FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program
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DOT hosted a series of webinars for the launch of the FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program (TCP), including an overview webinar, a webinar for interested Capacity Builders, and a webinar for communities interested in receiving technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support through TCP. Webinar materials for the three webinars, including presentation slides and recordings, are available on the TCP Webinars webpage. DOT has also updated its FAQs in response to questions received during the webinars – interested applicants are encouraged to check the FAQs regularly during the open application period for important updates and program clarifications. DOT has published a list of interested Capacity Builders for the FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program to facilitate teaming between potential applicants. If your organization would like to be included on this list, please contact ThrivingCommunities@dot.gov.
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Mark your calendars! DOT is hosting its first TCP Office Hours session for Community Applicants on October 11 at 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET. Office Hours are intended to provide an open forum for potential community applicants to ask questions or address challenges related to their Letters of Interest with members of the DOT Thriving Communities Program Team. Join the session on Zoom – no advance registration is required. If you plan to attend, you are encouraged to share in advance the topics and/or questions you'd like to discuss during Office Hours using this Microsoft Form. Please note that DOT cannot offer guidance on the details or competitiveness of specific applications.
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October is Pedestrian Safety Month
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed a range of resources to share as part of its celebration of National Pedestrian Safety Month. Every October, NHTSA showcases its efforts toward pedestrian safety and brings together transportation professionals who aim to create a safe and accessible transportation system. To spread awareness and promote safety during the month, NHTSA provides resources such as safe walking tips for youth, pedestrian safety videos, and a resource guide with activities and events for four weeks centered around the Safe System Approach.
- The U.S. Access Board published a summary of key changes to the accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way final rule. The guidelines ensure that pedestrian facilities located in the public right-of-way are readily accessible and usable by pedestrians with disabilities. Notable changes include provisions on expanding crosswalk treatments at roundabouts; providing accessible pedestrian signals; and clarifying pedestrian crossing and circulation paths, among others. The final rule went into effect September 7, 2023.
- The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released the report, “Safe System Approach for Speed Management.” The report helps practitioners link speed management to the Safe System Approach and creates a vision for speed management for all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. A five-stage framework toward this goal includes establishing a vision and building consensus for speed management; collecting and analyzing speed and safety data; prioritizing locations for speed management proactively; selecting speed management countermeasures; and conducting ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment. Case studies and other examples in the report demonstrate the value of the Safe System Approach, along with key themes gathered from international and domestic documents and interviews.
Other Resources and Opportunities
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The Department of Justice issued a notice of proposed rulemaking under the Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The purpose of the proposed rule is to establish technical requirements to make State or local government public services, programs, and activities more accessible through web and mobile applications. An example is access to mass transit schedules and fare information through websites and mobile apps for people with disabilities. Public comments are accepted through October 3, 2023.
- The DOT Navigator now includes a Data and Mapping Tools webpage that provides a high-level overview and guidance on resources that may be useful in writing a strong discretionary grant application and developing transportation projects that meet the needs of the community they serve. The page features general data and mapping tools; climate, air quality, and sustainability tools; equity tools; safety tools; specialized data tools; and transportation analysis tools. The new webpage was spotlighted during the September DOT Navigator webinar.
- Trying to better understand how federal environmental laws apply to electric vehicle (EV) projects? FHWA issued two EV one-pagers with information on EVs and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and EVs and Categorical Exclusions to help practitioners navigate the environmental review process for EV infrastructure.
- FHWA released the proceedings report of the Equity and Justice40 in Action Workshop held during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2023 Geospatial Information Systems for Transportation (GIS-T) Symposium. The workshop explored the application of GIS tools and analysis to advance transportation equity and the Justice40 Initiative, with attendees from local, government, and private industry organizations. The report offers key workshop findings, presentation overviews, and tools and resources for transportation equity screening.
- The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) partnered with researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University to develop the report, “Practical Measures for Advancing Public Transit Equity and Access.” The report provides nine equity strategies, along with five spatial analysis measures, that facilitate equitable outcomes in public transportation for underserved communities. The report contributes to the implementation of Executive Order 13985 and the U.S. Department of Transportation Equity and Access Policy Statement.
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FHWA is accepting nominations for its 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards (EEA) through November 3, 2023. The biennial EEA program recognizes outstanding transportation projects, processes, and partners that incorporate environmental stewardship into the planning and project development processes using FHWA funding sources. FHWA accepts nominations for any project, process, group, or individuals involved in a project or process that has used FHWA funding sources to make an outstanding contribution to transportation and the environment. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact EEAwardsNomination@dot.gov.
The USDOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard provides communities with an overview of discretionary grant opportunities that can help meet their transportation infrastructure needs. The Dashboard also includes Federal grant programs outside of DOT that may be of particular interest to rural communities. The below list spotlights just a few of the currently open funding opportunities – visit the Grants Dashboard to find more or check out the calendar of open and upcoming grant opportunities!
