U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week announced the availability of $474 million for a fifth round of the highly successful TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) competitive grant program to fund surface transportation projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area.
The projects that will be prioritized under TIGER V are those that “are ready to proceed quickly.” The application deadline is June 3 and the money has to be out the door by October 1 of next year. In addition to shovel-readiness “readiness to proceed quickly,” U.S. DOT will also be looking for projects that:
- Improve existing transportation facilities and systems
- Contribute to American economic competitiveness
- Create and preserve jobs
- Increase transportation choices and access to transportation services for people in communities across the U.S.
- Improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on oil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Improve safety
Projects eligible for TIGER grants include highways and bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight rail transportation and marine port infrastructure investments. Grants may range in size from $10 million to $200 million. Grants to rural areas may be for less than $10 million, but must be more than $1 million. No less than $120 million must be awarded to projects in rural areas.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the four previous rounds of TIGER provided $3.1 billion to support 218 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Demand for the program has been overwhelming, with more than 4,050 applicants requesting more than $105.2 billion over the previous rounds. [/message]
More than 100 of the TIGER grants were awarded directly to city or county governments that are otherwise unable to directly access traditional sources of Federal funding for their projects. Similarly, more than 19 TIGER grants were awarded directly to port authorities, and eight to tribal governments. TIGER has also helped catalyze 11 multi-state projects, which would have been difficult to advance through Federal formula programs.
Interested applicants can review the DOT’s grant resources page and view the full Notice of Funding Availability. Again, the deadline for applications is June 3, 2013.