Federal and state lawmakers, saying they were disappointed that the proposed Neponset Greenway expansion failed to win federal funds –a grant of $10 million from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation – are mulling a back-up plan for the trail.

“As funding availability has tightened for basic infrastructure projects, this has become an extremely competitive process with 848 projects totaling $14.29 billion vying for just $511 million,” Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-South Boston) said in a statement. “There were several hundred excellent proposals that were denied funding because of the lack of resources.”

Lynch called the expansion an “extremely worthy” project, adding, “Going forward, I will continue to support the project and will look for opportunities to secure funding by all means available.”

His statement was echoed by Congressman Michael Capuano, a Somerville Democrat who represents Mattapan and shares Dorchester with Lynch. “Although federal transportation funding opportunities are likely to be scarce for at least the near future, I am hopeful there will another chance to obtain federal funding to assist this project,” Capuano said.

Members of Dorchester and Mattapan’s State House delegation offered up a mix of concern and disappointment.

State Sen. Jack Hart questioned the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s ability to complete the project. “The planned Neponset River Greenway Completion Project would have closed several critical gaps in an already highly popular pedestrian and bicycle trail,” Hart said. “I am committed to seeing these gaps completed sooner rather than later, and will continue to work with DCR so that this project receives the necessary funds for completion.”

State Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry reiterated that she was “committed to getting this project done.” The federal money was never a guarantee, added Forry. “There’s going to have to be a Plan B. We’re just going to have to think creatively.”

State Rep. Marty Walsh said a back-up plan still needs to be set up. “I think we’ll need some legislative action and some help from the Legislature,” he said. “And you never know with the feds what type of funding is going to be out there.”