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Helping Virginia Plan and Grow

We support local governments in Virginia. Here is more about a program that helps our cities and counties make better decisions.

The GAP-TA Program

The Growth & Accessibility Planning Technical Assistance program is also known as the GAP-TA program. It can help us achieve Virginia’s goals together.
The program offers technical assistance. It uses data to help localities in Virginia make transportation decisions. These plans consider multiple modes of transport. This program helps Virginians while advancing the goals of the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI).
Applications open in September and close at the end of October. Please use the GAP-TA Application webpage to apply.
On This Page
GAP-TA Program Guidance
Application Materials

The application period for FY26 will open on September 4, 2025.

See complete GAP-TA application timeline
Past GAP-TA Program Guidance
FY25 GAP Technical Assistance Program Guidance **NEW**FY23 GAP Technical Assistance Program GuidanceFY22 GAP Technical Assistance Program GuidanceFY21 GAP Technical Assistance Program Guidance
GAP-TA FY25 Program Guidance coverDownload FY25 Guidance
GAP-TA Application Timeline
PhaseDate
Application Intake OpensSeptember 1, 2026
OIPI Provides Information and GuidanceSeptember 1, 2026 - October 30, 2026
Application Intake EndsOctober 30, 2026
Application Evaluation Completed and Applicants NotifiedFebruary, 2027
Develop Detailed Scope of ServicesMarch 2027
OIPI Issues Notice to ProceedApril 2027
Kickoff MeetingsApril 2027
Quarterly Update MeetingsTo be determined with the recipients at a later date
GAP-TA Program Components

The GAP-TA has four components. Each component has a unique purpose. Applicants may receive only one type of award per cycle. 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
Search Pending and Completed GAP-TA Studies

Use the filters to narrow down your search. Studies from 2025 are shown by default to help you explore the most recent work.

Viewing 37 of 37 results

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  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
  • Applicant: Franklin County
  • Construction District: Salem
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,817
  • Final Document(s):

    Franklin County Union Hall Village UDA Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: City of Lexington
  • Construction District: Salem
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,771
  • Final Document(s):

    City of Lexington Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 3
  • Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
  • Applicant: Middle Peninsula PDC
  • Construction District: Fredericksburg
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,501
  • Final Document(s):

    MPPDC-OIPI Transportation Needs Screening Tool User Guide

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: Prince William County
  • Construction District: Northern Virginia
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,027
  • Final Document(s):

    Prince William County Legacy Roadway Program

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 4
  • Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
  • Applicant: Town of Culpeper
  • Construction District: Culpeper
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $59,990
  • Final Document(s):

    GAP Summary Document Culpeper Small Area Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
  • Applicant: Roanoke County
  • Construction District: Salem
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,985
  • Final Document(s):

    Roanoke County 419 Town Center Design Guidelines

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 3
  • Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
  • Applicant: Tri-Cities MPO
  • Construction District: Richmond
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,386
  • Final Document(s):

    Tri-cities Area MPO Performance-based Planning Process

  • Fiscal Year: 2021
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: Town of Vinton
  • Construction District: Salem
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: June 2021
  • Amount Awarded: $99,998
  • Final Document(s):

    Town of Vinton GAP Summary Route 24 Bike/Ped Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2022
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: City of Harrisonburg
  • Construction District: Staunton
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: March 2022
  • Amount Awarded: $78,934
  • Final Document(s):

    Harrisonburg Task 3 Road Diet Evaluation Memo

  • Fiscal Year: 2023
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: Stafford County
  • Construction District: Fredericksburg
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: September 2023
  • Amount Awarded: $82,719
  • Final Document(s):

    Stafford Heritage Trail Multimodal Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2023
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
  • Applicant: Buena Vista City
  • Construction District: Staunton
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: September 2023
  • Amount Awarded: $76,465
  • Final Document(s):

    City of Buena Vista US 60 Small Area Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2023
  • GAP Component: Component 3
  • Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
  • Applicant: Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission
  • Construction District: Culpeper
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: September 2023
  • Amount Awarded: $98,492
  • Final Document(s):

    RRRC Transportation Project Prioritization Process

  • Fiscal Year: 2023
  • GAP Component: Component 4
  • Characterization of Work: Pedestrian Imp. Only
  • Applicant: Emporia City
  • Construction District: Hampton Roads
  • Status: Complete
  • Start Date: September 2023
  • Amount Awarded: $56,309
  • Final Document(s):

    City of Emporia Sidewalk Inventory and Improvement Plan

  • Fiscal Year: 2025
  • GAP Component: Component 4
  • Characterization of Work: Non-motorized
  • Applicant: Mecklenburg County
  • Construction District: Richmond
  • Status: Pending
  • Start Date:
  • Final Document(s):
  • Fiscal Year: 2025
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: Pulaski County
  • Construction District: Salem
  • Status: Pending
  • Start Date:
  • Final Document(s):
  • Fiscal Year: 2025
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Non-motorized
  • Applicant: Town of Wise
  • Construction District: Bristol
  • Status: Pending
  • Start Date:
  • Final Document(s):
  • Fiscal Year: 2025
  • GAP Component: Component 3
  • Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
  • Applicant: Gloucester County
  • Construction District: Fredericksburg
  • Status: Pending
  • Start Date:
  • Final Document(s):
  • Fiscal Year: 2025
  • GAP Component: Component 1
  • Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
  • Applicant: City of Falls Church
  • Construction District: Northern Virginia
  • Status: Pending
  • Start Date:
  • Final Document(s):
Explore the GAP-TA Program

The GAP-TA program has been providing technical support since FY2021. Use the map to see past awards and progress.

GAP-TA Studies and Plans

Projects shown in this map are currently in development.

To query, print, download, or comment, visit InteractVTrans MapExplorer. For interactive infographics, visit InteractVTrans DataExplorer
Frequently Asked Questions

Have more VTrans questions? Find answers on our FAQ page.

The GAP Technical Assistance Program opens for new applications once a year. Notices are posted on the VTrans website and emailed to subscribers for VTrans Updates.

Application process:

  • Fill out the online form (takes about 15–30 minutes)
  • Provide:
    • Type of agency/jurisdiction
    • Contact information
    • Focus of your request
    • Desired outcome(s)
    • Preliminary scope outline
    • Letter of support
    • Map or shapefile of the project location

The GAP Technical Assistance Program has four main components, focusing on:

  • Multimodal planning
  • Developing and evaluating strategies for emerging planning issues
  • Creating accessibility planning processes

Most GAP-supported studies look at network or system-level needs. They do not focus on the design, engineering, or development of specific projects.

Questions? Email GAP-TA@oipi.virginia.gov for more information.

UDAs, or similar growth areas are voluntary designations made by Virginia localities with comprehensive plan and zoning authority (Virginia Code § 15.2-2223.1).

GAP Component 1 focuses on multimodal planning in existing or planned UDAs or Growth Areas. It can help with planning so projected growth is supported, but the decision to designate a UDA is entirely up to the locality.

For more details, see the “How to Designate a UDA” Fact Sheet.

No. GAP Component 3 helps local or regional agencies set up ongoing performance-based planning processes. These processes can then be used for future updates to:

  • Long-Range Transportation Plans (LRTPs)
  • Comprehensive Plans
  • Rural LRTPs
  • Bicycle-Pedestrian Plans

It’s for building the planning process, not for producing an updated plan or study document.