New and Notable!
- On September 27, FHWA opened a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for up to $9.62 billion in FYs 2023 - 2026 Large Bridge Project grant applications under the Bridge Investment Program. Large Bridge Project Grants under the Bridge Investment Program are available for bridges with total eligible project costs over $100 million, with minimum grant awards of $50 million, and maximum grant awards of 50 percent of the total eligible project costs. Applications for FY 2023 and 2024 funding are due November 27, 2023 via grants.gov. Visit the Bridge Investment Program website to find more information, including a Benefit-Cost Analysis Tool, a fact sheet, Q&A, and information about 2022 recipients.
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DOT is now accepting applications for its FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program (TCP)! The TCP will provide up to $22 million in funding for Capacity Builders to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to disadvantaged and under-resourced communities across the U.S. to help them advance the transformative transportation projects needed to thrive. This year’s program includes a pilot to fund State and Regional TCP activities. In addition, local, Tribal, and regional governments along with their community partners are invited to submit a Letter of Interest to receive no-cost tailored technical assistance for a two-year period as well as three years of facilitated peer learning opportunities.
- If you’re interested in providing technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support at a national or regional level through TCP, visit the Information for Capacity Builders webpage and view the NOFO. Applications are due via grants.gov by November 28, 2023.
- If you’re interested in receiving support through TCP, visit the Information for Communities webpage and view the Call for Letters of Interest. Letters of Interest must be submitted through a simple webform by November 15, 2023.
- Please note that, unless otherwise noted on the program website, these deadlines are not expected to be extended.
Opening Soon!
- A NOFO and informational webinars are forthcoming later in 2023 for a new competitive grant program from FHWA, the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP). The program will fund projects that create or expand active transportation networks or spines. The ATIIP will award two types of grants: (1) Planning and Design grants and (2) Construction grants. Approximately $45 million in funding has been appropriated for the program for FY23.
Other Funding Opportunities
Closing in October
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The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program NOFO is accepting applications for Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. During Stage 1, the SMART program seeks to fund innovation aimed at solving real-world transportation problems and focused on building data and technology capacity and experience for State, local, and Tribal governments. The program also recognizes that many public sector transportation agencies face challenges finding the resources and personnel to leverage new technologies; so, the program builds in the time and support to enable successful deployment. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 to the Valid Eval submission website. Visit the SMART Grants Webinars webpage to view past webinar materials. You can also view SMART Illustrative Use Cases and FAQs.
- FTA is accepting applications for its Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning, which makes approximately $13 million available to fund local comprehensive or site-specific planning to support housing and other investment near transit hubs to promote sustainable, livable, and equitable communities. Special consideration will be given to applications that improve air quality, advance environmental justice, support unhoused populations, and promote housing affordability. This year, applications for areas with a lower population density or lower average income compared to surrounding areas will receive a higher federal funding share. Additionally, applications with a substantial focus on affordable housing may receive up to 100% federal cost share support. FTA hosted a program webinar on August 17 to discuss the requirements for funding, application eligibility and criteria, and the submission process – view the presentation and recording from the webinar. Applications are due to GRANTS.GOV (FTA-2023-011-TPE-TODP) by October 10, 2023.
Closing in November
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FHWA’s Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) program provides funding for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of nationally significant projects within, adjacent to, or accessing federal and Tribal lands. This program provides an opportunity to address significant challenges across the nation for transportation facilities that serve federal and Tribal lands. NSFLTP is accepting applications until November 6, 2023. View the NOFO here.
In preparing your application for any of the above programs, be sure to read the specific Notice of Funding Opportunity and related program materials to ensure your project and organization are eligible and you are meeting other program/application requirements. General information to help prepare for DOT applications can also be found on the DOT Navigator, including the Fiscal Year 2023 Discretionary Grant Preparation Checklist for Prospective Applicants.
With the goal of passing along outside resources specifically designed to build local capacity, especially for disadvantaged urban, rural, and tribal communities, to successfully develop transportation projects and funding applications, the DOT Navigator Bulletin includes opportunities that have been shared with the Department. Their inclusion does not indicate USDOT endorsement.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an updated online P2 Hub Resources Center that features an expanded suite of tools and materials to help businesses and technical assistance providers implement Pollution Prevention (P2) practices. The P2 Hub includes links to more than 3,200 case studies, articles and tools related to pollution prevention and, since 2019, EPA has responded to nearly 1,000 requests from P2 practitioners for help with technical assistance through the P2 Hub Helpline. P2 approaches can be applied to all potential and actual pollution-generating activities, including those found in the energy, agriculture, federal, consumer and industrial sectors.
If you have information or resources you would like to be considered for inclusion in future USDOT Navigator biweekly bulletins, reach out to USDOTAssist@dot.gov.
Click the link below to join the listserv or visit the USDOT Navigator to find information and resources on applying for USDOT grants and planning for and delivering transformative infrastructure projects and services.
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