Requests from Wisconsin communities seeking state grants to help fund trail projects far exceed the amount of funding that’s available this year.
The Wisconsin Bike Federation says dozens of communities have asked for a total of $62 million in trail funds, but the state only has about $15 million available through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program.
Tom Held with the federation said it’s encouraging that people want places to walk and bike. “I think it shows that local officials…are really taking seriously the need to provide alternatives for residents – people who want to walk places, who want to ride bikes places,” he said.
The Federation is among groups calling on the Legislature to consider raising the funding available for trail projects in the next state budget, after about $1 million was cut during the current biennium.
Contributed by WHBY