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Joe Furstenberg - jcfurstenberg@ncdot.gov​

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• November 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM

• City
• County
• Nonprofits
• Units of local government

Due to limited funding, the following entities are ineligible to apply to the Paved Trails and Sidewalk Feasibility Study Grant Program: • Colleges or universities • Other entities such as Business Improvement Districts

• Transportation & Roads

Eligibility: The following governmental entities and non-profit organizations can apply to the Paved Trails and Sidewalk Feasibility Study Grant Program: • Any municipality or county in North Carolina • Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs) in North Carolina • Bicycle, pedestrian, and transit advocacy groups, Friends-of-the-Trail groups, and Land Conservancies Other eligibility criteria: The proposed project must be identified in a locally/regionally adopted plan.  A local match may be required depending on the funding source for the current call for projects. If a match is not required it may still be a factor in a competitive grant cycle. See program overview document for small-scale and large-scale study thresholds that are recommended. Eligible Projects Defined • Paved Trail: Paved trail surfaces such as asphalt or concrete offer greater accessibility to accommodate bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized users of all ages and abilities. Asphalt pavement tends to be the most popular and cost effective for paved trails. Concrete pavement is more durable, but it typically costs more than asphalt pavement. Paved trails are typically 10-feet wide or greater can also be known as a “shared-use paths”, “greenways” or “sidepaths” depending on site context. ◦ Shared-Use Path: A facility, which should be designed to meet ADA Standards, which may be used by bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized users. Shared-use paths are separated from the roadway by an open space or a physical barrier or within an independent-right-of-way and can also be known as a “multi-use trail”, “multi-use path” or “greenway.” ◦ Greenway: A greenway provides a travel area separated from motorized traffic for bicyclists, pedestrians, and other non-motorized users. These facilities generally follow corridors of undeveloped land preserved for recreational use or environmental protection. These corridors are often utilized as buffers since they often separate and protect the natural environment from the built environment. ◦ Sidepath: A specific type of facility, which should be designed to meet PROWAG standards, that is physically separated from the road but still located within the roadway right-of-way. • Sidewalk: The portion of a street or highway right-of-way, beyond the curb or edge of roadway pavement, which is intended for use by pedestrians. Sidewalks are generally narrower than paved trails and are usually constructed of concrete pavement or pavers.

Yes

For 2026, a 20% match is required for the grant program.

Direct-to-Vendor Payment

The selection of grant awardees for the Paved Trails and Sidewalk Feasibility Study Grant Program will be based on a competitive review process. However, efforts will be made to award grants based not only on the merit of the proposal but to achieve statewide geographic distribution as well. Consideration will be given to funding a cross-section of community types to ensure that projects are equitably distributed across the state. The following selection criteria are proposed for the program and will affect project scoring: • How well the grant proposal addresses questions and key prompts listed in the application - This criterion is the most important piece of the selection process. The following should be considered before applying to the Paved Trails and Sidewalk Feasibility Studies Grant Program: ◦ Study Corridor Considerations – The scale of a project will influence the cost, number of route alternatives, mileage range, jurisdictional range, corridor constraints, and expectations for community and stakeholder engagement. Please refer to the section above to identify a scale that is appropriate for your project. ◦ Community Need – Consider if your project has been included in an adopted plan. Also consider the outcomes of previous engagement efforts centered around your project. ◦ Proposed Community Engagement Strategies – Community engagement should take place throughout the duration of a project and especially before any transportation decisions are made. Engagement and outreach should be inclusive and aim to educate and communicate the needs of the project, as well as its impacts on the community. ◦ Project Management Experience/Project Implementation – Consider who is best suited to lead your grant application. This may be a jurisdiction that is already familiar with the project or may assume maintenance responsibilities following future construction. It is important to note that successful project implementation will require collaboration and coordination with various entities to see a project successfully implemented. • Geographic Location – NCDOT will support the equitable distribution of projects statewide. ◦ Inclusion in the Great Trails State Network – IMD encourages jurisdictions to submit a project that has been identified as part of the statewide trails network. To determine if your project is part of the Great Trails State network, click on the following link to view an interactive ArcGIS webpage of thenetwork: Map Link. •  Inclusion of a local match – A local match may be considered as part of the selection process in a competitive grant cycle. For 2026, a 20% match is required for the grant program.