Register Now for the September 18 Kickoff of the U.S. DOT Thought Leadership Series
The U.S. DOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence is hosting a new virtual thought leadership series focusing on Making Good on the Potential of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This three-part series will include three panels of transportation thought leaders focusing on Project Delivery Lessons Learned from Emergency Response Following an Infrastructure Catastrophe, Best Practices to Get Big Infrastructure Projects off the Ground, and Project Acceleration for the Public Good.
Each speaker will discuss an infrastructure project completed or currently underway and share best practices across a spectrum of issues. The first panel session will be held on September 18, 2024, at 1:00 pm ET – register here to attend. View the lineup of sessions and speakers here.
Updates, Events, and Resources
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Join the U.S. DOT Climate Change Center for the 2024 Fall/Winter Webinar Series on pressing topics in climate change and transportation. Register today for one or more webinars in the series:
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September 24: Climate Equity and Environmental Justice: Leveraging Data and Evidence
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October 9: Advancing Low Carbon Materials
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November 14: Resilient Transportation Infrastructure: DOT Climate Adaptation Plan 2024-2027
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December 11: Parking Reform as a Climate Strategy
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January 15: Navigating Climate Challenges: Enhancing Transportation Resilience
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On August 22, USDOT published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Adoption of Accessibility Standards for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way, proposing to amend its rules implementing the transportation provisions under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This notice proposes the adoption as regulatory accessibility standards the Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG) issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) on August 8, 2023. This proposed rule would adopt the Access Board's PROWAG into the Department's ADA regulations. When adopted, USDOT's public right-of-way ADA standards would apply only to new construction and alterations of transit stops in the public right-of-way. USDOT is accepting comments on this NPRM through September 23, 2024 via the Federal Register (Docket Number DOT-OST-2024-0090).
- The Build America Bureau’s Reconnecting Communities Institute (RCI) is a new USDOT center for learning to help reconnect communities that were harmed, isolated, and cut off from opportunity by transportation infrastructure. RCI support is available to grantees of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program to strengthen local capacity in planning and implementing innovative community reconnection projects. The form to express interest in RCI support is now live! If your community or organization has received an RCP Program grant or has identified a need to address the negative impacts of transportation infrastructure, request support on the RCI website. RCI is hosting two upcoming webinars on September 26 (register here) and October 8 (register here) to provide a program overview, explain how to request support from RCI, and take audience questions in real time. Register now to meet the RCI team and learn about the flexible, tailored, and free assistance for RCP Program grantees and prospective grantees. If you are unable to attend a live event, please register to receive a link to the recording following the event. Recordings of the webinars will also be available on RCI’s website. RCI strives to host inclusive and accessible events, and captions will be provided. Please contact rci@dot.gov if you have any questions or to request accommodations.
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U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced more than $1 billion in grants through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The funding will go directly to 354 local, regional, and tribal communities to improve roadway safety and prevent deaths and serious injuries on America’s rural and urban roads, including some of the most dangerous in the country. SS4A provides grants directly to communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration projects aimed at preventing deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. Since launching in 2022, SS4A has funded projects in more than 1,400 communities, supporting roadway safety for nearly 75% of the U.S. population. Learn more about the SS4A awards.
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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced $521 million in grants to continue building out electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure across 29 states, eight Federally Recognized Tribes, and the District of Columbia, including the deployment of more than 9,200 EV charging ports. This new EV infrastructure will increase access and reliability to communities across the country and provides EV charging to light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. The funds are a part of the Administration’s goals to support the growth of a convenient, affordable, reliable and Made-in-America national network of EV chargers so drivers can charge close to home, at work, and along significant corridors throughout the U.S. There are now over 192,000 publicly available charging ports nationwide with approximately 1,000 new public chargers being added each week. The grants were made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and a 10 percent set-aside from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program.
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced awards totaling nearly $3.5 million to 27 colleges and other commercial driver’s license (CDL) training programs through the agency’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Grant Program. These Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 grants will help improve roadway safety by providing additional training for current CDL holders and creating new pathways for career opportunities for drivers in the commercial motor vehicle industry. In total, more than 50 percent of FMCSA’s annual budget provides states and local communities with funding to promote CMV safety. In addition to the CMVOST grant program, FMCSA also provides funding through its other discretionary grant programs such as the High Priority Grants Program and the Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation Grant. Collectively, these programs also support implementation of the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy. Read more about FMCSA’s grant programs and review a full list of this year’s CMVOST grant recipients here.
