DOT Launches Infrastructure Grants Program
DOT will make awards under the $1.5 billion INFRA program to both large and small projects. For a large project, the INFRA grant must be at least $25 million. For a small project, the grant must be at least $5 million.
The U.S. Department of Transportation on June 29 announced the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published in the Federal Register. The program will make approximately $1.5 billion available to projects that are in line with the Trump administration's principles to help rebuild "crumbling infrastructure," and in addition to providing direct federal funding, the program aims to increase the total investment by state, local, and private partners, according to DOT.
INFRA advances a pre-existing grant program established in the FAST Act of 2015 and uses updated criteria to evaluate projects to align them with national and regional economic vitality goals and to leverage additional non-federal funding. The new program will leverage capital and allow innovation in the project delivery and permitting processes, including public-private partnerships.
"The president and the department are committed to revitalizing, repairing, and rebuilding America's aging infrastructure," said DOT Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "By ensuring the right incentives, projects selected under this program will be better able to make significant, long-term improvements to America's transportation infrastructure."
DOT will make awards under the INFRA program to both large and small projects. For a large project, the INFRA grant must be at least $25 million. For a small project, the grant must be at least $5 million. For each fiscal year of INFRA funds, 10 percent of available funds are reserved for small projects, and the grant program preserves the statutory requirement in the FAST Act to award at least 25 percent of funding for rural projects.
Applicants may resubmit their previous FASTLANE application but must explain how the project competitively addresses the improved INFRA Grant criteria. The NOFO will remain open for 120 days. For more information, visit www.transportation.gov/INFRA.