managed by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and are listed on page 8 of these guidelines. Eligible program applicants with project proposals located within a TMA are eligible to receive funding through MPO selection, while all other sponsors outside of TMA areas compete within their respective population category.

The following entities may sponsor TAP projects:

Local governments
Regional transportation authorities
Transit agencies
Natural resource or public land agencies (State or local park or forest agencies; State or local fish and game or wildlife agencies; Department of the Interior land management agencies; U.S. Forest Service)
School districts, local education agencies, or schools
Tribal governments
*New* Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) serving less than 200,000
Nonprofit entities
Any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation or recreational trails (i.e., Regional Planning Commissions, Development Boards, etc.)
*New* The State of Wisconsin, at the request of an eligible entity listed above

With certain exceptions, projects that met eligibility criteria for the Safe Routes to School Program, Transportation Enhancements, and/or the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Program are eligible TAP projects.

Assistance Type: Grant
Annual/Biennial Funding Amount: On November 19, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (Pub. L. No. 11758), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)1 into law. The BIL establishes federal funding levels through federal fiscal year 2026. Future federal program funding levels (i.e., 2027 and 2028) for the TA set-aside will be determined by Congressional action. After these levels are established, Wisconsin program funding levels for TAP and the authority to spend future federal dollars will be established through the state biennial budgeting process.
Application Cycle: 2024-2028 Transportation Alternatives Program (Application deadline was October 27, 2023)
Min./Max. Amount: Changes on an annual basis, the following is an example of the 2023 Budgetary Limits by Population Area:

< 5,000 = $5,875,371

5,000 – 50,000 = $2,067,338

50,000 – 200,000 = $2,975,772

> 200,000 = $7,051,763

Contact and/or Application Link: Please follow the program link for application materials.

Example of Successful Implementation: 2023-2025, Egg Harbor Trails Project, $108,376; The Wisconsin River Trail (Boscobel) $2,069,460; The Mound View Park Connector, (Platteville) $406,816; The Mountain Bay Trail (Richmond Township) $30,080; The East Troy Multi-use Trail Extension, $1,189,468; The Wisconsin Recreational River Bridge (Sauk & Dane Counties) $5,587,673.

Below the list of contacts, attached to the button is the link for more information regarding this program from the WisDOT website. Follow this link to learn more.