Growth & Accessibility Planning (GAP) Technical Assistance Program
The Growth & Accessibility Planning (GAP) Technical Assistance, or GAP-TA Program supports Virginia localities while advancing the goals of the
Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI). Every year, the GAP-TA program accepts applications starting September through the end of October. Please use the
GAP-TA Application webpage to apply for technical assistance.
GAP Program Components
The GAP technical assistance program has four components. Each component has a unique purpose; therefore, eligible applicants, activities, and expected outcomes vary. Applicants may receive only one type of award per cycle, and the preference is given to those that have not received any technical assistance in the past.
- Eligible Entities:
- Eligible Activities: Support the intent of the Virginia Code § 15.2-2223.1, namely support “traditional neighborhood design” by planning for:
- Connectivity of non-motorized networks and facilities;
- Preservation of natural areas;
- Mixed-use neighborhoods, including mixed housing types, with affordable housing to meet the projected family income distributions of future residential growth;
- Reduction of front and side yard building setbacks; and
- Reduction of subdivision street widths and turning radii at subdivision street intersections.
- Expected Outcomes
- Designation of growth areas per Virginia Code § 15.2-2223.1 (required if not a UDA);
- Planning for multi-modal transportation infrastructure development;
- Reconfirmation of existing sidewalk and bicycle lanes by direction or a complete inventory of existing sidewalks and bicycle lanes by direction
- A comparative assessment of existing square footage, permissible square footage, and revised permissible square footage
- A set of location-specific multimodal improvements identified based on performance-based planning
- Eligible Entities:
- Cities
- Counties
- Towns responsible for the development and amendments of comprehensive plans per Virginia Code § 15.2-2223 and maintain their infrastructure and qualify to receive payments pursuant to Virginia Code § 33.2-319
- Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
- Planning District Commissions (PDCs)
- Eligible Activities: These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Land use and transportation impacts of proliferation of shared mobility (per Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Shared Mobility and Enabling Technologies, SAE International Publication J3163, issued September 2019)
- Utilization of newly available public or private datasets to modify existing processes or to develop new processes address one or more well-defined land use or transportation planning needs or challenges
- Utilization of mobile computing, including, but not limited to, cell phone apps or applications to address one or more well-defined land use or transportation planning needs or challenges
- Planning for the projected proliferation of electric vehicles including, but not limited to modifying building codes, on- and off-street parking considerations, etc.
- Expected Outcomes: A product that could be a mobile application, building code, a contract, or a process that is scalable, replicable, and developed using sound data-driven planning to ensure it can be utilized or deployed by other jurisdictions.
- Eligible Entities:
- Cities
- Counties
- Towns responsible for the development and amendments of comprehensive plans per Virginia Code § 15.2-2223 and maintain their infrastructure and qualify to receive payments pursuant to Virginia Code § 33.2-319
- Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs)
- Planning District Commissions (PDCs)
- Eligible Activities: These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Identification, validation, calibration, and selection of performance measures and associated thresholds for a performance-based planning process;
- Development of a detailed performance-based planning process template;
- Identification and assignment of roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the performance-based planning process; and,
- Development of data structure and document templates for the performance-based planning process.
- Expected Outcomes: A planning process that the recipient of the GAP Technical Assistance Program can utilize for future updates of Long-range Transportation Plans (LRTPs), Comprehensive Plans, Rural Long-Range Transportation Plans, Bicycle-Pedestrian Plans, etc.
- Eligible Entities:
- Eligible Activities: Support planning for:
- Connectivity of non-motorized networks and facilities;
- Preservation of natural areas;
- Mixed-use neighborhoods, including mixed housing types, with affordable housing to meet the projected family income distributions of future residential growth;
- Reduction of front and side yard building setbacks; and
- Reduction of subdivision street widths and turning radii at subdivision street intersections.
- Expected Outcomes
- Need identification and planning for multi-modal transportation infrastructure;
- Reconfirmation of existing sidewalk and bicycle lanes by direction or a complete inventory of existing sidewalks and bicycle lanes by direction
- A set of location-specific multimodal improvements identified based on performance-based planning
Explore the GAP Program
The GAP-TA program has been providing technical support since Fiscal Year 2021. Please use the map window to see the location of the awards and the filters below to see the ongoing and completed work.
Search GAP-TA Studies
Viewing 24 of 24 results. Amount Awarded: $13,350,058
GAP-TA Timeline
| Phase | Date |
|---|
| Application Intake Opens | November 18, 2020 |
| Application Intake Ends | January 15, 2021 |
| Application Evaluation Completed | January 29, 2021 |
| Applicants Notified | February 5, 2021 |
| Requests for Proposals from OIPI consultants | March, 2021 |
| Proposals Due | April 30, 2021 |
| Task Order Award | May, 2021 |
| Kickoff Meeting | May, 2021 |
| Quarterly Update Meetings | Dates to be determined with the recipients at a later date |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Looking for more specific information about the GAP Technical Assistance Program? Find more information on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
