Mark Twain National Forest officials are sharing with the local community a grant opportunity that is being offered at a national level.
“Supporting local communities is essential to the success of the U.S. Forest Service, and the Mark Twain National Forest’s Collaboration Program strives to connect agency resources with community partners in order to accomplish shared goals,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Lenore Lamb.
The grant may be of particularly interest to those wishing for a safe way to walk or bicycle on nearby public lands, or those who live in rural areas and wish for a safe way for themselves or their children to walk or bike to town, who may want to consider sharing the opportunity with their city councils or county commissions, said Forest Service officials.
The Federal Highway Administration's Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) is now open for applications for funding. ATIIP is a new competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to plan, design and construct infrastructure that will provide substantial additional opportunities for walking, bicycling and other forms of active transportation, officials explained.
The Federal Highways Administration shared that the safety of vulnerable road users is of utmost importance and this funding is intended to help improve connectivity. It is hoped it will also address barriers to safe, accessible and equitable pedestrian and bicycle networks, especially in disadvantaged communities and those where many people rely on public transportation, said officials.
Active transportation mobility options are those powered primarily by human energy, such as bicycling and walking, and provide positive health impacts. ATIIP will fund projects to plan, design, or construct networks of safe and connected active transportation facilities that link destinations within communities or metropolitan regions, including schools, workplaces, residences, businesses, recreation areas and medical facilities, they added. Grants will also fund projects to plan, design and construct active transportation spines, facilities that connect between communities, metropolitan regions or states. A stated goal of both types of ATIIP grants is to integrate active transportation facilities with transit services, where available, to improve access to public transportation.
Eligible applicants include local or regional governmental organizations, including metropolitan planning organizations or regional planning organization or councils; multicounty special districts; states; a multistate group of governments; or Indian tribes.
The deadline for applications is 10:59 p.m. June 17. For more information, visit the ATIIP website at www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bicycle_pedestrian/atiip or ask questions directly by emailing atiip@dot.gov. A webinar on the subject can also be seen at register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7296703746625197654.
