Transportation Alternatives Program

Billings MPO Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program application period is now closed. This page will be updated when additional rounds of TA funding are available. 

During the 2025 round, two projects were funded:

City of Billings: Safe Routes to School Projects - $1,292,030.94 TA funds

Yellowstone County: Johnson Lane Sidewalk Connector Project - $217,021.43 TA funds

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TA) is a set-aside program from the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program. Eligible uses of the funds include projects and activities that were previously eligible under the Transportation Alternatives Program under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). This includes a variety of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school project and other community improvement projects. See the Billings MPO TA Instructions for eligible projects. The Billings MPO received approximately $1,784,111 in Transportation Alternative Funds in 2025.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) allows for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to administer their own competitive application process with approval and oversight from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Gallatin Valley (Bozeman), and Greater Helena all oversaw a local process for the TA funding that is specific to areas with a population of over 50,000. Entities within the MPO may also apply with MDT’s Call for Applications as well, as there is funding that is not tied to population. The timeline for both processes runs concurrently.

Projects submitted had to meet Federal and State guideline for eligibility and must identify a local, Federal or State sponsoring agency. Private individuals and organizations could recommend a project if the project was sponsored by the government agency in which the project is located. Example of a sponsoring agency may include, but are not limited to, City, County, Tribal, etc.

Other Sources of Information:

Montana Department of Transportation – Transportation Alternatives Program

Federal Highway Administration – Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Billings MPO TA Instructions

Billings-MPO-TA-Application

2025 TA Grant Information Presentation

For more information or if you have questions, please contact:

Lora Mattox, AICP

Transportation Planning Coordinator

(406) 247-8622

mattoxl@billingsmt.gov