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 list below spotlights 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!
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FHWA announced the availability of $800 million in funding under the Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants (LCTM) Program to tackle the climate crisis. LCTM will support the use of low-carbon materials and products used in transportation that reduce air pollution, specifically greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). FHWA made $1.2 billion available under this program to state departments of transportation in March 2024 and is now opening funding up to other potential applicants such as cities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), tribal governments and other federal, state and local agencies that also carry out transportation activities. The LCTM program is one of three new programs at FHWA created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in history. As part of the Administration’s whole-of-government Federal Buy Clean Initiative, and consistent with Executive Order 14057 - Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, FHWA continues to closely collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) to implement related low carbon programs that were authorized in the IRA. The LCTM program makes $2 billion available under the IRA for state departments of transportation, cities, tribes, MPOs, and other agencies to incorporate more materials that create less pollution, including steel, concrete (and cement), glass, and asphalt.
Closing in September
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FHWA has made available at least $196 million for FY2023 Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) grants as part of the FY23-26 Culvert AOP NOFO. The National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program (Culvert AOP Program) is a competitive grant program that awards grants to eligible entities for projects for the replacement, removal, and repair of culverts or weirs that meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish. Anadromous is the term that describes fish born in freshwater who spend most of their lives in saltwater and migrate back to freshwater to spawn. The deadline to apply for FY23 funding via grants.gov is September 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Learn more about the Culvert AOP Grants.
- The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is accepting applications for its Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program and Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grant Program. The RCE Grant Program is dedicated to improving railroad crossing safety and efficiency, investing in projects that construct grade separations, upgrade safety devices at crossings, or close at-grade crossings where roads and train tracks intersect. Applications for the RCE Grant Program are due by September 23, 2024. The R&E Grant Program assists with operating costs for eligible projects that will establish service on new routes, restore service on routes that formerly had intercity passenger operations, and enhance service on existing routes. Applications for the R&E Grant Program are due by September 30, 2024. FRA hosted webinars on these grant opportunities to discuss application requirements, share best practices and tips, and provide information about the grant evaluation process and timeline – view webinar recordings on the FRA Webinars page.
- More than $600 million is available for capital construction and community planning grants through the third round of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program. The RCP Program focuses on improving access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, nature, and recreation; fostering equitable development and restoration; and providing technical assistance to further these goals. Learn more in the RCP Program NOFO. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, September 30, 2024. USDOT is hosting a series of webinars for potential applicants – register for an upcoming webinar or view past webinar recordings here.
- To support communities in preparing strong Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program grant applications, the Reconnecting Communities Institute (RCI) is hosting a series of no-cost, virtual Grant Writing Clinics and Office Hours. Led by experts with deep experience in federal grant programs, and in assisting communities with transportation reconnection projects, these events will include an overview of the program, Q&A with previous grant recipients, strategy sessions, and office hours. States, local governments, Tribal governments, regional entities, or nonprofit entities are all welcome to join. Register for the September 13 Grant Writing Clinic (12:00-5:00 p.m. ET) or the September 16 Office Hours Session (11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET). For more information, please view the RCI Resource Library or contact RCI at RCI@dot.gov.
Closing in November
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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has made available more than $9 million in competitive grants for its FY 2024 Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (Tribal Transit) Program. The program is open to Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, groups, or communities as identified by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Eligible activities include planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal transit services in rural areas. Applications must be submitted by November 13, 2024 via grants.gov.
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 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) is now accepting applications for its Recreation Economy for Rural Communities Planning Assistance Program. Outdoor activities are increasingly popular across the United States, and many communities are seeking to grow their outdoor recreation and tourism economy, while investing in their main streets and conserving forests and natural lands. Encouraging growth on main streets while promoting outdoor recreation can help foster community revitalization, protect air and water quality, create jobs and support economic diversification, and offer new opportunities for people to connect with the natural world. This program helps communities identify strategies to grow their outdoor recreation economy and revitalize their main streets. Applications are due on October 16, 2024. Find the call for applications and learn how to apply here.
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Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamps are free training programs designed to help municipal staff learn how to put together winning grant applications in key areas. Trainings this fall will focus on helping communities secure funding for hazard and flood reduction projects; clean energy projects; drinking water and wastewater management projects; and road, rail, transit, and port projects to enhance transportation networks. Classes began on September 9 – learn more and register here.
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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