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
GAP-TA Application 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 |
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.
Component 1: Conduct multimodal planning within existing or planned Urban Development Areas or Growth Areas (per Virginia Code § 15.2-2223.1)
- 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
- 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
Component 2: Develop or evaluate strategies to address emerging planning issues
- 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.
Component 3: Develop an accessibility planning process
- 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.
Component 4: Conduct multimodal planning outside urbanized areas
- 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
- 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 24 of 24 results
102: Performance-based Planning to Identify and Prioritize Transportation Studies and Projects for the Danville MPO
106: Franklin County Growth Area Plan
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
- Applicant: Franklin County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
107: Gloucester County Urban Development Area (UDA) Multimodal Planning
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Gloucester County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
109: Centerville Village and Courthouse Urban Development Area Pedestrian Access Plan
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Pedestrian Imp. Only
- Applicant: Goochland County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
111: Parking Mobile App or Tool for Downtown Leesburg
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 2
- Characterization of Work: Emerging Issues
- Applicant: City of Lessburg
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
112: City of Lexington Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: City of Lexington
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
113: Loudoun County On-Street Bikeway Gap Analysis
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Bicycle Imp. Only
- Applicant: Loudoun County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
116: Development of a Middle Peninsula Transportation Project Prioritization Process
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 3
- Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
- Applicant: Middle Peninsula PDC
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
118: Retrofitting Legacy Roads with Modern Traffic Control Measures and Pedestrian Access Improvements
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Prince William County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
119: Eastern Culpeper Small Area Plan
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 4
- Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
- Applicant: Town of Culpeper
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Final Document(s):
120: City of Richmond's Performance-based Planning for Measuring Equitable Access
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 3
- Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
- Applicant: City of Richmond
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Amount Awarded: $8
- Final Document(s):
121: Roanoke County Town Center Urban Development Area (UDA) Development Standards
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Planning for Growth
- Applicant: Roanoke County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Amount Awarded: $10,000,000
- Final Document(s):
122: Establishing a Performance-Based Long-Range Planning Process for the Roanoke Valley
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 3
- Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
- Applicant: Roanoke Valley TPO
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Amount Awarded: $3,000,000
- Final Document(s):
123: Warrenton Road Multimodal Study
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Stafford County
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Amount Awarded: $50
- Final Document(s):
124: Tri-Cities Area MPO Performance Based Planning Process
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 3
- Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
- Applicant: Tri-Cities MPO
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Amount Awarded: $200,000
- Final Document(s):
126: Town of Vinton, Route 24 Corridor Multi-Modal Accessibility and Improvement Study
- Fiscal Year: 2021
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Town of Vinton
- Construction District:
- Status: Underway
- Start Date: June 2021
- Amount Awarded: $100,000
- Final Document(s):
200: Falls Church Urban Development Area (UDA) Pedestrian Connection
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: City of Falls Church
- Construction District:
- Status: Under Consideration
- Start Date:
- Final Document(s):
201: Process for Prioritization of Non-motorized Infrastructure for the City of Charlottesville
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 3
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: City of Charlottesville
- Construction District:
- Status: Initiated
- Start Date:
- Final Document(s):
203: Town of Mount Crawford Urban Development Area Non-motorized Infrastructure Evaluation
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Town of Mount Crawford
- Construction District:
- Status: Under Consideration
- Start Date:
- Final Document(s):
204: Town of Washington Pathways Assessment and Improvement Plan
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 4
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Town of Washington
- Construction District:
- Status: Under Consideration
- Start Date:
- Amount Awarded: $50,000
- Final Document(s):
205: Town of Remington Pedestrian Infrastructure and Traffic Calming Evaluation
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 4
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission
- Construction District:
- Status: Under Consideration
- Start Date:
- Final Document(s):
206: Rappahannock County's Sperryville & Flint Hill Pedestrian Infrastructure Evaluation
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 4
- Characterization of Work: Pedestrian Imp. Only
- Applicant: Rappahannock County
- Construction District:
- Status: Under Consideration
- Start Date:
- Final Document(s):
209: A Performance-Based Planning Process for the Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 3
- Characterization of Work: Planning Process Development
- Applicant: Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO
- Construction District:
- Status: Initiated
- Start Date:
- Final Document(s):
211: Street Connectivity Evaluation and Road Diet Multimodal Evaluation
- Fiscal Year: 2022
- GAP Component: Component 1
- Characterization of Work: Multimodal Imp.
- Applicant: City of Harrisonburg
- Construction District:
- Status: Under Consideration
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more VTrans questions? Find answers on our FAQ page.
How can my agency apply for the GAP Technical Assistance program?
The GAP Technical Assistance Program will be open for new project applications on an annual basis. Notice of new application rounds will be promoted on the www.vtrans.org website and through notices sent to subscribers of VTrans Updates.
Applicants will be required to complete an online application which takes between 15-30 minutes to complete. The following information will be required to complete an application:
- Type of Agency/Jurisdiction
- Contact Information
- Focus of the technical assistance request
- The desired end output or outcomes
- Preliminary scope outline
- Letter of support
- Map or shapefile of project location
Can the GAP Technical Assistance Program be used to develop alternatives for major capacity expansions, such as a new interchange or roadway alignment?
The GAP Technical Assistance Program has four program components which focus primarily on multimodal planning, development and evaluation of strategies to address emerging planning issues and the development of accessibility planning processes. In most cases, a GAP supported study will focus on network or system level considerations, rather than the design, engineering or project development activities related to a specific improvement.
Email us at GAP-TA@vtrans.org if you have questions or would like to request more information.
Can the GAP Technical Assistance Program be used to help my locality designate an Urban Development Area (UDA)?
Urban Development Areas (UDAs), or other similarly defined growth areas, are voluntary designations made by Virginia localities with comprehensive plan and zoning authority per the Virginia Code § 15.2-2223.1. GAP Component 1 is focused on conducting multimodal planning within existing or planned UDAs or Growth Areas. The outcomes of GAP Component 1 may include assistance to conduct planning so that projected growth can be supported, however, the designation of UDAs is ultimately a locality driven process.
For more information on UDA designation, see the 'How to Designate a UDA' Fact Sheet.
Can the GAP Technical Assistance Progrm be used to develop a local comprehensive plan or regional long-range transportation plan?
The GAP Component 3 is focused on supporting a local government or regional entity in establishing ongoing performance-based planning processes. An expected outcome of a GAP Component 3 is that the recipient will establish a planning process that can be utilized for future updates for Long-Range Transportation Plans (LRTPs), Comprehensive Plans, Rural Long-Range Transportation Plans, Bicycle-Pedestrian Plans, etc.
This component is for creating processes to address on-going requirements and to support performance-based planning, but it is not intended to be used for producing an updated plan or study document.