US offers $1bn transportation grant program

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched a $1bn grant program to fund road, rail, transit and port projects.

Money will go to projects that build or repair critical pieces of freight and passenger transportation networks. The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (Raise) grant program allows project sponsors on the state and local levels to obtain funding for projects that use multiple modes and cross different jurisdictions. Multi-modal projects have limited federal funding sources because many programs are focused on one mode of transportation.

The program will prioritize funding for projects that help meet priorities of President Joe Biden's administration.

"There is tremendous need for transportation projects that create high-quality jobs, improve safety, protect our environment, and generate equitable economic opportunity for all Americans," US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said yesterday.

DOT's grants for fiscal year 2021 will be limited to a maximum $25mn with no more than $100mn awarded to a single state. Grants will be split evenly between urban and rural areas. Under former president Donald Trump, DOT emphasized grants to rural areas.

Raise grants are Biden's version of an existing long-term grant program. The program was known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (Build) grant program under Trump. Build had replaced the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (Tiger) grant program that was launched by former president Barack Obama in 2009.

The grant program has awarded more than $8.9mn in grants to projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico since 2009. DOT has received more than 9,700 applications and eventually funded 680 projects.

Applications are due by 12 July. For more information, visit http://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach.

By Abby Caplan